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From a parent’s perspective

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1 From a parent’s perspective
Understanding KS5 From a parent’s perspective

2 Which qualifications run at Toot Hill College?
Qualifications in England (Wales and Northern Ireland) are grouped into levels of difficulty (Entry level – Level 8). The level of difficulty for each qualification is judged and decided by Ofqual. Qualifications at the same level, therefore, are judged to be of the same difficulty, even though the format of the qualifications can differ. We only run Level 3 qualifications at Toot Hill College.

3 Level 3 qualifications at Toot Hill College:
We offer the following Level 3 qualifications at Toot Hill College: Academic: A Levels EPQ Level 3 (Year 13 only) Vocational: OCR Technical qualifications (Level 3) Pearson BTEC National qualifications (Level 3)

4 Level 3 qualifications at Toot Hill College:
We offer the following Level 3 qualifications at Toot Hill College: Academic: A Levels EPQ Level 3 (Year 13 only) Vocational: OCR Technical qualifications (Level 3) Pearson BTEC National qualifications (Level 3)

5 How did A-Level courses used to run?
Year 12 Year 13 Year 12 A Level course Year 13 A Level course Yr12 AS Levels Summer Yr13 A2 Levels Summer AS Level exams Overall result A2 Level exams Overall result for AS Level exams. Overall result for A2 Level exams.

6 Which courses are still running like that 2016 – 17?
Sept 2016: New linear courses Sept 2016: Old modular courses ─ Art and design ─ Biology ─ Business ─ Chemistry ─ Computer science ─ Economics ─ English language ─ English language and literature ─ English literature ─ History ─ Physics ─ Psychology ─ Sociology ─ Drama and theatre ─ Geography ─ Modern foreign languages (French, German, Spanish) ─ Music ─ Physical Education ─ Religious studies (Philosophy and Ethics) ─ Design and technology (Product Design) ─ Government and politics ─ Law ─ Mathematics ─ Media studies ICT A Level

7 Which courses are not running like that 2016 – 17?
Sept 2016: New linear courses Sept 2016: Old modular courses ─ Art and design ─ Biology ─ Business ─ Chemistry ─ Computer science ─ Economics ─ English language ─ English language and literature ─ English literature ─ History ─ Physics ─ Psychology ─ Sociology ─ Drama and theatre ─ Geography ─ Modern foreign languages (French, German, Spanish) ─ Music ─ Physical Education ─ Religious studies (Philosophy and Ethics) ─ Design and technology (Product Design) ─ Government and politics ─ Law ─ Mathematics ─ Media studies ICT A Level

8 How do most A Level courses run now?
Year 12 Year 13 Year 12 A Level course Year 13 A Level course Yr13 A2 Levels Summer All A2 Level exams Overall A Level result Overall result for A2 Level exams.

9 So what has happened to the AS Level?
Year 12 Year 13 AS Level Exams Year 12 A Level course Year 13 A Level course Yr13 A2 Levels Summer All A2 Level exams Overall A Level result Overall AS Level result DECOUPLED Overall result for AS Level exams. Overall result for A2 Level exams.

10 So why were AS Levels kept?
When the government first announced these changes, it was unclear how this would affect applications to universities, which had always historically relied on AS Level results. Some universities (e.g. Cambridge University) then declared early on that they still wanted AS Level results from students who applied. As it was unclear, everyone sort of followed; no one wanted to put their students at a disadvantage if they did not have AS Levels when applying to university.

11 What about now? Universities have now universally agreed that they do not need AS Level results; universities like Cambridge, for example, have begun to bring in entrance exams instead (like Oxford has had for a while). This means there really is very little point at all any more in the AS Level exams unless students do not wish to continue their education into Year 13. Moreover, the cost of entering students for AS Level exams in Year 12 that do not count, and then again for all exams in Year 13 is unsustainable across the country. As such, while most kept them last year, this year pretty much all Sixth Forms and Colleges across the country are dropping the AS Level exams entirely.

12 So what will the A Level look like at Toot Hill College?
Year 12 Year 13 Formal Mock Exam Week Year 12 A Level course Year 13 A Level course Yr13 A2 Levels Summer All A2 Level exams Overall A Level result Overall result for A2 Level exams.

