Welcome back. We hope you’ve had a great break and had the chance to recharge your batteries ready to start the new school year. With further developments in education policy on the horizon, we’re here to help with the latest accreditation news and a comprehensive package of information, advice and support for BTEC Business qualifications.

Read on for:

• Accreditation latest
• Headline measures
• Supporting you with next generation BTEC Firsts
• External assessment information.
  

Accreditation latest

We're currently awaiting accreditation from Ofqual for the next generation BTEC First Certificate and Extended Certificate in Business for Level 2 learners.

Here’s a summary of the accreditation status for all BTEC First sizes:

* Subject to Ofqual accreditation

Specifications are now available on the BTEC Firsts from 2012 in Business page.

Headline measures

As you're now delivering the vocational qualifications which will be recognised in the new 2014 DfE Key Stage 4 performance tables, we've created an easy online guide to which BTECs will count towards headline measures.

Covering both existing and next generation BTEC qualifications, the at-a-glance grid for business shows which BTEC qualifications and sizes will count towards headline performance measures in 2013, 2014 and 2015. With more announcements to come in November 2012 confirming details of the 2015 list, you'll see there are some 'TBCs'. We'll be updating the grid as we find out the latest information; please do bookmark the BTEC headline measures page to stay up to date. 

If headline measures are important to you, you should continue to offer the existing Level 2 BTEC First Extended Certificate (180 GLH) or Diploma (360 GLH) in Business for your Year 10s starting a two-year course from September 2012, as these qualifications will count towards headline measures in 2014 under the 'year of grace'.
 
If you want to discuss your options, please contact Colin Leith, our Business Subject Advisor, by email at TeachingBusiness@pearson.com.
    

Supporting you with next generation BTEC Firsts

If you're switching to the next generation BTEC First Award, Certificate or Extended Certificate this September - or planning to do so for the 2013/14 academic year - we're providing a wide range of support. This will include:  

• delivery guides containing a wealth of ideas for practical activities, useful advice about external assessment, and tips to help you find new and engaging ways to deliver the BTEC programme
   
• mapping documents to help you compare the existing and next generation BTEC content so you can prepare for the new structure more easily
   
• Pearson Authorised Assignment Briefs which you can use ‘off the shelf’ or edit and adapt to suit your course, subject to internal verification
   
• Study Skills Activities containing a range of case studies and activities to help your learners develop the skills they will need to complete their BTEC successfully.

We're also hosting a full training and support programme, including networking events for schools. Learn more about BTEC training.

Stay up to date with what's available throughout the year - sign up for email updates for Business.

 
New for next generation BTECs: External assessment

We're introducing an element of external assessment to our next generation BTEC Firsts in Business. We believe in teacher-led internal assessment, and this remains at the heart of our new BTEC First qualifications. The form of external assessment in our next generation qualifications, which contributes a maximum of 25% to the overall assessment, is appropriate for business learners, reflecting the skills and aptitudes required by the sector or for progression to a further course of study.

For Business, external assessment will take the form of an onscreen test (all sizes) and a paper-based test (Certificate, Extended Certificate and Diploma sizes). The first external assessment opportunity will be in November 2013. Learn more about the external assessment for Business.
 
To help you prepare for external assessment, we have provided Sample Assessment Materials for the externally assessed units, including an onscreen test and sample mark scheme, to give you a flavour of the actual assessment. You can download these from the BTEC Firsts from 2012 in Business page.
 
We're committed to providing a full range of support for our next generation BTECs, and we will continue to keep in touch throughout the year as we have more information. If you need to talk to someone, our Subject Advisor Colin Leith and his team are on hand to help. Simply call 0844 372 2187 or email TeachingBusiness@pearson.com.

We look forward to working with you in the coming year.