Further Education

Further education covers the types of education that go beyond your compulsory education and can be a stepping-stone into higher education and your chosen career.

Here are some of the common types of vocational further education qualifications that are available to you. The ones listed here range from entry level to level 3. Remember, all level 3 qualifications can be used to gain access into higher education courses.

It is very important to understand that having a level 3 qualification doesn’t guarantee you access into all higher education courses. Lots of HE courses require specific qualifications or grades. If you already have a career or higher education course in mind, make sure you find out the specific entry requirements for the course you are interested in. You can do this by contacting the admissions department in your chosen university or college. Contact details can be found in our Vocational Pathways – Contacts Section.

Vocational GCSEs

(also called GCSEs in vocational subjects)

NQF Level: 1 to 2

More info: www.qca.org.uk/gcse

Vocational GCSEs:

• are general vocational courses of study that introduce you to a broad sector of industry like manufacturing or healthcare and enable progression to further education, training or employment
• have the same high standards as other GCSEs but are designed to provide a more hands-on approach to learning
• are equivalent to two regular GCSEs and are known as ‘Double Awards’
• are graded from A* to G where D to G are level 1 qualifications and grades A* to C are level 2 qualifications.

Planning

GCSEs in vocational subjects:

• Applied Art and Design
• Applied Business
• Applied ICT
• Applied Science
• Engineering
• Health and Social Care
• Leisure and Tourism
• Manufacturing
• (A new subject ‘Construction and the Built Environment’ is currently being piloted.)

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

NQF Level: 1 to 3

More info: www.qca.org.uk/qca_6640.aspx

NVQs at levels 1 to 3:

• are work-based learning qualifications that reflect the skills and knowledge needed to do a particular job
• represent a national standard recognised by employers throughout the country and show that the learner can actually do the job, not simply that they know how to do it in theory
• are assessed and gained mostly through the workplace by on-the-job observation and questioning rather than by written exams
• can be taken full- or part-time and can be completed in any reasonable length of time
• are taken by employees including Apprentices, or by school and college students who have a work training placement

NVQs can be awarded from level 1 to level 5 however, the ones referred to here are levels 1 to 3 and are classed as further education. See the higher education section of this guide for information on NVQs at levels 4 and 5.

NVQ subject areas

There are NVQs available for almost all occupations and they are categorised into 11 groups:

• Communicating
• Constructing
• Developing and Extending Knowledge and Skills
• Engineering
• Extracting and Providing Natural Resources
• Manufacturing
• Providing Business Services
• Providing Goods and Services
• Providing Health, Social Care and Protective Services
• Tending Animals, Plants and Land
• Transporting

You can arrange to do an NVQ through a work-based learning training provider. Details of how to contact Training Providers can be found in our Contacts Section.

An NVQ level 3 can be used to enter higher education.

BTEC Introductory, First and National qualifications

NQF Level: 1 to 3

More info: www.edexcel.org.uk/quals

BTECs:

BTEC Qualifications

• are practical vocational qualifications that are developed and updated with and for industry
• can be studied either full- or part-time so that you can adapt them to your circumstances
• are not assessed by exams but by your teacher or trainer. You complete assignments, case studies and practical activities, as well as a portfolio of evidence to show the work you have done.

BTECs are available from entry level to postgraduate level however the ones referred to here are BTEC Introductory, First and National qualifications and are classed as further education. See the higher education section in this guide for BTEC Higher Nationals and Professionals.

• BTEC Subject areas from Levels 1 to 3

For a printable version of the table please select  the link below:  Opens in new window

• BTEC Subject areas from Levels 1 to 3 PDF 32kb  

Awarding body vocational qualifications

NQF Level: 1 to 3

Awarding body vocational qualifications:

• usually follow a course structure with conventional methods of learning
• develop practical skills and knowledge but tend to be classroom based
• are usually assessed by written and practical examinations
• can be recognised by certificates and diplomas, can be NVQs, or can be independent qualifications.

OCR Nationals are a common example of an awarding body vocational qualification.  They can be taken in the subjects of Business, Design, Health and Social Care, IT, Media Public Services, Sport, Travel and Tourism and Science.  OCR Level 3 Nationals can be used to gain entry into appropriate higher education courses.

