VRQ - Vocationally-Related Qualification
For information on the approval of qualifications for funding in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, see the links to DCSF, DIUS, DCELLS, DELNI and DENI below.
When undertaking a qualification that does not appear on the governments' lists as eligible for funding for specific age ranges, users must be aware of legal requirements. Not all qualifications are suitable for all age ranges.
Of the three progression pathways from the Diploma, this qualification will give learners particular access to Apprenticeships and Employment but in addition will support the third pathway into other learning.
Internal verification: Centres are required to have processes in place reviewing each assessor's decisions to ensure that they are correctly interpreting and applying the standards set out in the specifications. The system used to do this is a matter for the individual centres and Edexcel fully supports the use of the centre's own quality assurance systems where this ensures robust internal standardisation. Centres will refer to the BTEC NQF Level 2/3 (including Short Courses at Level 1-3) (updated annually). This updated website/Services for centres/FE Colleges and Schools.
Candidates will need to complete units equivalent to 60 GLH
All the units listed in this qualification are optional however there are a number of factors that should be taken into account. The factors include the aspirations of learners in terms of future progression (including potentially specific pathways within larger BTEC qualifications), their previous experience and any other qualification that they are undertaking in parallel.
The units are all suitable for Construction. Individual learners could undertake any combination, but there are some natural groupings of units.
All the following units are suitable for both Civil Engineering and Building Services groupings:
Health, Safety and Welfare in Construction and the Built Environment; Construction and the Environment; Mathematics in Construction and the Built Environment; Science and Materials in Construction and the Built Environment; Construction Technology and Design in Construction and Civil Engineering; Planning, Organisation and Control of Resources in Construction and the Built Environment; Graphical Detailing in Construction and the Built Environment; Measuring, Estimating and Tendering Processes in Construction and the Built Environment; ICT and CAD in Construction and the Built Environment; Employer Related Project in Construction and the Built Environment.
The following units are also suitable for the Civil Engineering grouping:
Surveying in Construction and Civil Engineering; Surveying Technology in Construction and Civil Engineering; Topographic Surveying in Construction and Civil Engineering.
It should be noted that Health and Safety is a very important element of working in Construction and if learners have had not completed any Health and Safety previously (eg through the Advanced Diploma) then the should do it here.