Different Types of Qualifications
At Sackville you will have the opportunity to studies a range of level 2 qualifications that will equip you with skills for the future. There are two types of level 2 qualifications, traditional GCSE’s and Vocational.
There is no difference in the ‘validity’ or the ‘weight’ of a GCSE vs a Vocational qualification, one follows a strict pathway that usually is assessed through an exam at the end of year 11, these are GCSE’s and the other usually will contain NEA (non examined assessments – traditionally known as courseworks) and will have assessment opportunities throughout the course.
Further information about GCSE's and Vocational Qualifications
GCSE (General Certificate in Secondary Education)
Assessment of GCSE is mostly by external examinations. A few of the more creative/practical subjects also have a component that is assessed by NEA (coursework) or practical work. The balance between internal assessment and external assessment (written exams) varies from subject to subject and is shown clearly in the individual subject pages.
GCSE courses
➢ The GCSE courses have a numerical grading system, ranging from 9 down to 1.
➢ Most subjects have two or three written exams at the end of Year 11.
➢ All GCSE exams must be taken at the same time at the end of the course in Year 11.
Vocational Qualifications
These vocational qualifications are often seen as GCSE-equivalent Qualifications. At Sackville they are wither, BTEC Tech Award, OCR Cambridge National Certificate or a WJEC Vocational Award.
➢ These courses are assessed mainly through coursework completed in school, but you will also need to take at least one external exam.
➢ In some subjects, there will be an opportunity to re-sit this external exam in order to improve the original grade.
➢ These qualifications are awarded at Level 1 Pass, Level 1 Merit, Level 1 Distinction, Level 2 Pass, Level 2 Merit, Level 2 Distinction and Distinction* grades.
Combining GCSE and other courses
➢ You need to be realistic about how you work and study best, and what approach to learning suits your particular ability and skills.
➢ Most GCSE courses follow the traditional academic approach with an emphasis on knowledge and understanding, and in most GCSE subjects all of the final grade comes through performance in written examinations.
➢ However, some GCSE subjects are by their nature highly practical – for example, Drama, PE, Technology and Art.
➢ All the GCSE-equivalent courses are more practical with an emphasis on having the ability to complete a task: evidence of the skills you demonstrate is recorded and entered into your coursework, and your final grade is based on the coursework submitted and/or your practical work,
plus one external exam.
What qualifications will I achieve?
➢ For all GCSE subjects, grades range from 9 to 1.
➢ BTEC Tech Award courses are graded as Level 2 Distinction*, Distinction, Merit or Pass and Level 1 Distinction, Merit or Pass.
➢ OCR Cambridge National courses are graded as Level 2 Distinction*, Distinction, Merit or Pass and Level 1 Distinction, Merit or Pass.
➢ The chart on the grading page shows clearly how these different grading systems compare and are equivalent to each other.
What will my new courses be like and how will they be assessed?
➢ Full details of each course are given in the descriptions in the subject specific pages
➢ These subject descriptions contain broad details of the content of each course, and the key contact details for the leader of the course
