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Vocational Programme Entry Requirements (2024/2025)

For more information on your future career path, visit www.informedchoices.ac.uk. View all our Vocational (BTEC) courses in detail by clicking here. You can also click here to view our breakdown of Vocational levels and which one will be best suited for you. Foundation courses are specifically designed to give students who need extra support a wide experience of college life consisting of qualifications, chances to try out vocational options, fun activities and time to make an informed decision about which pathway to choose for progression. None or very few qualifications are needed for Foundation Courses.

  • Level 1 – 1 x GCSE at Grade 3, 1 x GCSE at Grade 2 & Maths or English Language at Grade 2 and Grade 1 in the other
  • Level 2 – 4 x GCSE at Grade 3, Maths or English Lang or Lit at Grade 3 and Grade 2 in the others (1 Year Course)
  • Level 3 – 5 x GCSE at Grade 4, Maths or English Lang or Lit at Grade 4 and Grade 3 in the others.
Courses – Level 1 Additional Requirements  What will I learn?
Events, Tourism & Catering None

Basic Skills/Catering/Tourism & Employability – designed for students who want to progress into the catering and tourism industry and those that need extra support and time to develop study skills. Units include: food preparation and cooking, menu planning, The UK tourism industry, planning a trip to a visitor attraction and Maths and English.

Information Technology with Business None

PC Systems, communication methods and using the internet and digital devices, personal effectiveness skills.

Introduction to Healthcare & Childhood Studies None
This qualification has been designed for learners who wish to achieve a Level 1 qualification in preparation for future study and will maximise opportunities for learners to progress by focusing on the development of transferable and sector-related skills. This level 1 qualification is for students that have an interest or would like to explore working in the fields of either childcare or health and social care.
Public Services None

Initial level introducing a career in the Police, Fire and Rescue, Ambulance, Armed Forces, Government
or Local Council. Develops a range of employability skills including professionalism, leadership, research skills, teamwork and social awareness. Students will also have to study English and Maths to enhance their employability skills.

 

Courses – Level 2 Additional Requirements What will I learn?
Art and Design (UAL) Grade 3 in GCSE Art (or equivalent) or a successful portfolio

Practical course exploring 2D, 3D and moving image Media, techniques and processes. Working through the design process: completing primary research from which you create initial ideas before developing work into a final piece. Includes both practical artwork and written evaluations.

Business None

Units include enterprise, understanding marketing and finance, to retail and customer service environments. Ownership and structures of different businesses and decide on the best option for you when planning your own business start-up.

Chef Diploma None

Learn how to prepare and cook stocks, soups, sauces, fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry and fish. Skills in beverages, cocktails, barista and flambé. Employment and career prep. Industry placement (2 weeks year 1, 4 weeks year 2)

Childcare (Early Years Practitioner) Must have Grade 3 in English, must complete DBS

Understanding and supporting young children’s play and development, including supporting children through play, child development and developing professional practice skills, Includes 280 hours of work placement. (FOR STUDENTS WANTING TO BE A TEACHING ASSISTANT OR NURSERY ASSISTANT)

Engineering

Grade 3 in GCSE Maths and GCSE Science

Theory and practical course including a range of designing and manufacturing activities. Units include Investigating an Engineered Product; Engineering Science & Maths; Machining Techniques; and The Engineering World.

ESports

Induction interview, Grade 4 in GCSE English

Esports course will develop experience and skills to progress to university and gain employment in the rapidly growing Esports industry. The qualification is endorsed by the British Esports Association and suitable for learners wanting to work in the industry. You will study a range of coursework-based modules some of which include: Enterprise and Entrepreneurship in the Esports Industry; Health, Wellbeing & Fitness for Esports Players; Producing an Esports Brand; Video Production; Shout casting; Nutrition for Esports Performance; Esports Coaching; Psychology for Esports Performance; Ethical & Current Issues in Esports; Sports & Esports; Law & Legislation.

Hair and Media Make Up Contains Assessment

Provides skills and learning for basic make-up (day, evening, special occasion and corrective make
up), brow shaping, and false eyelash application. Photographic make-up, body art design and tanning and hairdressing techniques and styles ranging from colouring hair, dressing hair, and making and styling hair extensions.

Health and Social Care Must complete DBS, Contains assessment

Communication, supporting health and well-being, working in health and social care environments (FOR STUDENTS WANTING TO WORK AMONGST PEOPLE; YOUNG PEOPLE OR THE ELDERLY)

Media Production Grade 3 in GCSE English (Language or Literature)

Practical course based on TV and multimedia production. Skills include practical video, audio, photographic and print projects and developing knowledge in regards to the media industry.

Professional Performance Programme (UAL) Successful Audition

Practical course developing performance skills and pursue a career in the performing arts. Fundamental techniques in acting, dance and singing along with how to create performance material.

Public Services Contains Assessment

Practical, theoretical and work related tasks: employment opportunities, teamwork skills, expedition skills, security in the services, crime and its effects, health and fitness, emergency responses to incidents.

Sport /

Anatomy and Physiology, Fitness for Sport and Exercise, Lifestyle and Wellbeing, Leading Sports Activities, The Mind and Sports Performance, Practical Sport, Training and Fitness, Sports Injuries.

