Applied BTEC education in British schools

Working with the English schools, I often come across BTEC programme in high schools along with familiar A-level program. School representatives talk about success of their students in BTEC and report on good rate in University entrance with BTEC results. What is BTEC and how it can be interesting for Ukrainian students?

Practical program BTEC or A-level

BTEC stands for Business and Technology Education Council. Do not be misled by the abbreviation of such a Council in Britain no longer exists, and the name stuck for the program of applied education.

BTEC is the UK analogue of the Ukrainian vocational education, the so-called vocational training. Most often, the program is entered in the last two high school classes, as an alternative to A-level.

There are several categories of BTEC – form academic GCSE and A-level to University qualifications. We are only talking about BTEC programme in high school that gives qualification of graduation and the right to go to University. Upon receipt of BTEC qualification it's results are equal to A-level exams

What you studying at BTEC?

As this applied program there are no classical theoretical items. Most of all disciplines in BTEC and A-level do not overlap. If your child plans to study at the University of the arts, business, engineering or tourism, take a look at BTEC subjects.

The list of common BTEC subjects:

• Business
• Applied science
• Art and design
• Engineering
• Sports science
• Music technology
• Travel and tourism
• Pet care

The program is inherently linked to practice, and most subjects are studied only in specialized universities. A training course may include internships in companies, as well as familiarity with professionals from the industry. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the course, its theoretical base and a practical component.

In which schools it is possible to take BTEC?

Program is widespread in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We work with a number of schools that offer training in BTEC:

- BTEC in business and the arts offer high school Queen ethelburga's College.

- In the girls ' school Westonbirt School BTEC disciplines vary and include: performing arts, tourism, business, digital, media production and even horse and animals care.

- Excellent results in BTEC sport students demonstrate English school Bromsgrove School.

What are the requirements for admission to BTEC?

These are the same requirements as for the programme A-level, with one exception. BTEC allows a lower passing score for GCSE results than for A-level. This is due to the fact that A-level has stronger academic load and more competitive. Also the fact that previously BTEC has prepared students only directly for employment.

What schools say?

I recently spoke with a representative of British school Queen Ethelburga's College. The BTEC program at this school is very popular, so we touched prospects of the program including for Ukrainian students. In this school BTEC courses popular in business. For example, one student intends to work in the company of his family so studying business at school already has prepared him to enroll to business Univerisyt and have practical skills. Another student takes BTEC because it leaves more time for doing sports professionally. Thanks to his sporting achievements he had already enrolled in a top British University. The representative of the school says that BTEC program can be appropriate to those children who do not fit to A-level.

But what all schools' representatives agree it's the fact that BTEC is a good option for transition to higher education in those disciplines where theory and the classical academic approach is not enough.

My recommendations

Although schools' representatives repeatedly assured me that the British universities will accept graduates of BTEC along with A-level except of a few top universities, I wouldn't rush to advise all students to take BTEC instead of A-level. If your child sees their future in business or tourism, perhaps he should opt for a BTEC programme in some subjects. If a child doubts the choice of profession, better to stay on A-level to have the choice of more variety of specialties at University.