Pearson BTEC

Higher Nationals

New

Developments

Jane Baker – Director

Higher Nationals Unit

February 2016 1Pearson BTEC Higher Nationals New

Developments

Agenda

1. New Pearson BTEC Higher Nationals

2. Recognition of Prior Learning

3. Quality Assurance Model

4. New Approvals Process

5. Annual Programme Monitoring Report

6. Qualification Registration Fees

7. Training

8. Commissioned Higher Nationals

2

Timelines for the HN redesign

2015 2016 2017 2018

Phase 1: First registration Sept ’16

●Business

Phase 2: First registration Sept ‘17

●Engineering

●Construction

●Computing

●Health & Social Care

●Art & Design

Phase 3: First Registration Sept ‘18●All other remaining titles

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Defining characteristics of the new HNs

Include significant industry/

employer involvement

Clear occupational and

career pathwaysFHEQ aligned

The proposition is more than the qualification, it includes the support, learning services and a global

community to effectively enhance the learning experience and build the brand’s reputation.

Professional recognition

standards

3

HN frameworks for

redevelopment

Accredited to the Ofqual Regulated

Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Mapped against the QAA Framework

for Higher Education Qualifications

and Subject Sector Benchmarks.

Mapped to meet the standards of

relevant Professional Bodies.

Designed to incorporate Pearson World

Class Qualifications principles:

demanding, rigorous, inclusive and

empowering.

So What’s New?

An exciting, up to date curriculum offer that

provides contemporary specialist knowledge and

pathways for students.

Extended learning platforms that lead to increased

and specialist progression opportunities for students.

Curriculum that embeds employability skills and

transferable skills throughout the units to enhance

student career prospects and personal development.

A comprehensive support package delivered

online to support students and centres with

resources: assessment materials, Schemes of Work

and delivery resources.

New Structure and

PathwaysCore Business units are delivered at Level 4 and

specialist pathways at Level 5.

All 120 Credits for the HNC and the level 4 of the HND

are at Level 4. Streamlined provision to enable

specialist progression.

Pearson BTEC HNs in Business now offer centres

the opportunity to deliver specialist pathways that

will support and increase progression opportunities:

Business Management

Accounting and Finance

Marketing

Human Resource Management

Operations Management

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management

Units and specialist

pathways selected are

mapped against Professional

Bodies’ requirements

The Level 5 Accounting and Finance pathway includes

units that are recognised and accredited by ACCA (The

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and

CIMA (The Chartered Institute of Management

Accountants).

Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply

accreditation for part exemption from the Level 5 CIPS

Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply.

In order to achieve a Merit grade, all Pass and Merit criteria

must be achieved;

In order to achieve a Distinction grade, All Pass, Merit and

Distinction criteria must be achieved.

Students now have the option to take one unit at level 4 and one

unit at level 5 as compensation units.

One opportunity for re-assessment of the unit will be permitted.

A student who undertakes a reassessment will have their grade

capped at a Pass for that unit.

English Language requirements for non native speakers is

now stipulated:

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B2

PTE 51

IELTS 5.5; Reading and Writing must be at 5.5

or equivalent

Grading and Assessment

HN areas of interest

10

Engineering

●HNC Core: Engineering Design (15 credits); Engineering Maths (15

credits); Engineering Science (15 credits); Professional Engineering

(15 credits); Project (15 credits)

●HND Core: Professional Engineering Management (15 credits);

Research Project (30 credits)

●Pathways: General; Mechanical; Manufacturing; Electrical and

Electronic; Aeronautical; Operations; Energy Production and Power

Distribution (Nuclear)

Computing

●Possible pathways: Networking Engineering; Software Engineering;

Systems & Data Analytics/Informatics; Security; Intelligent Systems;

Games Development

HN areas of interest (cont.)

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Health and Social Care

Art and Design

Research just starting - get involved!

