BTEC Student Handbook

SPORT

2019 – 2021

Contents Page BTEC Qualification ................................................................................................ 3

About your course ................................................................................................. 5

The Appeals Process and Policy .......................................................................... 6

Appeals Process ............................................................................................... 15

Malpractice within BTEC Courses ....................................................................... 16

Student Malpractice ............................................................................................ 17

BTEC Qualification BTECs – What are they? BTECs are designed as specialist work-related qualifications and are available in a range of sectors, such as business, engineering and ICT. A number of BTECs are recognised as Technical Certificates and form part of the Apprenticeship Framework. Although they're often studied by full-time students, BTECs also provide career development opportunities for those already in work. Consequently, some schools, colleges and training centres provide courses part-time. BTECs are available at different levels, from Entry Level Skills for Working Life, right through to professional qualifications at Level 7 (equivalent to postgraduate study). They also come in different sizes at each level ensuring you can choose a course that fits around your work or other studies. What is a BTEC ‘worth’? BTEC qualifications are fully recognized as holding equivalences to GCSEs. For example, a Level 2 BTEC First Diploma is worth the equivalent of four A* to C grade GCSEs. This means a student can take a Level 1 BTEC First independently alongside GCSEs, or work towards them both in the same subject area. How are BTECs graded? BTECs are graded using a Pass (P), Merit (M), Distinction (D) and Distinction* (D*) scale. Depending on the size of your course, you may receive one, two or three grades. The D* grade was introduced to most of our newer specifications in 2010 to differentiate the highest performing students from other Distinction grade students. If the work you produce isn’t of a high enough quality to pass with a P grade, you will be awarded a U, which means ‘unclassified’.

Equivalences and progression BTECs are equivalent to GCSEs and A Levels, so BTEC students can go onto university or start their career straight from school. The table shows the progression routes available to all BTEC students together with more traditional equivalents.

About your course

What do you know already? If someone asks you about your course, could you give a short, accurate description? If you can,

you have a good understanding of what your course is about. This has several benefits.

Four benefits of understanding your course

1 You will be better prepared and organised.

2 You can make links between the course and the world around you.

3 You can check how your personal interests and hobbies relate to the course.

4 You will be alert to information that relates to topics you are studying, whether it’s from

conversations with family and friends, watching television or at a part-time job.

Read any information you have been given by your centre. You can also check the BTEC website

for further details – www.btec.co.uk/2012

Top tips

If you have a part-time job, you’re likely to be involved in helping customers and colleagues.

These are important skills for any BTEC First learner.

Try this

Write down your interests and hobbies and identify those that relate to your studies in any way.

Interest/hobby How this relates to my studies

Why choose BTEC Sport?

The BTEC Level 1/2 First Award in Sport is designed to develop knowledge and understanding required in the sporting sectors and to focus on:

• providing opportunities to acquire skills and knowledge which are transferable and will help individuals to meet changing circumstances, whether these arise from a shift in their own status or employment, or general changes in sport, provision or environment

• developing the knowledge, understanding and skills of learners to meet the needs of the sporting sectors

Where can this course lead you?

SPORTS

RELATED

CAREERS

SPORTS

SCIENTIST

FITNESS

CENTRE

MANAGER

SPORT

PSYCHOLOGY

SPORTS

COACH/

INSTRUCTOR

SPORTS

DEVELOPMENT

OFFICER

OUTDOOR

PURSUITS

SPORTS

THERAPY

PERSONAL

TRAINER

Introduction to the sport sector A BTEC First in Sport course is one of the most popular BTEC courses. There are many reasons

why this course is in such demand, and you will experience some of these at first hand during the

next year or so.

The BTEC First in Sport qualification is a vocational qualification that will help prepare you for a

huge range of different careers. You may be thinking of pursuing a career either as an elite sports

performer or as a coach. At present there are around 1.2 million coaches in Britain.

You may be considering joining the health and fitness industry as an exercise professional. This

job requires you to supervise and instruct people who are taking part in exercise classes or

exercise sessions. Research demonstrates a clear link between an active lifestyle and good

health. As a result, the health and fitness industry has grown substantially over the last ten years,

and it will probably continue to grow. There is a demand for exercise professionals, and there are

good employment opportunities.

Alternatively, you may feel that working in outdoor adventure is for you. The outdoors sector is

growing. This means that there is a demand for outdoor education professionals, and again there

are good employment opportunities.

In your BTEC First in Sport you will be studying a wide range of units. All relate to sport. You will

learn about your body and how it responds to exercise. This will help you to understand how and

why your body responds to training. It will also help you understand your own or other people’s

training programmes.

There are also a number of specialist units that you will study. Each of these units is

designed to help you gain a better understanding of:

• the body

• the mind

• diet

• practical skills

• fitness

• training methods.

