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 one unit or 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 (eg Higher Diploma) that they are undertaking in parallel.
Although all units are optional and individual learners could undertake any combination there are some natural groupings of units. These groupings are:
Software: (Principles of Software Design and Development, Web Server Scripting, Event Driven Programming, Installing and Upgrading Software). If learners have not undertaken software development at all prior to this programme (for example within the Principal learning of the Higher Diploma in IT) then it is recommended that Principles of Software Design and Development is studied first. There are other software related units (Developing Computer Games, 3-D Animation, Website Design that would interest an individual who had existing software skills however these would not necessarily need to be at Level 3.
Hardware and Operating systems: Maintaining Computer Systems, IT Systems Troubleshooting and Repair, Network Management, Computer Architecture. There are other hardware related units including Controlling Systems using IT and Principles of Computer Networks.
Two specific units relate to security (Network Systems and Organisational Systems Security).
The other units are generally valuable and can be taken independently however it should be noted that a number do relate to the use of Computers in media and any of these could provide a route to other qualifications in that area.