An educational awareness road show will take place from 23 – 27 October 2006 at locations from Newcastle to London.

Edexcel’s BTEC 07 campaign is aimed at encouraging 16 – 24 year olds to consider studying a BTEC National qualification.  The road show will give students and their parents the opportunity to find out more about BTEC Nationals. There will also be a special prize draw with the chance to win a Video iPod.

Around 25 per cent of young people in the UK leave full time education at the age of 16.  The Government is committed to increasing participation rates in full time education and training post-sixteen. 

BTECs provide a more practical, real-world approach to learning and skills development alongside a key theoretical background.  Edexcel believes that BTEC Nationals could help to encourage students to continue their education. 

BTEC Nationals are equivalent to A Levels.  From September 2007, there will be a new set of BTEC Nationals on offer, available in a variety of subjects including Art & Design; Business; Engineering; IT; Logistics; Media; Music & Performing Arts; Science; Sport; and Travel & Tourism.

BTEC Nationals are suitable for students aged around 17, as well as people at work who want to get back into education or simply develop new skills.  They prepare learners for the workplace or continued study at an undergraduate level, whether in an academic environment or a more specialist vocational area.

The BTEC 07 road show takes place:

• Monday 23 October at the Metro Centre in Newcastle
• Tuesday 24 October at the Trafford Centre in Manchester
• Wednesday 25 October at thecentre: mk in Milton Keynes
• Friday 27th October at Bluewater near London

Visit Edexcel’s BTEC 07 website for more information.

BTEC qualifications range from Entry Level to Level 8 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), offering the only seamless progression route across all levels.  In 2005/06 over 605,000 learners enrolled with BTEC.

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