Education options
A qualification speaks volumes to a potential
employer. It not only shows how much knowledge and skills you have in a
particular subject area and to what level, it also shows commitment and an ability
to seeing something through to completion.
These days, many careers require qualifications for
entry. These can take the form of a vocational (work-related) course or a more
academically focused course such as a degree.
Vocational
courses
With so many jobs needing some kind of training or work experience to enter, a vocational course is a great way of getting both. Vocational courses combine study and written work with practical training and in some cases, paid work placements, and are available from basic level all the way up to pre-university and degree level. Of course, you’ll need to be fairly certain of what you want to do, as most vocational courses train you up for a specific career.
Know your levels: When
choosing a vocational qualification to study, it’s important to know what ‘level’
it is. This may affect the job you can apply for at the end of the course, or
whether you can go to university. As a rough guide, a vocational qualification
at levels 1 and 2 is equivalent to GCSE study. Level 3 is equivalent to A-levels
and can provide a route into higher education.
Check
which qualifications are equivalent to which at The National Qualifications
Framework website www.qcda.gov.uk
Types of qualification
Common vocation qualifications
include:
National
Vocational Qualifications (NVQs): There are more
than 900 NVQs to choose from, covering a myriad of subjects from
hairdressing to healthcare. NVQs often form part of an apprenticeship.
Vocational
Related Qualifications (VRQs): These include
City and Guilds, BTEC National Certificates/Diplomas and OCR Nationals. VRQs
can be any length and are also often included in apprenticeship schemes.
Higher
National Certificates/Diplomas (HNC/D):
HNC/Ds are at level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework
and can lead onto the second or third year of a related
degree course or, of course, a job.
Vocational courses are often
available part time, enabling students to hold down a job, and many include a
work placement as part of its remit.
Research
all of the course options available and decide which is best for your career
prospects. You can do this by discussing with your careers advisor, asking
potential employers what they look for, and talking to people in your career
area about their route into their career.
Advanced
and Progression Diplomas
The Diploma is a new kind of qualification for 14-19 year
olds and is available in a select number of colleges around the country. If you’re
in years 10 or 11 you may already have started one. Diplomas are available as
Foundation (level 1), Higher (level 2) and Advanced (level 3). Unlike GCSEs and
A-Levels, a Diploma offers a mixture of class work and hands-on experience. So
you carry on studying English, Maths and ICT while finding out what it is like
to work in a particular industry, such as travel and tourism.
Completing an Advanced Diploma is the equivalent of
completing three and a half A-levels; a Progression Diploma is worth two and a
half. Both carry UCAS tariff points if you want to apply to university
afterwards. Ten subjects are currently available.
Find out which subjects are currently available at http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas
A-levels
The
most popular route into university or college is the completion of A-levels
(although taking A-levels doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go on to
university; many go straight into employment). Most degrees require certain
UCAS tariff points, where the A-level grade you achieve translates into a
number of points. AS-levels carry half the number of tariff points as a full A-level
(and take half the amount of time to complete).
Vocational qualifications may also count as tariff points for university entry – see www.ucas.com for a complete list.