13 What about the other Level 3 qualifications at Toot Hill College?
We offer the following Level 3 qualifications at Toot Hill College: Academic: A Levels EPQ Level 3 (Year 13 only) Vocational: Technical qualification (Level 3) BTEC National qualification (Level 3)

14 How are Tech and BTEC qualifications different from A Levels?
They are vocational. This means they are deliberately designed to enable the learner to acquire specific knowledge and skills to be able to perform a particular job. This also means, in practice, that they are generally more coursework- based than the exam-based A Levels. 2. They use a different grading system. Not A* - E grades like A Levels. Instead they use: Dist*, Dist, Merit, Pass, Fail.

15 How are Tech and BTEC qualifications the same as A Levels?
They are considered the same difficulty. All the Tech and BTEC qualifications offered at Toot Hill are Level 3, the same as A Levels. 2. The majority of universities accept both. Universities rate them the same in terms of difficulty and therefore allocate them the same UCAS points: Tariff Points A2 Level 56 A* 48 A 40 B 32 C 24 D 16 E Tariff Points BTEC Sub Diploma 56 D* 48 D 32 M 16 P

16 How have vocational Level 3 qualifications changed?
Until this year: Sept 2016 onwards: All BTEC National qualifications were 100% coursework. The BTEC National qualifications and the new OCR Technical qualifications are now a mixture of ‘Exam-type’ units and ‘Coursework-type’ units. If a student fails one assignment, they have one chance to re-sit or re-do; if they this one unit again they fail the entire course.

17 Vocational qualifications: National averages and university/apprenticeship entrance
National average for a vocational qualification in 2015 was Distinction. Most universities/apprenticeships expect a Distinction in these qualifications for applications: Tariff Points BTEC Sub Diploma 56 D* 48 D 32 M 16 P

18 Vocational Level 3 qualifications: An overview
Level 3 qualifications we offer: Single or Double award? Number of lessons per week: Business OCR Technical Extended Certificate Single 6 Business OCR Technical Diploma Double 12 Sport BTEC National Extended Certificate Sport BTEC National Diploma ICT BTEC National Extended Certificate Applied Science BTEC National Diploma

19 Business OCR Technical Extended Certificate:
5 Units to complete: 2 externally marked ‘Exam-type’ units. 50% Year 12: 2 hour exam (Jan) Year 13: 1.5 hour exam (Jan) 3 internally marked (and externally moderated) ‘Coursework-type’ units. 2 coursework units. 1 coursework unit. ‘Single award’ = equivalent to one A Level. 5 units to complete over the course of two years – mixture of ‘Exam’ and ‘Coursework’ type units. Grades: Pass, Merit, Dist, Dist*

20 Business OCR Technical Diploma:
10 Units to complete: 4 externally marked ‘Exam-type’ units. 45% Year 12: 2 hour exam (Jan) [18.2%] 1.5 hour exam (Jan) [9.1%] Year 13: 6 internally marked (and externally moderated) ‘Coursework-type’ units. 55% 4 coursework units. [9.1% each] 2 coursework units. ‘Double award’ = equivalent to two A Levels. 10 units to complete over the course of two years – mixture of ‘Exam’ and ‘Coursework’ type units. Grades: PassPass, MeritPass, MeritMerit, DistMerit, DistDist, Dist*Dist, Dist*Dist*

21 Sport BTEC National Extended Certificate:
4 Units to complete: 2 externally marked ‘Exam-type’ units. 67% Year 12: 1 exam unit (June). [33.3%] (1/3) Year 13: 1 exam unit (Jan). 2 internally marked (and externally moderated) ‘Coursework-type’ units. 33% 1 coursework unit. [16.6%] (1/6) ‘Single award’ = equivalent to one A Level. 4 units to complete over the course of two years = mixture of ‘Exam’ and ‘Coursework’ type units. Grades: Pass, Merit, Dist, Dist*

