About BTECs
Introduction to BTEC First / National Qualifications
To support schools to meet the Entitlement Framework, CCEA has partnered with Edexcel to offer BTEC Firsts and Nationals for teaching from September 2008.
These specialist work-related qualifications are an excellent choice for learners who want to prepare for employment as well as those progressing to Further and Higher Education - BTEC Nationals earn learners UCAS points.
- Level 2 BTEC Firsts are aimed at and well suited to 14 – 16 year old learners.
- Level 3 BTEC Nationals are aimed at post-16 learners.
They are also very flexible in terms of the combination of units possible, the number of guided learning hours as well as the pathways that can be followed to complete each qualification.
Learners take a mixture of core and specialist units from an extensive list. This approach gives teachers a high degree of freedom. There are no examinations and teachers mark coursework.
These qualifications being offered by us in Northern Ireland have been developed by Edexcel. From now on the following arrangements will apply for CCEA/Edexcel centres in Northern Ireland.
- Northern Ireland schools wanting to enter candidates for Edexcel BTEC First and National qualifications must do so with CCEA.
- Support events and materials for Northern Ireland teachers will be provided by CCEA.
- Web-based support for Northern Ireland teachers will be provided by Edexcel.
- Edexcel will manage the quality assurance and awarding process.
- Edexcel will issue results and certificates.
