East Durham College offer a range of vocational qualifications, including BTECs, NVQs, City and Guilds and Diplomas.
A vocational course is a training programme which focuses more on practical work, rather than traditional academic exams. The 'Vocational' part of the name refers to the fact that this course prepares you for a vocation - a particular skillset required in different types of jobs.
If you feel your skills are more suited to do practical assessments and coursework assignments rather than exams, a vocational programme may be the best route for you.
Vocational Course Levels
If you're studying a vocational course, you'll be assigned onto a 'Level' of the particular subject you're interested in.
Which level you're allocated to will be assessed by East Durham College's tutors, based on your previous academic achievements and/or work experience. After completing one level - subject to excellent attendance and behaviour - you may then be able to move on to a higher level to further your qualifications.
There are four levels of vocational course levels. Here's what they mean:
Entry Level and Level 1
Equivalent to three or four GCSEs at grades D to G.
Suitable if you don't pass your GCSEs, or perhaps don't get the grades you had expected.
Level 2
Equivalent to: four or five GCSEs at grades A* to C.
Generally, this is the level you should start on if you got four GCSEs at grade D or above, or equivalent qualifications at pass level. Some courses will require certain grades in maths and English.
Level 3
Equivalent to two or three A Levels
Generally, this is the level you can study on if you have passed four/five plus GCSEs at grade C or above, or equivalent qualifications at pass level. Most courses will require you to have a grade A* to C in maths and/or English.
Like A Levels, vocational courses are a route on to higher education; most university-level courses accept a Level 3 qualification as entry.
Level 4
Equivalent to a Foundation Degree or Higher National Diploma (HND).
Studying