Qualifications
Your guide to qualification levels
Prior achivements determine your starting point.
| Level One Qualification | Level Two Qualification | Level Three Qualification | Level Four Qualification | Level Five Qualification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progession Route | Entry Level | Foundation GNVQ | GCSE | A Levels and A/S | HND or Degree |
| Progession Route | Entry Level | Foundation GNVQ | BTEC First | BTEC National | HND or Degree |
| Progession Route | Entry Level | Foundation GNVQ | Intermediate GNVQ | AVCE Vocational/A Levels | HND or Degree |
| Progession Route | Entry Level | NVQ 1 | NVQ 2 | NVQ 3 | NVQ 4 and 5 |
| Progession Route | Entry Level | OCN 1 | OCN 2 | OCN 3 | HND or Degree |
Entry level
Designed for students who need to develop essential skills before moving onto NVQ Level 1 or foundation GNVQ. Students can achieve both a vocational award and basic skills awards, after one or two years study to suit the individual student.
Level 1
Courses can be in a specific vocational area, or an introductory diploma in vocational studies which gives a sample of a range of vocational areas to help you make choices for your future.
NVQ
National Vocational Qualifications
NVQs are all about employment skills, where you will be assessed on whether you can actually do a job, rather than writing or talking about it. For many students previous employment or part time work can be included towards achievement of the award.
C&G
City and Guilds of London Institute
C&G awards qualifications, mostly concerned with engineering, technical areas and catering, at NVQ levels one, two and three.
BTEC
First, National or Higher National Diplomas
These are three levels of work related qualifications, which are practical and enable students to gain the knowledge and the skills needed at work. Four grade Cs at GCSE will take you onto a two year National course, Ds and Es at GCSE will take you onto a one year First course. Success on a National course or A levels will take you onto a Higher National course.
OCN
Open College Network
Nationally recognised qualifications giving students credit for units of learning, eg. courses in the School of Art and the Access courses for adults.