13+ Information About Courses

Are you in Year 8 or Year 9 and thinking about which courses to take?

We've given you some information on this page about the courses that may be available in your school and area. You can also check out your area's local online prospectus to see which courses your school offers:

Consortium schools and colleges

Some schools and colleges work together as a 'consortium'. This means that they can offer you a wider range of courses including the new Diplomas. You might go to a different college campus/school to do a particular subject.

Whatever you're thinking of doing, make sure you get some advice from your teachers or Personal Adviser.

Why not see how the various levels and types of qualifications fit together

There's also the Which Way Now website with lots more information about the subjects on offer as part of your Y9 choices.

Courses Fact File

GCSEs

There’s a wide range of subjects on offer including subjects you have already studied in and new subjects you haven’t taken before. GCESs are usually assessed by a mixture of coursework and exams - although some courses now have no or limited coursework so do check this out if you are keen on coursework.

Some GCSE subjects are double awards – equivalent to two traditional GCSEs - for example

Applied art & design
Applied business
Applied ICT
Applied science
Double science
Engineering
Health & social care
Leisure & tourism
Manufacturing

GCSEs offer qualifications at two levels

Foundation level is achieved with GCSEs at grades D – G
Intermediate or Higher level is achieved with four or more GCSEs at grades A* - C

BTEC

BTECs are general vocational courses, and are more specialised than applied GCSEs. BTEC Level One introductory courses may be available at your school.

BTEC Level One introductory courses

These courses introduce you to a broad vocational area. They are on offer at some schools in:

Art, design and media
Business, retail and administration
Construction
Engineering
Health and social care
IT @ work
Hospitality, travel and tourism
Land and environment
Performing arts
Sport and leisure

You can study them as a shorter Certificate or a longer Diploma. Introductory courses are level one - the same level as GCSEs at grades D-G

There are more BTEC courses on offer at 16+.

Diplomas

may be on offer at your school or college at Higher and Foundation level.

Higher Diploma - takes two years of study either on its own or mixed with other KS4 learning for example GCSEs. It is worth the same as 7 GCSEs (A* -C).

Foundation Diploma - takes one year studied full time, or two years if taken at same time as other KS4 learning. It is worth the same as 5 GCSEs (D -G).

All 14 Diploma subjects may be offer to young people in some areas:

Business, Administration and Finance
Construction and the Built Envirionment
Creative and Media
Engineering
Environment and Land-based
Hair and Beauty
Hospitality
Information Technology
Manufacturing and Product Design
Public Services
Retail Business
Society, Health and Development
Sport and Active Leisure
Travel and Tourism

More Information on the Diploma?

National Vocational Qualifications

These are vocational courses related to jobs - for example Business Administration, Vehicle Fitting, Food Preparation and Cooking. Most NVQs are studied after 16 as part of an Apprenticeship or work-based learning programme.

Level 1 - similar to four GCSEs, grades D-F
Level 2 - similar to five GCSEs at grades A-C
Level 3 - similar to two full A Levels
Level 4 - similar to a degree or BTEC Higher National Diploma.
Level 5 - similar to a post-graduate degree or other professional qualification.

NVQs are made up of units, which develop the skills and knowledge needed for a job

NVQs can be done through schools, colleges, training providers or at work. In years 10 and 11 NVQs are usually available as part of a Young Apprenticeship - see below.

Other courses

OCR Nationals

OCR Nationals are vocational qualfications - very similar to BTEC qualfications - and are offered in a range of subjects such as art and design, health and social care, and business. OCR Nationals are offered at levels 1 (Foundation), 2 (Higher), and 3 (Advanced - only at 16+). They are graded at pass, merit or distinction.

Functional Skills

Functional skills are those core elements of English, mathematics and ICT that enable everyone to perform confidently and independently, whether in education or at work. They will be on offer as part of English, maths, and ICT GCSEs, the new Diplomas, and Apprenticeships. You will also be able to take them as separate qualificaitons if you need to.

Young Apprenticeships

A Young Apprenticeship is available in schools and offers a work placement, giving you the opportunity of getting valuable work experience whilst continuing with your studies.

They combine vocational education with your academic studies.

They are available in years 10 and 11. All you need to do is ask your careers teacher / Connexions co-ordinator for an application form.