BTECs – the real story behind the EOA provision

You will have seen in various publications, emails and on the Edexcel website various references to changes in various BTEC qualifications and how they are referenced against the new QCF framework.

 

In recent weeks we have had a number of communications from exams officers wishing to take professional qualifications, only to see on the references to such courses being closed down in August 2010.

 

Can we point out that these references refer to general BTEC qualifications which many of you deliver in your centres and not the suite of customised qualifications which the EOA deliver for our community. In the case of all qualifications they are all reviewed by Awarding Bodies at various times. A decision is then made to deal with with various qualifications appropriately; to continue with them unchanged or to update them; or close them down. These decisions may also be influenced by changes in government policy. Therefore qualifications your centre may like and the Awarding Body maybe happy to continue with, may be terminated or changed due to educational changes.

 

All the above options have been applied to a variety of Edexcel’s BTEC qualifications.  In the case of the EOA provision, our BTEC suite have been updated and will continue to be offered in their present updated format, until August 2013. This means that anyone who wants to take up a course in July 2013 will still have two years to complete that course and Edexcel are committed to providing certification over that period.

 

The longer term strategy of the EOA is to develop a broader CPD programme for all exams office staff who may then choose to move onto professional qualifications which are in the process of development. Any such developments will complement the existing suite and is part of a natural process to update programmes which reflect changes in the role over time.

 

And do not forget that you can approach your centre and suggest that all qualifications can be paid for in instalments over an agreed period, so do not be put off or let your senior management team be put off by the initial full fee. Why hang around! Get your foot on the professional exam office ladder right now!