September 2024 BTEC Science subject update

You can view the new BTEC National Applied Science and Medical Science AAQ specifications from the links below.

• Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Applied Science (Extended Certificate) QAN 610/3965/2
• Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Medical Science (Extended Certificate) QAN 610/3958/5

You can keep an eye on our training page for AAQ events to support you with teaching the new qualifications and transitioning over to them from our existing BTEC Nationals.

Students can take BTEC Nationals 2025 qualifications alongside A levels as part of a mixed programme of study. Find out more from the page below.

• Find out more

In May 2024 DfE published a list of Level 3 qualifications that will be defunded from 1 August 2025 in England. This list includes existing Applied General Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Applied Science, Applied Human Biology, Forensic Investigation and Forensic and Criminal Investigation. 

• View DfE list of L3 Qualifications in scope for funding approval withdrawal

To assist centres we have produced a Level 3 BTEC qualification funding checklist guide with tables for each subject summarising funding. A screenshot from this guide from the Applied Science sector is provided for you below.

BTEC Level 3 Funding Checklist for England - Nationals 363.3 KB pdf /content/dam/pdf/BTEC-Nationals/d0044a-btec-l3-funding-guide-nats-eng-pr2.pdf false

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• Keep up-to-date with the future of post-16 level 3 vocational qualifications in England

Keep up-to-date with the reforms from our web page below.

• Level 3 reform news
• Level 2 reform news

We have a Teaching, Learning and Assessment web page which will contain the most up-to-date information on vocational assessment for this academic year. The link to this page is provided below and it is a page you can refer to during the year.

• Visit our Teaching, Learning and Assessment webpage

Timetables can be viewed on our website.

BTEC Centre Guides for 2024-25 are located on the Quality Assurance web page. Under the BTEC Level 2 & Level 3 section you will find centre guides for Internal Assessment, Internal Verification, Lead Internal Verifier, Quality Assurance, for Assignment Writing, for Managing Plagiarism (including AI). The BTEC Annual Year Planner is also available on this page.

• Go to the Quality Assurance web page to view BTEC centre guides

Date & Time: Sep 26, 2024 12:15 PM & Nov 6, 2024 04:00 PM

Duration: 45 minutes

An excellent CPD opportunity for new and experienced Lead Internal Verifiers (LIVs).

The session will take you through the key roles and responsibilities over the academic year with reference to the Annual Quality Assurance model.

The event will cover:

• Team standardisation
• The importance of assessment planning
• Internal verification planning
• Resubmissions and retakes
• Standards verification
• The quality assurance monitoring responsibilities as a Lead IV

You can register from the quality assurance events and support page below and also view other training available.

• Register from the Quality Assurance Events and support page

You can and join an informal Quality Assurance Catch-up online where you can get a quick reminder of where you and your staff should be in the quality assurance calendar.  

Register here:

Quality Assurance catch up dates 89.1 KB pdf /content/dam/pdf/Support/Quality Assurance/quality-assurance-catch-up-dates.pdf false

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This community group covers everything Quality Assurance related for all our vocational and technical qualifications. It's run by Pearson's team of Vocational Quality Assurance Managers and is a quick and easy way to ask questions directly or collaborate with your colleagues in centres.

• Go to the quality assurance group

New to delivering the BTEC International Level 2 in Applied Science?

17 September 2024 at 07:00 - 09:30 GMT (free)

This online session is suitable for Program Managers, Internal Verifiers, Assessors, Tutors, Heads of Department, Quality Nominees, Centre Managers, working in centres offering the BTEC International Level 2 qualification who are either new to delivering this qualification or those who would like to refresh their knowledge.Live sessions provide you with an opportunity to interact with the presenter and take you through:

• Explore the content and structure of the qualification
• Understand grading at assignment, unit, and qualification levels and how to write and deliver engaging assessments
• Discuss how to plan a successful BTEC programme•Understand how to quality assure the qualification
• Provide the opportunity for a Q&A with a Pearson Subject Matter Expert

Go to the training page to book your place

New to delivering the BTEC International Level 3 in Applied Science?

19 September 2024 at 07:00 - 09:30 GMT

This online session is suitable for Program Managers, Internal Verifiers, Assessors, Tutors, Heads of Department, Quality Nominees, Centre Managers, working in centres offering the BTEC International Level 2 qualification who are either new to delivering this qualification or those who would like to refresh their knowledge.Live sessions provide you with an opportunity to interact with the presenter and take you through:

• Explore the content and structure of the qualification
• Understand grading at assignment, unit, and qualification levels and how to write and deliver engaging assessments
• Discuss how to plan a successful BTEC programme
• Understand how to quality assure the qualification
• Provide the opportunity for a Q&A with a Pearson Subject Matter Expert

Go to the training page to book your place

We send out regular Vocational Qualification Bulletins to keep centres informed of our support and services. You can sign-up for these and also read previous bulletins on our website.

Sign-up to receive regular vocational qualification bulletins 

Read previous vocational qualification bulletins on our website

Please keep an eye on the science news page for the latest BTEC Science updates posted throughout the year and read any that you have missed.

• Science news page

You can sign-up to recieve email alerts to my updates via our web form - see link provided below.

• Sign-up to email alerts via the Pearson web form

If you have any questions then please get in touch via the Pearson support portal.