GCSE equivalents

[Passportto]

DS1 ended up with 9 GCSEs grades B & C taken over two years. He got two Bs in year 10 and failed (missed getting Cs) in two subject in year 11. For him he did well, at one point it looked like he might get very little but he pulled it off in the end.

He's since, through an extra curricular activity, achieved two further level 2 qualifications. Not particularly relevant to any of the jobs or courses he's applying for but interesting conversation starters and useful skills in any job. Think community/teamwork.

I'm wondering if they should go on his applications/CV. Do equivalents suggest that the school didn't consider him "academic" - it won't be clear that the qualifications weren't done at school alongside the GCSEs.

OTOH they are extras that most won't have.

I take it they are Level 2 qualifications. What size are they (how many credits) & are they on the QCF framework? Sometimes they are smaller than a GCSE.

They could be relevant depending what he’s applying for. My daughter hasn’t taken GCSE’s yet but already has Level 3 dance qualifications & UCAS points. She would put them on her CV but then she wants a career in performing arts.

He's been told by the organisation he did them with that they're worth four GCSEs each and there are two year college courses that cover the same qualification but it's a new qualification an I haven't been able to find it on any of the calculators.

It hasn't just landed in his lap in that he's been attending twice a week for four years to cover the material but he didn't exactly study for it either.

It’s a sizeable qualification then. What is it out of interest?

they're worth four GCSEs each

Hmm, there used to be qualifications that were like this but I thought Gove had binned all that. What qualifications are they?

I'd put them on a CV with a note that they were achieved through extra curricular activity rather than at school

The latest one is the BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community.

I know school aren't allowed to count them as equivalents for their results Noblegriaffe and I'm very skeptical that it's really worth 4 GCSEs in anyone's eyes but it must have some value.

Some of the tings he's done to achieve it really have developed him personally - you could visibly see it happening, although it was only very recently I/he realised he was working towards a qualification.

Hmm, they only used to be ‘worth 4 GCSEs’ to schools and league tables a long time ago. They are not worth 4 GCSEs currently no. However, they are valid qualifications in their own right and should not be discounted for that reason alone.

Just put the qualifications name on applications the same as you've posted here. No need for any 'equivalent to 4 GCSEs' gumph.

What Titchy said.
Obviously depending on what he is applying for, they may be very relevant , or not particularly relevant, but it shows something 'extra' from the next applicant. It's a bit like being able to play Grade 6 oboe - not especially useful in itself for many jobs, but shows that alongside schoolwork the young person has also studied something else and stuck at it over time. In fact the 'Teamwork and Personal Development' bit sounds relevant to most roles I'd have thought, and, if nothing else, gives an interviewer something to pick up and start asking about in an interview.

Yes, I wasn't going to suggest he should try to claim an extra 4 GCSEs, I just wondered if it would look like he's done the equivalents instead of GCSES as he doesn't have a string of GCSEs like some of them do. i.e the school entered him for BTEC because they didn't think he could pass more GCSEs. On applications forms there's not usually space to say how/where you got the qualifications.

I also agree that the subject sounds useful but wonder if the qualification would be dismissed as "micky mouse". He could still write about what he's done in the personal statement without detailing the qualification.

A Btec diploma is a valid level 2 vocational qualification & would help him gain entry into a relevant level 3 qualification so yes, I would list them.