With so much happening in the way of curriculum change, some centres have asked us to clarify how we’re updating BTEC. So we’ve put together a guide to answer your questions and outline our plans for this key vocational qualification in the years ahead. We’re also running a number of BTEC briefing events in May throughout the UK.
For over 25 years, BTEC has been providing thousands of centres like yours with the successful framework to help millions of students achieve their full potential. In the years to come, BTEC will continue to be at the heart of vocational education in this country.
Answers on the updated BTECs
The interactive PDF below tells you about our updated BTECs, which will all be ready for first teaching in September 2010. To help you continue to deliver the new, improved BTEC suite with confidence, we’ll be providing an extensive package of support for you and your staff, which will include even more guidance, teacher support materials and briefings.
Answers on BTEC and the new Diploma
The guide clarifies how BTEC and the new Diploma sit together to form the widest 14–19 vocational proposition of any awarding body. Our aim is to provide your centre and learners with a wide-ranging selection of Additional Specialist Learning (ASL) from the BTEC portfolio. For optimum choice and flexibility, you can deliver BTECs as freestanding courses, as part of the new Diploma, or to complement other aspects of your curriculum. You choose whether consortium teaching is best suited to your set-up. You choose which qualifications are right for your learners. And you choose the delivery method that works best for you.
Answers on the 2013 qualification review
Just as importantly, the guide quotes the position of the government-appointed Joint Advisory Committee for Qualifications Approval (JACQA) on BTEC. The JACQA will be advising the government on public funding at the 2013 review of 14–19 qualifications in England. In response to questioning about BTEC, the JACQA says it is “firmly committed to keeping the best of what currently exists in the new system1”. So we believe the future for BTEC is bright — not only for the next four years, but also beyond that.
Free briefings on BTEC 2010
To give you a detailed picture of what lies ahead, I’d like to invite you to one of our briefings. Held at a variety of locations during May, these free half-day events will be given by BTEC specialists at Edexcel. Our intention is to give you an in-depth insight into our development programme for BTEC, so that you can
plan ahead with confidence.
Please take a look at the event details within the PDF. Once you’ve selected the most convenient briefing event for you, you can book by registering online at www.registerbynet.com/shows/edexcel2009. You’ll also see that, in addition to these venue-based events, you can register for one of our free webinars.
BTEC development programme
At the briefing, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about our ambitious ongoing investment plans for BTEC. In the meantime, if you have any queries, please email btec@edexcel.com.
1. Source: www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19
The 14-19 website for the Department for Children, Schools and Families
BTEC 2010 Be in the picture (interactive PDF)
BTEC: Plan ahead with confidence (28 May notice)
