btec update: progress with the reformed - ibsca...btec update: progress with the reformed...

BTEC update:

progress with the

reformed

qualifications

David MacKay

Head of Stakeholder Relationships (HE)

[email protected]

29 November 2018

Available suites of the level 3 BTEC National

qualifications

Suites of level 3 BTEC National Qualifications1. QCF BTEC National suite

• Introduced in 2010 and were designed to meet the requirements of the

Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)

• Available in 5 sizes, equivalent to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 A levels

• Receive UCAS Tariff points, which are aligned with those for A levels

• Assessed entirely through internal assessment

2. RQF BTEC National suite

• First subjects in this suite introduced in 2016 and were accredited to the

Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)

• Designed to meet requirements introduced by the Department for Education

(DfE) for Performance Measures in England

• Available in 5 sizes, equivalent to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 A levels

• Receive the same UCAS Tariff points as the QCF BTEC Nationals

• Assessed partly through external and partly through internal assessment

3

Progression to HE of students with the

QCF BTEC Nationals

Students by qualification type (UCAS data)

5

66.8%

56.8% 56.1% 55.6% 55.4%

10.7%

16.3% 16.7% 16.3% 16.0%

2.6%7.1% 7.6% 7.9% 7.9%

19.9% 19.8% 19.6% 20.2% 20.7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2008 2014 2015 2016 2017

Other A level plus BTEC BTEC only A level only

Students by qualification type (UCAS data)

Qualification 2008 % 2015 % 2016 % 2017 %

A level only 246115 66.8% 242155 56.1% 241530 55.6% 236195 55.4%

BTEC only 39575 10.7% 71990 16.7% 70835 16.3% 68220 16.0%

A level + BTEC 9540 2.6% 32860 7.6% 34405 7.9% 33550 7.9%

Other 73260 19.9% 84685 19.6% 87745 20.2% 88475 20.7%

Total

acceptances368490 100.0% 431690 100.0% 434515 100.0% 426440 100.0%

BTEC total 49115 13.3% 104850 24.3% 105240 24.2% 101770 23.9%

6

A level only students: most popular degree

programme subject areas (HESA data 2015 entry)

Subject Area Percentage

Social studies (incl. economics & politics) 14.1%

Biological sciences (incl. psychology & sport) 12.7%

Business & administrative studies 11.4%

Languages (incl. English studies) 9.2%

Creative arts & design (incl. performing arts) 8.9%

Historical & philosophical studies 8.2%

Subjects allied to medicine (incl. nursing) 7.8%

Physical sciences 7.6%

Engineering & technology 7.0%

Law 4.8%

7

A level only students: most popular degree

programme subjects (HESA data 2015 entry)

Subject Percentage

Psychology 5.7%

English studies 5.2%

History by period 4.9%

Economics 4.6%

Business studies 4.3%

Mathematics 4.3%

Politics 4.0%

Sociology 3.1%

Design studies 3.0%

Computer science 2.8%

8

BTEC only students: most popular degree










Education 5.3%

Communication studies (incl. media studies) 4.3%

Law 2.4%

9

BTEC only students: most popular degree

programme subjects (HESA data 2015 entry)

Subject Percentage

Sport & exercise science 11.2%



Nursing 6.8%

Design studies 6.8%

Academic studies in education 3.8%

Cinematics & photography 3.4%

Hospitality, leisure, sport, tourism & transport 3.4%

Media studies 3.3%

Management studies 3.2%

10

BTEC/A level mix students: most popular degree









Education 6.6%

Communication studies (incl. media studies) 5.2%


Law 4.0%

11

BTEC/A level mix students: most popular

degree programme subjects (HESA data 2015 entry)

Subject Percentage


Sport & exercise science 7.8%

Design studies 6.1%


Psychology 4.9%

Nursing 4.9%

Sociology 4.2%

Academic studies in education 3.9%

Media studies 3.6%

Management studies 3.3%

12

HE entry requirements for QCF BTEC students

• Most university courses accept the QCF BTEC Level 3 Extended

Diploma on its own with grades equivalent to A level grades in

terms of UCAS points equivalence

• Some require specific optional units. For example:

osome engineering degree courses require the optional unit Further

Mathematics for Engineering Technicians

osome science/health degree courses require specific optional biology

and/or chemistry units

• Some selective degree courses:

o require BTEC grades that are higher than the UCAS Tariff equivalent

for A levels

o require an A level alongside the BTEC National qualification. For

example: A level mathematics for engineering and computing

programmes; an A level science for some science degree programmes

13

Changes made to the BTEC Nationals

2. DfE criteria for level 3 vocational qualifications

CharacteristicApplied General

criteria (2018)

Tech Level criteria

(2018)

A. Purpose – progression

to…

... range of subjects at

a higher level or to

employment

... work in specific

vocational areas –

directly or via HE

B. Size Min 150 glh Min 300 glh

C. Recognition 3 HEIs 5 employers/1 PB

D. Appropriate content Min 60% mandatory Min 40% mandatory

E. External Assessment Min 40% Min 30%

F. Synoptic Assessment ✓ ✓

G. Grading ✓ ✓

H. Employer involvement Delivery/assessment

I. Progression ✓ ✓

J. Proven Track Record Take-up in first 2 yrs Take-up in first 2 yrs

15

Features of the revised BTEC Nationals• Larger core of mandatory units – at least 60% in AG and at least 50% in TL