Skills you need for your sector

For virtually all careers in the sport and leisure industry you will need to have the following skills:

i good communication skills

ii good interpersonal skills

iii the ability to work well as a member of a team

iv the ability to lead a team

v the ability to manage your time effectively.

Studying for the BTEC First in Sport allows you to practise all of these skills utilising different

styles of learning. You will encounter various methods to assess your understanding and

knowledge of the different subject areas.

Case study: What will I study?

Karl is 14 years old and is at school. He is about to start his BTEC First in Sport, which he will

complete in two years’ time. He will also be taking a number of GCSEs including maths, English

and double science. Karl wants to eventually have a career in the sports industry, so is hoping to

progress to the BTEC National Sport either at college or in his school sixth form.

Sarah has completed her GCSEs, but did not do as well as she had hoped. Her school did not

offer BTECs, so she is starting her BTEC First in Sport at a local college. Her course will only

take her one year to complete as she will be studying for this qualification on a full-time basis

and will not be taking any other GCSEs at the same time.

Both Karl and Sarah are studying for the same course, but over different periods of time. At the

end of the course, if they are successful they will both have the equivalent of two GCSEs and

also have the potential of going on to the BTEC National Sport.

Activity: How well do you know your course?

Complete the activity below to check that you know the main facts. Compare your answers with a

friend. You should have similar answers except where you make personal choices, such as about

specialist units. Your teacher can help you complete number 8.

8 The correct title of the BTEC I am studying is:

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9 The length of time it will take me to complete my course is:

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10 The number of core units I have to study is:

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11 The titles of my core units are:

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12 The main topics I will learn in each core unit include:

Core unit Main topics

13 The titles of my specialist units are:

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14 The main topics I will learn in each specialist unit include:

Specialist unit Main topics

15 Other important aspects of my course are:

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After I have achieved my BTEC First, my options include:

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More about BTEC Firsts What is different about a BTEC First?

How you learn

Expect to be ‘hands-on’. BTEC Firsts are practical and focus on the skills and knowledge needed

in the workplace. You will learn new things, and learn how to apply your knowledge.

BTEC First learners are expected to take responsibility for their own learning and be keen and

well-organised. You should enjoy having more freedom, while knowing you can still ask for help

or support if you need it.

How you are assessed

Many BTEC First courses are completed in one year, but if you are taking GCSEs as well, you

may be doing it over two years or more. You will be assessed by mainly completing assignments

written by your teachers. These are based on learning aims set by Edexcel. Each assignment

will have a deadline.

BTEC fact

On a BTEC course you achieve individual criteria at level 1 Pass or level 2 Pass, Merit or

Distinction for your assessments. You will receive a level 1 Pass or level 2 Pass, Merit or

Distinction grade for completed units and then one of these four grades for the whole course.

Case study: Annabel’s story

Annabel studied for GCSEs at school and she was predicted good grades. However, when it

came to examination time, Annabel became very nervous. She started to get very stressed

about sitting the exams. She didn’t perform as well as she had hoped, and she ended up getting

lower grades than had been predicted.

Annabel wanted to progress to A-level equivalent courses. To do this, she had the choice of

resitting some of her GCSEs or taking a BTEC First in Sport. She found the BTEC Sport course

very interesting and, more importantly for Annabel, there was only one small exam but the rest

of the course was assessed through coursework.

Even better, the coursework wasn’t just writing essays. Annabel was assessed through different

methods, including designing leaflets and posters, delivering PowerPoint® presentations and

taking part in role-play exercises.

Annabel completed the BTEC First in Sport course with Distinction grades, and she went on to

take a BTEC National Sport. Again she did very well. She is now at university continuing her

studies in sport.

The importance of assignments To get the best grade you can in your assignment, you need to know the golden rules that apply

to all assignments, then how to interpret the specific instructions.

Ten golden rules for assignments

1 Check that you understand the instructions.

2 Check whether you have to do all the work on your own, or if you will do some as a member

of a group. If you work as a team, you need to identify which parts are your own

contributions.

3 Always write down any verbal instructions you are given.

4 Check the final deadline and any penalties for not meeting it.

5 Make sure you know what to do if you have a serious personal problem, e.g. illness, and

need an official extension.

6 Copying someone else’s work (plagiarism) is a serious offence and is easy for experienced

teachers to spot. It’s never worth the risk.

7 Schedule enough time for finding out the information and doing initial planning.

8 Allow plenty of time between talking to your teacher about your plans, preparations and

drafts and the final deadline.

9 Don’t panic if the assignment seems long or complicated. Break it down into small,

manageable chunks.

10 If you suddenly get stuck, ask your teacher to talk things through with you.

Case study: A presentation on nutrition

Stephen has been given an assignment that requires him to deliver a presentation on nutrition in

sport. He really enjoys the subject, but he has never given a presentation before. He is very

nervous at the prospect of delivering the presentation but sets about his work. He spends a lot

of time carrying out research to make sure that he has the information he needs to put it into a

presentation format.

