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Always Learning
Always Learning

Additional and Specialist Learning 

The Additional and Specialist Learning (ASL) component of the Diploma complements the student’s Principal Learning. ASL gives learners the chance to deepen or broaden their studies by allowing them to choose qualifications they are interested in.

Specialist Learning consists of qualifications related to the specific Diploma employment sectors. These qualifications support progression within those employment sectors and/or on to further and higher learning.

Additional Learning consists of qualifications generally drawn from outside the learner’s Principal Learning area. Additional Learning should offer broad progression opportunities meeting individual needs, interests and aspirations.

To achieve the ASL component of the Diploma, learners complete any combination of approved qualifications to reach the required number of guided learning hours. These can be Additional and/or Specialist Learning qualifications, allowing learners to study areas that they are interested in or that would be useful to their future plans.

Why ASL from Edexcel makes sense

There are many benefits to choosing ASL from Edexcel:

  • A total solution: Choose Edexcel, and you’ll have access to all the components of the Diploma through the same awarding body.
  • Stand-alone qualifications: If you offer BTECs as ASL, you can also offer them as stand-alone qualifications to non-Diploma learners using the same resources. If you already offer Edexcel stand-alone qualifications approved for ASL, you can also offer them as part of the Diploma.
  • Cost saving: If you already offer these Edexcel qualifications, you can offer most of them for the Diploma using existing resources, including teaching material.
  • Convenient timetabling: If you offer BTEC courses, you can enrol Diploma learners in the same classes as learners taking the BTEC as a stand-alone course.
  • Funding opportunities: If you choose to offer the Diploma, you can then access funding for your BTEC courses through the Diploma pathway.
  • Flexibility and choice: The new BTEC Specialist Learning qualifications are offered in various sizes, allowing learners to combine a number of qualifications to reflect their interests and ambitions.

Please note that the Diploma is a UK-only qualification and is not available to international centres.