Examples of awarding bodies include:

City and Guilds www.cityandguilds.com

Edexel www.edexel.org.uk

NCFE www.ncfe.org.uk

OCR www.ocr.org.uk

New Diplomas NQF Level: 1 to 3

New Diplomas

New qualifications currently called ‘Diplomas’ are in development. They will be available in a variety of vocational subjects from entry level to level 3 and they should be fully available to all 14 to 19 year olds by 2013.

From 2008, the Diplomas will be available in some areas of the Peninsula. Subjects will include Engineering, Construction and the Built Environment, Information Technology, Society, Heath and Development and Creative and Media. Because the new Diplomas are still being developed, this information is provided as a rough guide only.

We recommend that you visit www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19 and www.diplomainfo.org.uk for up-to-date information.

The Diplomas at level 3 will eventually have a UCAS Tariff for entry into higher education courses. However, it is not yet clear exactly how universities and colleges will view them. Therefore, if you plan to do a Diploma at level 3 it is important that you check that the higher education course you want to do will accept this qualification for entry.

Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships

NQF Level: 2 and 3

More info: www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships:

• are jobs where you learn a skill or trade at the same time
• allow you to earn while you learn because you work for an employer and are paid a wage or a training allowance
• are work-based for most of the time depending on what subject you take but could include off-the-job training through a college or private training provider
• include official qualifications like Key Skills, NVQs and technical certificates
• can be organised directly by employers or arranged through a national or local training provider
• can take between one to five years to finish and end when all elements of the Apprenticeship have been completed – there is no fixed time. An Advanced Apprenticeship usually takes two years minimum.

Apprenticeship subject areas

There are over 150 different Apprenticeships that fit into these categories:

• Administration and Professional
• Agriculture
• Construction
• Customer Service, Retail and Wholesale
• Engineering
• Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
• Food and Drink
• Health and Beauty
• Health, Care and Public Services
• Hospitality
• Manufacturing
• Media and Printing
• Recreation and Travel
• Transportation

An Advanced Apprenticeship is a level 3 qualification and can be used to enter higher education courses like Foundation degrees, HNCs or HNDs.

You can arrange an Apprenticeship directly with employers or through work-based learning training providers. For a list of local training providers please visit our Contact Details/Training Providers Section.

Applied A levels (also called GCE A levels in applied subjects)

NQF Level: 3

More info: www.vocationallearning.org.uk/students/avce/intro.asp

Applied A Levels

Applied A levels:

• can be taken at schools and further education colleges
• are qualifications that enable you to develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the vocational area you are studying prepare you for both the world of work and progression to higher education
• are designed to be active and student-led, although directed by teachers and supported by professional and employer input
• are assessed mostly through course work with fewer exams than other A levels.

Applied A levels are level 3 qualifications and can be used to enter higher education.

GCE A levels in applied subjects:

• Applied Art and Design
• Applied Business
• Applied Science
• Engineering
• Health and Social Care
• Applied ICT
• Leisure Studies
• Media: Communication and Production
• Performing Arts
• Travel and Tourism

Other FE options

Entry to Employment (e2e)

The Eden Project

Entry to Employment

• is for young people aged 16-18 who are not in any form of post-16 learning
• prepares you for entering further vocational learning like an Apprenticeship
• involves 3 core areas; basic and key skills, vocational development and social development

More info:

http://e2e.lsc.gov.uk

www.freestyleyouth.org.uk

Freestyle (pre e2e)

In Cornwall there is a pre-e2e programme called Freestyle. It is a flexible programme for 14 to 19 year olds that allows you to take part in a variety of activities some of which lead to qualifications. Examples of activities include confidence building, music technology, the Food Hygiene Certificate, and workplace tasters.

Freestyle usual involves 12 hours a week for 12 weeks and if you are eligible for the Education Maintenance Allowance you can have it paid to you while on the programme. The Freestyle programme is for young people who need a more relaxed approach to learning or who are not yet ready for a job. Progressions routes after Freestyle could be e2e or an Apprenticeship.