BTEC Diploma in Vocational Studies
Foundation Level 1
Awarding Body: Edexcel
Study the Diploma
Vocational Studies L1 is a skills-based qualification designed to help learners develop the personal and social skills needed to help them to progress to independent living, future employment or further vocational study.
All units are 100% internally assessed.
Vocational Studies you will study are fast-moving subjects and true units based on the real world.
With this course you will learn about the different job roles and potential careers available to you in the professional world, as well as developing your own skills, opening new doors to enlightenment and employment.
Vocational Studies teaches transferable skills which link closely to, and increase performance levels within other subjects, and will be an asset to you throughout your time at college and beyond.
With this course you will have the opportunity to develop a career progression pathway, written and verbal communications skills as well as presentation, organisation skills and build confidence. All of which will help you prepare for a move onto either a Level 2 course or an Apprenticeship.
This qualification is open to learners who have gained GCSE’s grades 1 to 3. You should have an interest in Vocational Studies but also a willingness to work within other subject areas, such as Art and Design.
The primary aim of the course is to open up to the learner a wide variety of options and build your confidence and through this your written and verbal communication skill so that you are better prepared to progress onto a Level 2 programme in your chosen field and learning pathway.
Students will need to keep all their work well organised so their assignments may be submitted to the Exam Board for External Verification.
Awarding Board: Edexcel
Core Units
Unit A1: Being Organised
Unit A2: Developing a Personal Progression Plan
Unit A3: Working with Others
Unit A4: Researching a Topic
Sector Units
HSC8: Health and Social Care - Advising Others About Healthy Lifestyle.
HT10: Hospitality and Tourism - Delivering Customer Service in Hospitality
SP12: Keeping Active and Healthy
IT9: Creating a Website
IT6: ICT - Using Digital Communication Technologies
B7: Business - Branding a product
Teaching and Learning Methods:
The key to success is the practical application of your understanding of the subject to real life situations. The desire to progress onto Level 2 is as important as developing your vocational skills and knowledge.
Over the years a significant number of our Vocational Studies Level 1 students have progressed onto Level 2 and then Level 3 before progressing into employment or university.
Assessment
Assessment for this course is 100% coursework. However, this will be evidenced in a variety of different ways. This includes, written coursework assignments, employability workshops, classroom presentations, working as part of a team, multimedia projects, role plays, poster designs and tutor observations.
Vocational Studies will provide you with a range of job opportunities available, from Business management, Finance, Marketing, Health and Social, Hospitality management, Social Media design and Physical Education.
The transferable skills developed whilst studying Vocational Studies include:
Organisational skills, Research and Problem solving, Creative thinking, Capacity for independent enquiry, Presentation Skills and Team working.
Over the years a significant number of our Level 1 students have progressed onto Level 2 and then Level 3 Travel and Tourism, Health and Social Care, Sport, ICT, Business, before progressing into employment or university. With hard work and enthusiasm, this Level 1 course is just the start and should lead onto more exciting opportunities for all our students.
"Vocational Studies Level 1 has made me discover more about myself and the skills that I have. I am learning a lot through the different units. The teachers are always there to help and make sure they give us enough time to improve and finish our tasks, so that we can achieve the grade that we deserve".
"I enjoy Vocational Studies Level 1's Business course because I’m hoping that I will progress to Health and Social Care next year. The course is not easy, but I like a challenge. It has helped me improve, made me understand things that I didn’t know and what I have to do to get to my future career."
"I found this course really interesting, particularly as it allowed me to see some of the options available to me once I have completed it. I enjoyed learning how to create a CV".
"We got a lot of help from our teachers to complete the work, and a lot of feedback so we could improve it".
"I enjoyed the work experience…it made me realise how important it was to do well in education".
"I have really enjoyed my time on this course and I am looking forward to next year".
"Meeting students who started off at Level 1 like me and are now planning to go to university was really motivating. I want to come and talk to future groups of level 1 students and show them they can succeed too".
All students will get the opportunity to do two weeks of Work Experience, which will feed into and support different course units.
To prepare for Work Experience, students will attend employability workshop with different employers.
There will be opportunities through the year to go on careers trips and to find out about the many different career options available.
As Enrichment activity students will participate in a Reading Club including group debate.
Finally, a number of Team Building and activity days are built in throughout the year. In previous years students have gone to industrial visits, bowling, on an outdoor activity day and to a trampolining centre and much more.
The Vocational Studies staff have many years of teaching experience between them. Academic qualifications include Postgraduate in Business Development, BA in Education, Business Studies, Business Management, Administration and Marketing and Learning Support professionals. Many have industry experience, as well as actually setting up and running their own businesses
For further information, contact Ms. Capote, the Vocational Studies L1 Co-ordinator. Alternatively, you can get information about this course directly from the exam board website: www.edexcel.org.uk.
