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Courses/Qualifications

GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education)

There are 8 grades of GCSE: A*, A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. If you have a career in mind, check if you'll need certain grades. GCSEs may be in either general or specialist subjects.

A GCSE Double Award is equal to 2 GCSEs. Some schools in Northumberland offer double awards in Science, Business Studies, ICT, Health and Social Care and Leisure and Tourism. They cover broad areas of work and take up to 20% of your study time.

Specialist GCSEs are also double awards and are available in work related subjects. A GCSE Short Course Award is the same level as a GCSE but you only cover about half the content of a full GCSE course.

NVQ (National Vocational Qualification)

NVQs  allow you to show you  can actually apply what you have learnt to a work situation. They are evidence that you have achieved a certain level of skill in the work you do. In Northumberland you can train to NVQ levels 1, 2, 3 & 4.

Other courses

You might be able to take a BTEC course such as an introductory certificate or diploma or a first certificate or diploma. BTEC qualifications are nationally recognised and are available in a variety of subjects. Check what your school offers.

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