Providing a grade for the BTEC First Award for students who have taken a larger BTEC First qualification at Key Stage 4

Qualification news | Tue Jun 23 10:37:00 UTC 2020

Dear Colleague,

As may be aware, in previous summers, we have been providing centres which offer the larger sizes of the BTEC First qualifications at Key Stage 4, with an additional certificate for the BTEC First Award size and passed the results on to the DfE for inclusion in performance measures.

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This year however, with the cancellation of exams in England and Wales and the statement in Coronavirus (COVID-19); school and college accountability, that the Government will “not publish any school or college level educational performance data based on tests, assessments or exams for 2020”. Therefore will not be providing this service in 2020, as it will not be needed.

If performance measures are reinstated next year, we will re-introduce the service for 2021. The service is as follows:

If any student achieves a BTEC First in a larger size, which is not included on the List, but has met the eligibility criteria for the First Award, which is on the list, we:

  • automatically certificate the Award size
  • pass the result to DfE to ensure their achievements are recognised in performance measures.

Please remember that we can only generate a grade for the First Award if your students have taken units which are eligible for the First Award, i.e. students who have competed:

  • the compulsory core units (taken as part of the larger sized BTEC First)
  • the required number of optional units selected from the list given in the BTEC First Award qualification

Please also note that the BTEC First Award subjects that will remain on performance tables in 2021 and 2022 are:

  • Animal Care
  • Art and Design
  • Children’s Play, Learning and Development
  • Construction and the Built Environment
  • Music
  • Sport
  • Travel and Tourism

If you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We thank you for your understanding and patience during this unprecedented time.

Best wishes,

Cindy Rampersaud
Senior Vice-President
BTEC and Apprenticeships