Higher Nationals Newsletter January 2023
Your January updates.
New training events for 2023
We have recently finished scheduling a diverse range of training events for 2023, covering all HN subjects and generic support sessions to ensure your centre is fully informed of our practices, can pick up helpful tips, and have the opportunity to ask an expert any questions. Browse our training sessions.
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APMR Reminder
The APMR for the 2021/22 academic year is due for submission. Deadline: 25 February 2023.
It is a mandatory feature of the Higher Nationals enhanced quality assurance cycle, providing centres an opportunity to reflect on best practice, outline areas of improvement and provide feedback on our qualifications.
UK Centres can access the APMR on our website. If you require login support, please contact us at hnqa@pearson.com.
New Higher National qualification in Counselling and Applied Psychology
This brand new Counselling and Applied Psychology undergraduate qualification blends psychology and therapeutic theory with counselling practice and will enable learners to embark on a career as a Therapeutic Counsellor.
Level 4 contains core units and counselling practice that underpins the profession, and Level 5 enables learners to specialise in a specific or integrative approach to psychotherapy.
Tutors are invited to attend an introductory training session to the new qualification.
The qualifications align with British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) standards and may enable learners to apply for membership and registration with BACP or another similar professional body. BACP approval has been applied for, and we will notify you if we have been successful.
Student progression opportunities with Professional Body memberships
Did you know there are several progression options available to support your students next steps? Browse the industry recognition and agreements we have in place, including memberships, exemptions and certifications.
We have recently added membership opportunities for Project Management Institute (PMI), the leading professional association for project management. You can view these memberships on HN Global.
Qualification spotlight: Cloud Computing
Did you know that our BTEC Higher Nationals in Cloud Computing were developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS)? Designed to address an increasing need for high quality professional and technical education pathways, find out more about how this qualification has been designed to meet the needs of the future workforce.
If your centre is currently delivering Computing, we would love to know your opinion about how a qualification in Cloud Computing might benefit digital learners. Please share your views in our short survey.
Updates you may have missed
- Bolton College are one of the first Colleges in the UK to start delivering BTEC Higher National HTQ’s in Computing in collaboration with the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. Find out more about how they have worked with local employers to co-design the qualification.
- We are looking for employers and industry leaders to contribute to the development of our qualifications. If you know any employers that may be interested in collaborating with us, please ask them to register their interest.
Subject updates
Music, Performing Arts, Sport and Sport and Exercise Sciences
Please note these qualifications are being extended to August 2024 while we review any potential new developments for qualifications in these areas, taking into account new HTQs and potential HTQ’s in these areas.
Applied Sciences
Issue 6 of the specification has now been published. It contains a new unit, Environmental Pollutants and Water Testing. Unit 70 Histology and Haematology has been updated to be delivered at Level 5.
Computing, Cloud Computing and Digital Technologies
A new Unit and Authorised Assignment Brief Multivalency Guide for Computing, Cloud Computing, and Digital Technologies is now available on HN Global. The infographic provides ‘at a glance’ view of the role of units and corresponding Authorised Assignment Briefs within the HN Digital Suite, to assist with curriculum planning and delivery.
Digital Technologies
A Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mapping document is now available. The mapping document is designed to support centres who wish to recognise prior student achievement and maps the Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Digital Technologies (2021) unit content against the Level 4 Higher National in Digital Technologies for England (2023) programme. Note that all additional content present in the Digital Technologies for England (2023), must be delivered to meet the knowledge, skills and behaviours that have been approved for the delivery of this programme.
New Creative Media and Art and Design HNs
The following new qualifications have now been validated and will be published by the end of January 2023:
- Pearson BTEC Higher National in Fine Art
- Pearson BTEC Higher National in Photography
- Pearson BTEC Higher National in Interior Design
- Pearson BTEC Higher National in Product Design
- Pearson BTEC Higher National in The Animation Industry
- Pearson BTEC Higher National in Visual Effects
- Pearson BTEC Higher National in Graphic Design
- Pearson BTEC Higher National in Fashion and Textiles
- Pearson BTEC Higher National in Journalism
- Pearson BTEC Higher National in Web Design
- Pearson BTEC Higher National in Sound Media
- Pearson BTEC Higher National in Film and Television
These qualifications will be available for first teach from September 2023. The existing Creative Media and Art and Design Higher Nationals have been extended to August 2024. Training will be available from March 20223 and will be announced alongside the new specifications. The new specifications will be available on our website.
Please note the new Higher Nationals in Game/Games Design will be announced shortly.
Share your students successes
Do you know any Higher National graduates who have taken on new roles? If so, we’d love to hear from you to find out more and to share their story on our website. Get in touch with us and celebrate student success!
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