choices

15/16 plus course guide

More students than ever are deciding to stay on in full-time education after the age of 16. There’s a wide range of nationally recognised courses to choose between so you need to find out as much as you can.

AS and  A level:

You can take a combination of Advanced Level courses to suit you.

A levels (AS or A2) are available in traditional subjects, or in specialist skills. These specialist A levels may be called applied, e.g. applied art and design.

In Year 12 you usually take a broad range of AS subjects – perhaps 3 or 4, occasionally  5.  An AS level is made up of 3 units and can either form the first part of a full A level (which is made up of 6 units) or stand as a qualification on its own.

In Year 13 you usually specialise in  2, 3 or 4 of the subjects you did at AS,  taking A2 examinations in them. Some AS and A levels are double awards, so an AS double award would be made up of 6 units and an A level double award would have 12 units. These would be equal to two AS levels or two A levels.

To take some A level subjects e.g. Psychology you  do not need  to  have  a GCSE.  You do not need   to  have studied Law,  Accountancy,  Business,  Economics, Psychology and Sociology at A level in order to take them as a degree.

Higher Education Requirements

Most degree courses require two A levels plus 5 GCSEs grades A-C (or equivalent), but some  will ask for more than this.  Universities will often  not accept 4 AS levels as equivalent for entry, so check carefully. Foundation Degrees and some Higher National Diploma (HND) courses require only one A level.

Some career areas and university courses require specific A level and GCSE subjects – look at which A level which course of Higher Education for some general guidelines and check the prospectus.

NVQs

National Vocational Qualifications show that you are competent to carry out the tasks of a particular job.

BTEC qualifications

These include Introductory, First, National and Higher National Certificates and Diplomas, available in subjects such as  Graphic Design and Performing Arts. The National Diploma is equal to 2 A levels; the First Diploma is equal to 4 GCSEs A-C grades. See www.edexcel.org.uk.

City & Guilds

These qualifications are available at different levels in a variety of work areas. They are mostly available at colleges of FE.
http://www.city-and-guilds.co.uk/

OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA qualifications)

Provide National First Awards, National Certificates and Diplomas and Progession Awards in vocational areas such as Administration, IT, Languages and Education. Log on to http://www.ocr.org.uk/ to find out more.

CACHE

CACHE (Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education) offer qualifications in Childcare. See http://www.cache.org.uk/

Diplomas

Diplomas are new! Diplomas are new qualifications which will be available in Northumberland from 2009. They'll be available in Construction and the Built Environment, Engineering, Hair and Beauty, Environment & Land Based Studies and Hospitality and Catering. Newcastle and North Tyneside are also offering diplomas.

Diplomas are two year courses available at three levels: Foundation (equal to five GCSEs), Higher (seven GCSEs) and Advanced (three A levels). Diplomas offer a mix of classroom study and practical learning in a work based environment. They give an insight into careers within that subject area but don't commit you to a career in that area.

For more information go to http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/