ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS
“Excellence is never an accident. It is
always the result of high intention,
sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it
represents the wise choice of many
alternatives - choice, not chance,
determines your destiny.”
― Aristotle
“Be safe”
• Our students stay with us, in the main for 7
years. The key pathway of choice at the end of
Key Stage 4 is A levels: where “students are
prepared extremely well for the extra
demands of post-16 courses and as a result
progress on AS-level courses is now well
above the national average.” (Ofsted 2013)
Old Pathways
GCSE
A Levels
University
degree
WORK
GCSE /
BTEC level 2
combination
Apprenticeship,
work, training
Old Pathways
GCSE
A Levels
University
degree
WORK
GCSE /
BTEC level 2
combination
Apprenticeship,
work, training
“Be Free”
• We also need to consider how our world and education
have changed in the last 20-30 years. When I was your
age there were only 3 TV channels; BBC1, BBC2, ITV (all
closed at midnight!). By the time I was at university, I
also had the luxury of Channel 4 and a few years later
Channel 5. Now with Sky/ Virgin/ Freeview, the choice
is endless!
• We now live and work in a much more flexible and
adaptable system, where many routes lead to the same
ultimate destination!
New Pathways
GCSE
A Levels
University
degree
WORK
BTEC level 3
GCSE /
BTEC level 2
combination
Apprenticeship,
work, training
Higher
Apprenticeship,
training
New Pathways
GCSE
A Levels
University
degree
WORK
BTEC level 3
GCSE /
BTEC level 2
combination
Apprenticeship,
work, training
Higher
Apprenticeship,
training
New Pathways
GCSE
A Levels
University
degree
WORK
BTEC level 3
GCSE /
BTEC level 2
combination
Apprenticeship,
work, training
Higher
Apprenticeship,
training
New Pathways
GCSE
A Levels
University
degree
WORK
BTEC level 3
GCSE /
BTEC level 2
combination
Apprenticeship,
work, training
Higher
Apprenticeship,
training
New Pathways
GCSE
A Levels
University
degree
WORK
BTEC level 3
GCSE /
BTEC level 2
combination
Apprenticeship,
work, training
Higher
Apprenticeship,
training
New Pathways
GCSE
A Levels
University
degree
WORK
BTEC level 3
GCSE /
BTEC level 2
combination
Apprenticeship,
work, training
Higher
Apprenticeship,
training
PERSONALISED PATHWAYS
Flexibility
• Common goal of all pathways is successful employment
• Whatever the starting point, there are many routes through
to that common goal
• Year 9 Options – encouraged to think about course content
and your enjoyment of the subject– factors include: exams/
written assessments/ presentations/ experimental work/
group work…..
• BTECs are not an inferior option–they are a viable alternative;
as hard, but in a different way
• Success stories - Angela – midwife!
- Current Year 12 – L2  L3 Uni (Nursing)
Mother Genevieve Dupuis and the Bible
Genesis 1:27
“Do your very best
for the children.”
“So God created man
in his own image.”
“but only if you are an A* student and are off to university”!
QUOTE FROM UCAS WEBSITE
“BTECs are work related qualifications suitable for a
wide range of students, built to accommodate the
needs of employers and allow progression to
university. They provide a more practical, real-world
approach to learning alongside a key theoretical
background. They can be taken as well as, or in
place of, GCSEs and A levels in schools and colleges.
BTECs are recognised by schools, colleges,
universities, employers and professional bodies
across the United Kingdom and in over 100
countries worldwide.”
UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
“The University of Nottingham recognises the new level 3 Extended Diplomas as being equivalent
to A-levels and therefore satisfying the general entrance requirements. Applicants who successfully
complete the level 3 Extended Diplomas will be considered for entry on to degrees in closely
related subjects.”
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
“We welcome the development of new routes and qualifications leading to higher education. The
Level 3 Extended Diploma (from the suite of 14-19 Diplomas) meets the University's minimum
entrance requirement.
WARWICK UNIVERSITY
“Applicants who successfully achieve the Extended Diploma (level 3) will be considered for entry
onto Warwick degrees in some closely aligned subjects.”
MANCHESTER MET
“Manchester Metropolitan University will welcome applications to undergraduate courses from
students taking the new Progression and Extended Diplomas.”
Equivalence
3 x A*
BCC
2015 At St Paul’s
• CACHE Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young
People’s Workforce (CYPW) – a 1 year course which
can be used as entry onto Level 3 related courses.
Entry requirements – mainly D’s and some E’s(Could
also be Level 2 Supporting Teaching and Learning –
TA qual - dependent on cohort preference)
• NEW - Level 3 Extended BTec in Health and Social
Care – 2 years full time – equivalent to 3 A levels –
can be used to go to university to study for example
Nursing/ Social Work/ Counselling or straight to
employment. Entry requirements – mainly C’s and 2
grade B’s.
The Level 3 BTEC in a nutshell…
Assessment and grading
• All units are internally assessed
• All assessment for the BTEC qualifications in this specification is criterion
referenced, based on the achievement of specified learning outcomes.
• Each unit within the qualification has specified assessment and grading criteria
which are to be used for grading purposes.
• A summative unit grade can be awarded at pass, merit or distinction:
– to achieve a ‘pass’ a learner must have satisfied all the pass assessment
criteria
– to achieve a ‘merit’ a learner must additionally have satisfied all the merit
grading criteria
– to achieve a ‘distinction’ a learner must additionally have satisfied all the
distinction grading criteria.
• Learners who complete the unit but who do not meet all the pass criteria are
graded ‘unclassified’.