Stephen has learned how to use PowerPoint®. He decides that he will present his work using

this software. He selects the key points for each part of his presentation and writes them on to

PowerPoint slides. He also adds in pictures to illustrate his work.

Once the PowerPoint® presentation is ready, Stephen makes notes on flash cards to remind

himself of what to say with each slide. He then has a go at delivering his presentation in his

bedroom. After 45 minutes of practising, he times himself to check that the full presentation is

the right length (between 5 and 8 minutes). He then practices the presentation in front of his

mum, which helps him to get used to speaking in front of an audience.

Later, when it comes to delivering his presentation in front of his teacher, Stephen is only a little

nervous. He has spent so long preparing and practising for the assignment that he is confident.

The teacher asks him a few questions when he finishes, and Stephen is pleased that he is able

to answer each question.

Stephen comes away with a Distinction grade for his work. He now feels much more relaxed at

the prospect of delivering another presentation.

Activity: Getting the best result

Ask your teacher for a copy of the specification for one of the units that you are studying. Any unit

will do because they are all presented in the same format.

Have a look through the different sections:

The learning aims state exactly what you should know, understand and be able to do when yoU

have finished the unit.

The unit content is the subject-specific material that you will be studying.

There are four grading criteria: Level 1 Pass, Level 2 Pass, Level 2 Merit and Level 2 Distinction.

The assessment criteria tell you what you have to do to achieve the grade.

Now read through the headings under the greyed-out section of the assessment criteria grid.

What does it say about achieving Level 1, Level 2 Pass, Level 2 Merit or Level 2 Distinction

grades? Write a brief explanation here:

Level 1 Pass

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Level 2 Pass

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Level 2 Merit

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Level 2 Distinction

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The assessment criteria use the following key words and phrases. What do they mean?

Word/phrase What it means

Describe

Review

Compare

Explain

Launceston College expectations of BTEC Sport Students

BTEC courses are demanding. To succeed, you need to:

1. Have high standards and expectations of yourself. 2. Targets are there to be reached and then exceeded. 3. Be prepared to work on your own to complete your assignments. 4. Manage your time in and out of class effectively. 5. Hand your assignments in on time. 6. Be prepared to re-draft work where appropriate. 7. Ask for advice and help

Practical lessons It is expected that all pupils will take part in practical lessons unless;

1. You have a note from your parents explaining why you cannot take part 2. You provide a valid doctors note in the event of long term illness or injury

You will be expected to provide the correct PE kit and wear it appropriately. This consists of

1. Navy blue BTEC sport shirt 2. Navy blue/black shorts, tracksuit bottoms/sports leggings 3. Trainers 4. School hoodie/jumper/dark under layers (for when it’s cold)

The Appeals Process and Policy

Appeals Process

We will follow Edexcel’s policy regarding your right to appeal. Edexcel will also not intervene until we have carried out an extensive internal enquiry which involves these five stages:

Stage 1• You are unhappy with the grade/outcome of assessed work

Stage 2• You must discuss the outcome with your teacher that marked that work.

If you are still unhappy with the outcome then go to stage three

Stage 3• Your work will be re-assessed by Mr Cole(Quality Nominee). If you are

still unhappy with the outcome move to stage four.

Stage 4

• The senior deputy-principal will review your work and make a judgement in favour of the student or the assessor. If you are still unhappy with the outcome of the appeal then they move to stage five

Stage 5• We will refer the appeal to Edexcel. The appropriate documentation will

be completed by the exams officer.

Malpractice within BTEC Courses

All BTEC teachers follow the Edexcel policy which is set out below. They also follow the guidelines as set out by the JCQ and the QCDA. The Edexcel Policy on Assessment Malpractice (06-13) applies to all BTEC and NVQ programmes. The policy provides a definition of malpractice, examples of what constitutes malpractice by both candidates and centre staff and positive steps that can be taken to prevent or reduce candidate malpractice. Malpractice consists of those acts which undermine the integrity and validity of assessment, the certification of qualifications and/or damage the authority of those responsible for conducting the assessment and certification. Edexcel reserves the right to impose sanctions and/or penalties on candidates or centres where incidents or attempted incidents of malpractice have been proven.

The student and incident will be reported to the Exams Officer. The Student will write their account and

teacher/assessor will write their account of incident

The Exams Officer will keep a copy of the statements and pass them to the

Head of Centre.

Head of centre will discuss the malpractice issue with both parties and will come to a decision. If the learner is found to be in breach of

malpractice then they will be reported to Edexcel and withdrawn from the

programme.

Student Malpractice If a learner has conducted malpractice then the following actions will occur: