VCE Study Options

Vocational Certificate of Education (VCE)
Vocational A levels are qualifications which enable students to develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the vocational area they are studying and prepare them for both the world of work and progression to Higher Education.

Vocational A levels allow you to gain experience of industry and commerce. You spend time on work-related assignments, often with local employers, learning about an area of work such as business, leisure and recreation, travel and tourism or engineering. You also develop skills that are valuable in any job, such as communication, numeracy and IT.

The knowledge and skills you gain by taking a Vocational A level prepare you for employment, giving you head start in the search for a job. Advanced Vocational qualifications have been an accepted entry route into further
and higher education since 1994.

They are available in three different sizes:

• Vocational Certificate of Education (VCE) Advanced Subsidiary (3 units)
• Vocational Certificate of Education (VCE) Advanced Level (6 units)
• Vocational Certificate of Education (VCE) Double Award (12 units)

Who they are for
Vocational A levels are aimed at 16 – 19 year olds but they are also suitable for adults returning to education.

Where you can study
Edexcel Vocational A levels will be available in school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and colleges of further education. Where you study your course will depend on what is available locally.You should chose a centre that offers not only the vocational courses you want but also any additional qualifications you want to study such as A levels or GCSEs.

How you study
Edexcel Vocational A levels start preparing you for the world of work as soon as you begin the course. You are involved in planning your own learning activities, which are likely to include: working alone and in groups, spending time out of the classroom visiting employers and other organisations, solving problems and meeting deadlines.

You spend much of your time working on assignments and projects. For example if you are taking an Edexcel Vocational A level in Business one of your assignments might be to research, develop and present a marketing plan for a new product.

If your Edexcel Vocational A level is in Hospitality and Catering you might look at operating a food and drink outlet in your school or college and produce plans for staffing, resources and organisation.

The range available
Edexcel Vocational A levels are available in 14 vocational areas:

• Art & Design
• Business*
• Construction and the Built Environment
• Engineering*
• Health & Social Care*
• Hospitality and Catering
• Information and Communication Technology*
• Leisure and Recreation
• Manufacturing
• Media: Communication and Production
• Performing Arts
• Retail and Distributive Services**
• Science
• Travel and Tourism

**  All of these are available as Advanced VCEs (Double Award) with the exception of Retail and Distributive Services
*  These are also available as Advanced Subsidiary VCEs (3 units)

How the courses are structured
You will study a combination of compulsory and optional units. The compulsory units are specified and provide the core knowledge required in each vocational area. There is a wide range of optional units from which you could choose those which best reflect your own interest and career needs.

Assessment and grading
Your work is assessed through a combination of coursework and tests.

Each Edexcel Vocational A level has 6 units and each unit has one form of assessment. The coursework forms a ‘portfolio of evidence’ that has to be presented at the end of the course. The tests are set and marked by Edexcel.

The outcome of each individual unit will be reported as a grade, A – E, and the award will be graded A – E overall.

Each unit is certificated so if you don’t complete the full qualification you will still receive a certificate for the units you did achieve.

Employment options
If you want to get a job after school or college and have a good idea of the area you wish to work in then you should look very closely at taking an Edexcel Vocational A level alongside your other subjects.

Many companies recruit students who have studied a vocational course as employers increasingly value the work skills and vocational knowledge that students studying Edexcel Vocational courses have developed. However, they may expect a range of qualifications including A levels or GCSEs.

Further study options
Most Advanced Vocational students stay in education. Edexcel Vocational A levels offer all the advantages of vocational education while giving the same educational options as academic qualifications.

Funding
Most education programmes for students aged 16 – 19 are funded by local education authorities. If you are over 19 you should check with your teachers and/or your local council grants and awards departments if there is any uncertainty about funding.

The benefits of choosing an Edexcel Vocational course

• they offer a recognised route into university
• they can be taken instead of, or as, well as A levels
• tests are available in January and June
• they offer you independence and the opportunity to take responsibility for your own work
• a wide range of teaching and learning approaches makes them interesting and exciting courses
• they include practical assignments in a work-based setting
• they allow you to develop and demonstrate skills and knowledge needed for employment