• External assessment: ~ 40% in AG and ~ 33% in TL

• Most internally assessed units are still 60 glh (a few are 90 glh)

• Externally assessed units are 90 or 120 glh

• Synoptic assessment

• Original rule: Students must pass all externally assessed units

Revised rule: Students must achieve an N grade on externally assessed

units

• Two resits allowed for externally assessed units

• One resubmission/one retake for internally assessed units

• More emphasis on research skills

• Strengthening of mandatory content and/or English (writing) requirements

16

Impact of the changes on HE entry requirements

Number of units

• Internally assessed units are mainly 60glh (a few are 90 glh)

• Externally assessed units are either 90 or 120 glh

• The number of units in the Extended Diploma varies from 12-15 with the

vast majority having 13 units

• Therefore, for the RQF qualifications, it is inappropriate for HE entry

requirements to require a certain number of units at specific grades

Content of units

• The mandatory core is larger and, for the Extended Diploma, should have

sufficient appropriate content for progression to HE; so specific optional

units or additional A levels may not be needed

17

Examples of external assessments

The external assessments are set and marked by Pearson and a part of

them is carried out under supervised conditions.

They may assess a wide range of skills and include:

• Written examinations

• Tasks

‒ Initial activity followed by supervised task, for example:

o researching a scenario followed by a supervised written task

o studying pre-release materials followed by a supervised written

task

‒A supervised task extending over several sessions, for example:

o designing, creating and evaluating software to meet the

requirements of a brief (done over a number of supervised

sessions)

18

BTEC Nationals – QCF/RQF titles & grading

QCF BTEC Level 3

qualifications

New RQF BTEC Nationals A level

equivalence

Pearson BTEC Level 3

Certificate in ... (QCF)

(graded P, M, D, D*)


National Certificate in ...


0.5 x A level


Subsidiary Diploma in ... (QCF)



National Extended Certificate in ...


1.0 x A level


90-credit Diploma in ... (QCF)

(graded from PP to D*D*)


National Foundation Diploma in ...


1.5 x A levels


Diploma in ... (QCF)



National Diploma in ...


2.0 x A levels


Extended Diploma in ... (QCF)

(graded from PPP to D*D*D*)


National Extended Diploma in ...


3.0 x A levels

19


QCF BTEC Level 3

qualifications


equivalence







0.5 x A level







1.0 x A level







1.5 x A levels







2.0 x A levels







3.0 x A levels

20


QCF BTEC Level 3

qualifications


equivalence







0.5 x A level







1.0 x A level







1.5 x A levels







2.0 x A levels







3.0 x A levels

21


QCF BTEC Level 3

qualifications


equivalence







0.5 x A level







1.0 x A level







1.5 x A levels







2.0 x A levels







3.0 x A levels

22


QCF BTEC Level 3

qualifications


equivalence







0.5 x A level







1.0 x A level







1.5 x A levels







2.0 x A levels







3.0 x A levels

23

Achieving a pass on the RQF BTEC Nationals

• To achieve a pass on the Extended Diploma, students must:

‒achieve an N grade on all of the externally assessed units

(previously they had to pass all of the externally assessed units)

‒achieve at least 108 points across the units

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Grading the RQF BTEC Nationals

• To grade the qualification:

‒units are graded pass, merit and distinction (+ N grade in externals)

‒ the unit grades are converted to points

‒ the points are added up across the qualification

‒ the qualification grade is read off on the grading scale

25

Points allocation for RQF unit grades

Internally assessed units

Unit size

60 GLH 90 GLH

U 0 0

Pass 6 9

Merit 10 15

Distinction 16 24

Externally assessed units

Unit size

90 GLH 120 GLH

U 0 0

N 6-8 8-11

Pass 9-14 12-19

Merit 15-23 20-31

Distinction 24 32

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Grade scale for the RQF BTEC Nationals

