We are pleased to announce that the vast majority of over 260 BTEC National and BTEC First titles and 40 BTEC Short Courses have been accredited by QCA (the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority) to be in the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)*.

The revisions to the BTEC Firsts and BTEC Nationals have taken almost two years of painstaking work to complete. BTEC Firsts and BTEC Nationals are at the cutting-edge of assessment and delivery, providing centres and students the flexibility and support they need to be able to prepare for the many vocational areas represented across the suite of qualifications. Many of the positive features of the original suite of BTEC qualifications have been retained, including the opportunity to deliver the qualifications to maximise retention and achievement with the emphasis on centre-based assessment. Assessment of the units continues to be based on criterion referencing, but with greater support available within the specifications through contextualised grading and clearer guidance.

We will be producing Tutor Support Materials for the new suite of BTEC qualifications during Spring 2002, and, following the Launches in January and February, we will be providing INSET and other training across the country. Details of the Launch briefings are in the new BTEC Qualifications area of our website. Centres wishing to offer these BTEC qualifications will need to assure Edexcel that they have the necessary resources to offer the qualifications. Those centres already offering the pre-cursor qualifications already will be able to go though an accelerated approval process. Centres, either new to Edexcel's BTEC qualifications or already offering them, will be given details of how to seek approval over the next few weeks, via our website updates.

With the comprehensive nature of our support, the detailed launch events and an exciting promotional and targeted media campaign, linked to downloadable electronic information and e-mailed BTEC Bulletins, centres will be able to access the information they need quickly and effectively.

Over the coming weeks we will be constantly adding to the BTEC pages on our website, for example, by providing:

• titles, structures and units of each qualification
• student guides
• facts in the format of Frequently-asked Questions and Answers
• details of launch events in January and February 2002
• specifications of the qualifications
• detail of publications
• details of INSET and other training
• information on assessment and other related issues.

BTEC Nationals are now in three distinct sizes; namely:

• BTEC National Award - a six-unit highly-focused qualification, based on the study of a highly-specific area of specialist vocational knowledge and application, e.g. BTEC National Award in Animal Management (Animal Rehabilitation). This can be studied alongside other qualifications in a full-time programme, or as a part-time course studied to gain the specific skills and knowledge of the specialisms concerned.
  
• BTEC National Certificate - a specialist qualification of twelve units, providing knowledge and understanding and covering a particular sector in detail. This has equivalence with 2 A levels.
  
• BTEC National Diploma - extends still further the breadth and depth of knowledge and application, providing across its 18 units a high degree of specialisms. This has equivalence with 3 A levels and can be used to prepare students for work or higher education.

BTEC Firsts are useful qualifications at Level 2 in the NQF, providing the knowledge and skills required at first entry into a particular sector of an area of work, and are broadly equivalent to 4 pass grades at GCSE.

BTEC Nationals and Firsts continue to represent to centres a valued and credible alternative in the post-16 sector.

For more information, news, updates and support, visit our new BTEC Qualifications area of the website.

*After August 2002, only those qualifications listed on the NQF will be funded within publicly funded colleges, training providers and other institutions through the Learning & Skills Council (LSC). By early December 2001, the Department for Education & Skills (DfES) will publish the definitive listings on Section 96 (for the 16-19 sector) or Section 97 (for the funding of those over 19 years of age). The accredited qualifications, which have been fully scrutinised and endorsed by the Regulator, will be available for delivery in centres, subject to approval, from September 2002.