Travel, Tourism & Visitor Economy

/

Provides an excellent insight into Tourism today and the varied elements. Units of study will be e.g. UK coastal tourism/Know about airports and airlines/Customer service in travel/The UK travel and tourism industry. Practical and theoretical learning.

 

Courses – Level 3 Additional Requirements What will I learn?
Applied Science Grade 4/4 in GCSE Combined Science or Grade 4 in Biology and Chemistry

Range of biological and chemistry based subjects: Human physiology, microbiology, genetics and genetic engineering, astronomy and medical physics.

Art and Design (UAL) Grade 4 GCSE Art or Graphic Products/Textiles Technology

Develop confidence in a wide range of materials, techniques and processes within a variety of specialist art areas including constructed textiles, digital image making, photography, moving image, fine art and 3D. You will explore the work of other artists/designers/ makers to inspire your own work. After a broad start to the course you will then choose to specialise in a main subject area. Project work includes practical artwork and written evaluation/annotation/research.

Graphic Design (UAL) Grade 4 GCSE Art or Graphic Products

Use of industry software in Apple Mac Suites, developing a range of art and digital media (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign). Practical project work creating graphic designs which explores typography, digital
and traditional photography, digital illustration, moving image and mixed media illustration. Project work includes practical artwork and written evaluation/ annotation/research.

Foundation Diploma Art and Design Students must be aged 18+ Grade C or above in an Art based A Level, or MMP in Vocational Level 3 Creative subject, M or above in UAL Level 2 creative subject. Special consideration for students from a non-art background

Initially you will explore specialist areas such as print making, fine art, photography, graphics, textiles & fashion, 3D, ceramics, and life drawing. There is an emphasis on production of a portfolio for university application. In the final part of the course you will specialise to complete a personal final major project. Project work includes practical artwork and written evaluation/annotation/research.

Business None

Year One: Business functions: marketing, management, finance, leadership and teamwork, business communications and ethics.
Year Two: Employment law, economics, project management, international business, internet and e-commerce, human resource management, retail and distribution and the English legal system.

Creative Media Production Grade 4 in GCSE English (Language or Literature)

Production management, pre-production, scripting and storyboarding, practical camera, soundtrack and editing production, television advertising, film studies and production, writing and layout skills, music video production, client working and professional skills. (JOURNALIST-DIRECTOR-EDITOR-TV PRODUCER)

Hair and Media Make Up (C&G) Pass in Level 2 Hair, Beauty or Hair & Media Make Up

Developing skills and techniques in theatrical and media make-up and hair. Includes skills in casualty
TV (cuts, bruises, scars and wounds) applying fashion and photographic make up for commercial and fashion work. Historical and period makeup, creative hair design and body art.

Health and Social Care Must complete DBS, Grade 4 in English Language and Science if intending to progress into nursing

Develops the skills and knowledge required for a career in health and social care. Units include, sociological perspectives for health and social care, developing effective communication in health and social care, and development through the life stages

Engineering Grade 4 in GCSE Maths and Science

Learning includes materials, electronics and design engineering products. Units include Maths and Further Maths, further mechanical principles, electronic principles, engineering material, manufacturing processes, computer aided design and machining.

ICT Grade 4 in GCSE Maths

Higher level qualifications including topics: computer systems (Hardware and installation), big data (researching and using data) spreadsheets and database development, graphic design and web scripting, programming, games development, mobile engineering, business use of social media.

Music (Advanced Musicianship Programme) Grade 4 in GCSE Music or Grade 3 Music Theory and SUCCESSFUL AUDITION

Covers main areas in: composing, performing, listening and music technology
Compose own music and learn to write in different musical genres, perform as a soloist and ensemble member, listen to and analyse music, use ProTools software.

Professional Performance Programme SUCCESSFUL AUDITION

Intensive high-quality training for motivated students who want to pursue careers in the performing arts. PPP teaches hands-on performance skills and get a better chance of passing auditions, prestigious dance, drama and musical theatre schools. In exceptional circumstances, possible to study A Level in Dance, Music or Drama alongside.

Public Services (Uniformed) None

Wide subject base studying major incidents, criminology and expedition skills and law and the legal system. Main themes include leadership, politics, discipline, crime and its effects on society and health and fitness (ARMED FORCES-PARAMEDIC-POLICE OFFICER-FITNESS INSTRUCTOR-PRISON OFFICER)

Social Sciences (Applied Law, Applied Psychology, Criminology) Grade 4 in GCSE Maths or English

This course has units that include: Health Psychology, Criminological Theories, Crime Scene to Court Room and Criminal Law. The course is put together to give students an in-depth understanding of the criminal justice system and how the mind develops.  There are 6 exams in total for this course.

Sport and Exercise Science Grade 4 in Additional Science or Biology

Sports massage, Sport psychology, exercise physiology, Practical Sport, Sports nutrition, Fitness Training and Programming, Sports Coaching (80% Theory 20% Practical).

Sport None

Anatomy and physiology, fitness testing, sports nutrition, sports coaching, sports massage, work experience in sport.

Travel and Tourism with Cabin Crew None

Overview of the different sectors in the industry including Holiday Reps, Marketing, Events, Retail, Worldwide destinations, Business, Current Issues and Specialist Tourism. Additional airline cabin crew qualification, First Aid and Safety Training and the opportunity to run the Runshaw Travel Agents (The Travel Pod) association with Hays Travel.