ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS Excellence is never an accident It

ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives - choice, not chance, determines your destiny. ” ― Aristotle

“Be safe” • Our students stay with us, in the main for 7 years. The key pathway of choice at the end of Key Stage 4 is A levels: where “students are prepared extremely well for the extra demands of post-16 courses and as a result progress on AS-level courses is now well above the national average. ” (Ofsted 2013)

Old Pathways GCSE A Levels University degree WORK GCSE / BTEC level 2 combination Apprenticeship, work, training

“Be Free” • We also need to consider how our world and education have changed in the last 20 -30 years. When I was your age there were only 3 TV channels; BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV (all closed at midnight!). By the time I was at university, I also had the luxury of Channel 4 and a few years later Channel 5. Now with Sky/ Virgin/ Freeview, the choice is endless! • We now live and work in a much more flexible and adaptable system, where many routes lead to the same ultimate destination!

New Pathways GCSE A Levels University degree WORK BTEC level 3 GCSE / BTEC level 2 combination Apprenticeship, work, training Higher Apprenticeship, training

PERSONALISED PATHWAYS

Flexibility • Common goal of all pathways is successful employment • Whatever the starting point, there are many routes through to that common goal • Year 9 Options – encouraged to think about course content and your enjoyment of the subject– factors include: exams/ written assessments/ presentations/ experimental work/ group work…. . • BTECs are not an inferior option–they are a viable alternative; as hard, but in a different way • Success stories - Angela – midwife! - Current Year 12 – L 2 L 3 Uni (Nursing)

Mother Genevieve Dupuis and the Bible Genesis 1: 27 “Do your very best for the children. ” “So God created man in his own image. ” “but only if you are an A* student and are off to university”!

QUOTE FROM UCAS WEBSITE “BTECs are work related qualifications suitable for a wide range of students, built to accommodate the needs of employers and allow progression to university. They provide a more practical, realworld approach to learning alongside a key theoretical background. They can be taken as well as, or in place of, GCSEs and A levels in schools and colleges. BTECs are recognised by schools, colleges, universities, employers and professional bodies across the United Kingdom and in over 100 countries worldwide. ”

UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM “The University of Nottingham recognises the new level 3 Extended Diplomas as being equivalent to A-levels and therefore satisfying the general entrance requirements. Applicants who successfully complete the level 3 Extended Diplomas will be considered for entry on to degrees in closely related subjects. ” UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD “We welcome the development of new routes and qualifications leading to higher education. The Level 3 Extended Diploma (from the suite of 14 -19 Diplomas) meets the University's minimum entrance requirement. WARWICK UNIVERSITY “Applicants who successfully achieve the Extended Diploma (level 3) will be considered for entry onto Warwick degrees in some closely aligned subjects. ” MANCHESTER MET “Manchester Metropolitan University will welcome applications to undergraduate courses from students taking the new Progression and Extended Diplomas. ”

Equivalence 3 x A* BCC

2015 At St Paul’s • CACHE Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (CYPW) – a 1 year course which can be used as entry onto Level 3 related courses. Entry requirements – mainly D’s and some E’s(Could also be Level 2 Supporting Teaching and Learning – TA qual - dependent on cohort preference) • NEW - Level 3 Extended BTec in Health and Social Care – 2 years full time – equivalent to 3 A levels – can be used to go to university to study for example Nursing/ Social Work/ Counselling or straight to employment. Entry requirements – mainly C’s and 2 grade B’s.

The Level 3 BTEC in a nutshell…

Assessment and grading • All units are internally assessed • All assessment for the BTEC qualifications in this specification is criterion referenced, based on the achievement of specified learning outcomes. • Each unit within the qualification has specified assessment and grading criteria which are to be used for grading purposes. • A summative unit grade can be awarded at pass, merit or distinction: – to achieve a ‘pass’ a learner must have satisfied all the pass assessment criteria – to achieve a ‘merit’ a learner must additionally have satisfied all the merit grading criteria – to achieve a ‘distinction’ a learner must additionally have satisfied all the distinction grading criteria. • Learners who complete the unit but who do not meet all the pass criteria are graded ‘unclassified’.