Points ranges Grade

0-107 U

108-123 PPP

124-139 MPP

140-155 MMP

156-175 MMM

176-195 DMM

196-215 DDM

216-233 DDD

234-251 D*DD

252-269 D*D*D

270 and above D*D*D*

27

Grade achieved with 176-195 points

Unit outcomes Grade achieved

Between 176 and 195 points achieved

across the qualification and at least

an N grade achieved on all of the

externally assessed units

DMM

28

Grade achieved with 176-195 points

Unit outcomes Grade achieved


across the qualification and at least

an N grade achieved on all of the

externally assessed units

DMM


across the qualification but

unclassified on one of the externally

assessed unitsUnclassified

29

BTEC National Extended Diploma in

BusinessMandatory units

Title Guided learning hours

1. Exploring Business 90

2. Developing a Marketing Campaign 90

3. Personal and Business Finance 120

4. Managing an Event 90

5. International Business 90

6. Principles of Management 120

7. Business Decision Making 120

Key: Externally set exam Externally set task Internally set assignment

30

BTEC National Extended Diploma in Art

and Design

Mandatory units

TitleGuided learning

hours

1. Visual Recording and Communication 120

2. Critical and Contextual Studies in Art and Design 90

3. The Creative Process 90

4. Materials, Techniques and Processes in Art and Design 90

5. Developing an Art and Design Portfolio 90

6. Managing a Client Brief 120

7. Developing and Realising Creative Intentions 120

31


Applied Science

Mandatory units


1. Principles and Applications of Science I 90

2. Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques 90

3. Scientific Investigation Skills 120

4. Laboratory Techniques and Their Application 90

5. Principles and Applications of Science II 120

6. Investigative Project 90

7. Contemporary Issues in Science 120

32


Engineering

Mandatory units


1. Engineering Principles 120

2. Delivery of Engineering Processes Safely as a Team 60

3. Engineering Product Design and Manufacture 120

4. Applied Commercial and Quality Principles in Engineering 60

5. A Specialist Engineering Project 60

6. Microcontroller Systems for Engineers 120

7. Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems 60

33


Health & Social Care

Mandatory units


1. Human Lifespan Development 90

2. Working in Health and Social Care 120

3. Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care 120

4. Enquiries into current Research in Health and Social Care 120

5. Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs 90

6. Work Experience in Health and Social Care 60

7. Principles of Safe Practice in Health and Social Care 90

8. Promoting Public Health 90

34

Timeframe

• The revised BTEC Nationals in the most popular titles were

introduced for first teaching in September 2016

• Further titles were introduced in 2017 and 2018

Points to note:

• Results for the old QCF BTEC Nationals are sent to UCAS as

soon as they are certificated. For most students, this is by the end

of July

• The new RQF BTEC Nationals have external assessments which

gave to be marked and graded. These are sent under embargo to

UCAS just before A level results.

35

BTEC National titles introduced 2016 & 2017

Subjects available for first teaching

2016

(first main awards 2018)


2017


• Animal Management

• Applied Science

• Art & Design

• Business

• Children’s Play, Learning & Development

• Computing

• Creative Digital Media Production

• Engineering

• Enterprise & Entrepreneurship

• Health & Social Care

• Information Technology

• Music Technology

• Performing Arts

• Sport

• Sport & Exercise Science

• Applied Law*

• Construction & the Built Environment

• Civil Engineering

• Building Services Engineering

• Equine Management

• Forensic & Criminal Investigation

Music Technology suite:

• Digital Music Production*

• Sound Engineering*

Creative Digital Media Production suite:

• Digital Content Production*

• Digital Film & Video Production*

• Digital Games Production*

* Up to 1 x A level size only

36

BTEC National titles introduced 2016 & 2017


2016



2017


• Animal Management

• Applied Science

• Art & Design

• Business

• Children’s Play, Learning & Development

• Computing

• Creative Digital Media Production

• Engineering

• Enterprise & Entrepreneurship

• Health & Social Care

• Information Technology

• Music Technology

• Performing Arts

• Sport

• Sport & Exercise Science

• Applied Law*

• Construction & the Built Environment

• Civil Engineering

• Building Services Engineering

• Equine Management

• Forensic & Criminal Investigation

Music Technology suite:

• Digital Music Production*

• Sound Engineering*

Creative Digital Media Production suite:

• Digital Content Production*

• Digital Film & Video Production*

• Digital Games Production*

* Up to 1 x A level size only

37

BTEC National titles introduced in 2018 & 2019


2018



2019


Agriculture Countryside Management

Applied Human Biology* Forestry & Arboriculture

Applied Psychology* Travel & Tourism

HorticultureUniformed Protective Service (replacement for

Public Services) Ϯ

Music

Music Performance*

Performance* (Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre)

– part of the Performing Arts suite

* Up to 1 x A level size only Ϯ Still under review

38

Impact on student achievement

The inclusion of external assessment has had an impact on the grades

achieved at the top end.

Outcomes:

• The introduction of the N grade has led to a good pass rate in 2018 of

o 97.1% for the Extended Certificate

o 96.7% for the Extended Diploma

(NB: The pass rate for QCF is usually 100% as only those completing

certificate the full qualification)

• % achieving merit and above was very similar for QCF and RQF

• A lower percentage achieved D and above on the RQF

• A significantly lower percentage achieved D* on the RQF

39

Ongoing communications with HELast year’s engagement with Higher Education:

• Visits to over 100 universities in the last 2 years, informing them of the

changes and their likely impact

• Communications with over 150 HE institutions:

‒ informing them of the proportions of applicants to HE taking QCF and RQF

‒ in August, sending a comparison of this summer’s QCF and RQF BTEC

results in order to inform:

o decisions made at Confirmation and Clearing in 2018

o any future review of entry requirements for RQF BTECs

‒ providing support for individual student applications, e.g. for those failing the

Extended Diploma (less of an issue since introduction of the N grade)

This year’s engagement with HE:

• Providing a more detailed comparison of the 2018 QCF/RQF results

• Giving proportions applying to HE in 2019 with QCF/RQF BTECs

• Keeping them informed of the comparison of the QCF/RQF outcomes

40

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