New Pearson BTEC International Level 3 qualifications launching for first teaching in 2020
Our new Pearson BTEC International Level 3 qualifications will be available for first teaching from April 2020, with specifications available online from October 2019. Here’s a summary of the information schools and colleges need to start planning.
What are Pearson BTEC International Level 3 qualifications?
Developed in collaboration with employers and teaching professionals from around the world, Pearson BTEC International Level 3 qualifications are career-focused courses where learners apply knowledge and skills through real-life scenarios, giving them the confidence and employability skills to succeed in their professional lives.
Pearson BTEC International Level 3 at a glance
| Standard | Content | Career-focused |
|---|---|---|
| Level 3 High School standard (for 16-18 year-old learners), internationally recognised by universities and employers. | Based on UK BTEC Level 3 Nationals content, these are internationally accessible qualifications which can be tailored to local needs. | We’ve consulted with employers and teaching professionals to ensure these qualifications contain the knowledge, skills and behaviours employers and professional bodies are looking for. |
| Assessment | Support for teaching | BTEC track record |
Assessment through high standard internal assignments. Teachers can plan BTEC courses around their year or timetable with flexibility to assess learners at any point in the year. Pearson supports centres through the assessment experience. |
Support from Pearson to help the learner through the course and give teachers confidence to deliver a high quality and effective course: textbooks; sample assessments; support and training from Pearson experts. | UK and international track record in learners progressing to university and succeeding on undergraduate programmes. Internationally recognised by employers and professional bodies. |
Recognition from employers and Higher Education
We know how important it is for career-focused qualifications to be valued by business and educators. That’s why we are working actively with employers and Higher Education institutions at a local and international level to gain recognition for these new qualifications, and we’ll keep you up to date with the latest news on this.
How many subjects and sizes are there?
We’re developing qualifications in 13 subjects, with five different sizes for each, to suit a range of curriculum needs and career paths. We’ll make all specifications available online by September 2019, with training, free course materials and paid-for resources to follow in 2020.
Pearson BTEC International Level 3s will be available in:
| Subjects | Sizes (all sizes available for each subject) |
|---|---|
Art and Design Business Construction Creative Media Engineering Hospitality IT Land-based (Agriculture and Horticulture) Music Travel and Tourism Performing Arts Science Sport |
Certificate (180 GLH) Subsidiary Diploma (360 GLH) Foundation Diploma (540 GLH) Diploma (720 GLH) Extended Diploma (1080 GLH) |
How are these qualifications assessed?
Pearson BTEC International Level 3 qualifications are 100% internally assessed through assignments and practical tasks. Most assessments are set and marked by educators in the school or college, and verified by Pearson. Pearson will set and provide centres with assignments for some mandatory units.
This means there are no external examinations set by Pearson, and all assessments are set and marked at the time which best suits the school or college. This style of assessment gives learners the opportunity to build up a portfolio of evidence which demonstrates how they can apply their knowledge, skills and achievements in real-life scenarios.
What support and training is available?
Pearson’s experts are here to help: BTEC teachers will have support and training available at every stage as they prepare to plan, teach and assess the new qualifications, and there will be high quality, flexible training available from October 2019 including online, downloadable support and face-to-face training with BTEC experts.
| Plan | Teach | Assess | Develop |
|---|---|---|---|
Course Guide
|
Study Skills and Starter Guides
|
Standardisation training
|
Face-to-face and online, downloadable training courses
|
Can we still offer the current BTEC Level 3 Nationals?
If you are already teaching BTEC Level 3 Nationals (QCF), you can continue registering new learners up to 31 August 2020 and certificate any on-programme learners up to December 2022.
Registrations from 1 September 2020
| If you are currently teaching a: | If you are currently teaching a: |
in any of the subjects where there is a new BTEC International Level 3 qualification, you will need to make any new registrations on the new Pearson BTEC International Level 3 qualifications from 1 September 2020 onwards. |
you can continue to make registrations until the agreed expiry date. |
Approval
If you are already teaching a Pearson BTEC Level 3 National (QCF) qualification and decide to move to the equivalent new Pearson BTEC International qualification in September 2020, you will be auto-approved to teach the new qualification if:
there are no outstanding quality assurance blocks
you have made registrations within the last 2 years.
That means Pearson will make the transfer and you won’t need to complete any additional paperwork.
If you have any queries about approvals