Apprenticeships
Earn whilst you learn! If you don’t want a full-time College course and you know what sort of job you want to go into, an Apprenticeship could be right for you. You learn the job, get qualified and get paid.
Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), Edexcel, Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR), NCFE
The main exam boards for A Levels and GCSEs, as well as some vocational courses (see BTEC and CACHE below).
AS/A Levels
Usually have 4 units: 2 for AS Level (Year 1) and 2 for A2 (Year 2). Most students choose 4 AS Levels in Year 1, although you can choose 3 or 5 depending on your GCSE results.
AQA Baccalaureate
This is a framework for your subjects that gives you an extra qualification. It includes your A Level study and can enhance your university or job application.
Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC)
Exam board that specialises in vocational courses. Well known to employers and universities.
BTEC First
With this Vocational Level 2 Course, you learn about a particular job area and gain relevant skills. Equivalent to 4 GCSEs at Grade C, it will allow you to progress to a Level 3 course. You usually combine them with at least one GCSE or other Level 2 course.
BTEC National
A vocational course that has few or no exams: assessment is by your written assignments or practical work. Equivalent to A Levels (the two-year Certificate and Diploma courses are 2 and 3 A Levels, the one-year Award is 1 A Level), it enables you to go on to Higher Education, or straight to employment. You may be able to combine a BTEC National with other AS or A Levels.
CACHE
Exam board that specialises in Childcare courses.
Diplomas
Advanced Diplomas are equivalent to three-and-a-half A Levels; Higher Diplomas are equivalent to 7 GCSEs at grade C or above. They offer a mix of vocational and academic skills.
Entry Level, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3
The levels of course that you can choose to do at College. Decide which level suits you best. You can take courses from more than one level.
Essential Skills
Also known as Functional Skills. All students can work on Essential Skills, if they need to. They include things that employers (and the government and parents!) know are essential for academic and working life: Practical English; Practical Maths; IT. Essential Skills will improve your grades, your career and your university prospects.
Foundation Learning
This is learning at Entry Level or Level 1 and is a personalised programme to help you achieve credits and progress to a higher level or a job.
InfoSheets
Every subject or course at New College has its own InfoSheet which gives you more details about it, including any specific GCSE grades you need. A number like this – NC690 – gives you the InfoSheet number (see pages 99 and 100).
Learning Programme
The complete list of courses and subjects you take at College. This is personalised to meet your needs and so is your learning programme.
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
Qualifications that you get while you are working in a job. Part of an Apprenticeship (see page 97) but also available to all New College students who have a part-time job – ask your Tutor for details.
Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)
This is the system that gives a credit value to every unit of a qualification you take. Many qualifications have already moved to this system and more will follow. You take units and get accredited in bite size chunks. Information sheets will give you details of this for each subject and your ULN (see below) will give you your own personal credits for all the qualifications you take.
University Central Application System (UCAS)
The organisation that deals with every application to every university or higher education institution in the UK.
Unique Learner Number (ULN)
This is your personal 10-digit number that will remain with you throughout your life, so that all your learning experiences, exam results and qualifications will be linked together. If you don’t know what it is, please ask your school.
Vocational
Focuses on a particular job area. Gives you the knowledge and skills necessary to go and work in that job area or train further. Good if you know what sort of job you want to do. Usually has few or no exams – assessment is by coursework.