22 Sport BTEC National Diploma in Fitness Services:
10 Units to complete: 2 externally marked ‘Exam-type’ units. 33% Year 12: 1 exam unit (June). [16.6%] (1/6) Year 13: 1 exam unit (Jan). 8 internally marked (and externally moderated) ‘Coursework-type’ units. 67% 4 coursework units. [8.3% each] (1/12) ‘Double award’ = equivalent to two A Levels. 10 units to complete over the course of two years = mixture of ‘Exam’ and ‘Coursework’ type units. Grades: PassPass, MeritPass, MeritMerit, DistMerit, DistDist, Dist*Dist, Dist*Dist*

23 ICT BTEC National Extended Certificate:
4 Units to complete: 2 externally marked ‘Exam-type’ units. 58% Year 12: ‘Controlled task’ June Year 13: Exam January 2 internally marked (and externally moderated) ‘Coursework-type’ units. 42% 1 coursework unit. ‘Single award’ = equivalent to one A Level. 4 units to complete over the course of two years – mixture of ‘Exam’ and ‘Coursework’ type units. Grades: Pass, Merit, Dist, Dist*

24 Applied Science BTEC National Diploma:
8 Units to complete: 3 externally marked ‘Exam-type’ units. 46% Two externally marked written exams. One externally marked practical assessment. 5 internally marked (and externally moderated) ‘Coursework-type’ units. 54% One extended project. Four coursework-based assignments. ‘Double Award’ – this means it is the equivalent of 2 A Levels. 8 Units to complete over two years – mixture of ‘Exam’ and ‘Coursework’. Grades: PassPass, MeritPass, MeritMerit, DistMerit, DistDist, Dist*Dist, Dist*Dist*

25 How many Level 3 courses will each student complete?
Year 12 Year 13 Internal: Nov Exam week Internal: March Exam Week Internal: Formal Mock Exam Week External: All external exams and course-work moderation Year 12 Level 3 course Year 13 Level 3 course Yr13 A2 Levels Summer Year 12 Level 3 course Year 13 Level 3 course Year 12 Level 3 course Year 13 Level 3 course Overall 3 Level 3 results Year 12 Level 3 course Overall result for Level 3 qualifications.

26 Dropping the fourth subject:
Why take four to begin with? Many known courses are different at KS5; students often struggle with them even if they didn’t at GCSE. Many courses are unknown; students have no idea how well they are going to do in this subject. Many students are surprised by their results – often the subject they might have dropped at the beginning is the one they love, or the one they do well in. It allows some flexibility and for students to explore what they are good at; a careful choice can be made regarding which three subjects are those that should be taken forward.

27 Dropping the fourth subject:
Why wait until March to drop it? A student may feel they are doing well in a subject, but the ultimate test is always how they do in a formal written assessment. Again, many students are surprised by their result. Formalising the dropping process in March means that students and staff will have the chance to have robustly assessed a student’s progress in lessons and in at least two formal assessment points before advising them on the subject to drop. Unfortunately, once a subject is dropped there is no chance to go back – as such, we need to make sure all students are supported making the right dropping choice.

28 Dropping the fourth subject:
What if I want to drop a subject beforehand? We ask that all students expect to study all four subjects until the March assessment; this gives students and staff the best chance to make the most robust judgements as to which subject to drop. Moreover, in order to enrol you at KS5, a student must be undertaking 600 Guided Learning Hours (some schools use mandatory General Studies here, but we wanted to give students the flexibility to try a range of four courses before dropping to three). Nevertheless, if there are mitigating circumstances, e.g. medical circumstances, there is the chance to apply to drop one of the subjects from Christmas onwards, once the results of the first November Formal Assessment Point are clear. Nevertheless, from experience we advise that student progress can only really be gauged accurately after two – there is often the greatest fluctuation between these two points and it is not advised.

29 How many Level 3 courses will each student complete?
Year 12 Year 13 Internal: Nov Exam week Internal: March Exam Week Internal: Formal Mock Exam Week External: All external exams and course-work moderation Year 12 Level 3 course Year 13 Level 3 course Yr13 A2 Levels Summer Year 12 Level 3 course Year 13 Level 3 course Year 12 Level 3 course Year 13 Level 3 course Overall 3 Level 3 results Year 12 Level 3 course Overall result for Level 3 qualifications. Some sts may begin to apply to drop here All students drop here

30 Where can I find all this information?
Toot Hill School homepage. College Noticeboard KS5 Parent Information Evening 2016

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