Hospitality and Tourism Management

Media

Science

Likely to be developed for first teaching September 2018

Journalism with Music and Sport pathways

Potential for commissioned HN

Recognition of Prior Learning

5

●A student on 2010 HNC Business who cannot be

registered on the 2010 HND Business by September

2016 may need to be to RPL’d onto the new HND

programme.

●A mapping document is in development to support

centres with this process (will be developed for all

sectors). Unit/LO/AC level.

●Pearson RPL policy:

http://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/Su

pport/policies-for-centres-learners-and-

employees/Recognition_of_prior_learning_and_proce

ss_policy.pdf

Proposed Quality Assurance Model

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●Programme Review & Approval;

●Aligned Standard Verifiers with QAA requirements for

External Examiners;

●Earlier support from EE – two interactions per year

(phased introduction);

●Assignment Checking Service;

●Support centres in completing their Annual Programme

Monitoring Report – submitted to Pearson;

●Academic Management Review and Quality Management

Review – centre visits annually;

●Higher National Student Survey;

●Focused support and training offer.

5

New approvals process

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● New approvals process - Programme Review and Approval (PRA).

● Applies only to NEW Higher National programmes.

● More aligned with that used in UK HE.

● New centre terms and conditions.

● Approval will specify:

The title of each NEW Pearson BTEC Higher National programme;

The maximum number (which will include up to 50% growth) of students

which register each year, before seeking additional approval for

increased growth;

The length of approval for each Pearson BTEC Higher National

programme;

The approved mode(s) of programme delivery.

Approval routes for providers

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Approved

Providers already

actively

delivering

Pearson BTEC

Business Higher

Nationals

Approved

Providers not

actively

delivering

Pearson BTEC

Business Higher

Nationals

Providers going

through the

process of

seeking approval

to deliver Pearson

BTEC Business

Higher Nationals

New Providers

that have not yet

started an

application

seeking approval

to deliver

Pearson BTEC

Business Higher

Nationals

New PRA process

applies

New PRA

process applies

Vocational

Qualification

Approval form to

be completed

Vocational

Qualification

Approval form to

be completed

hnqa@pearson.co

m

hnqa@pearson.c

om

UKVQapproval@

pearson.com

fecentresupport@

pearson.com

PRA - three stages

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1. Automatic Approval – Pearson will internally apply predefined criteria e.g. centre not

subject to quality block (for full criteria see

http://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/downloads/btec-hn-approval-

guidance-final.pdf, p5).

If centre meets criteria they are automatically eligible for approval to deliver the NEW

Pearson BTEC Higher National qualification(s).

2. Desk-based review – centre is ineligible for automatic approval as they do not meet

predefined criteria and can opt to undergo desk-based review. Pearson will then carry

out an in-depth approval analysis. Possible outcomes:

●Approval granted

●Approval granted provisionally subject to clear actions being successfully met

●Further enquiries required and a full visit needed.

3. Full visit - if approval is not granted after a desk-based review, then a full centre

visit may be needed. Possible outcomes:

●Approval

●Approval granted provisionally subject to clear actions being successfully met

●Refusal of approval.

Approval Fees

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● Automatic Approval: £100.00 + VAT

Once centre has signed and returned new terms and conditions they will

be invoiced for the £100.00 + VAT administration fee. Programme

approval is provisional until the fee invoice has been settled in full.

● Desk-based review: £250.00 + VAT

Centres will need to indicate that they wish to proceed, and the fee will

need to be settled in full in advance.

● Full visit: £250.00 + VAT

○ Centres need to indicate that they wish to proceed with full visit.

They will be invoiced the fee of £250.00 + VAT in advance (if a

visit is needed).

○ If centre has had either an AMR (Alternative Providers) or a

QMR (Further Education Colleges) visit within 10 weeks prior to

the desk-based review, then the details of that visit will be

considered rather than conducting another visit. If a visit is not

required then there is no fee.

Annual Programme Monitoring Report

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APMR form

http://enews.pearson.com/rsps/m/ji3vD7_7fssI-xY-a3CVdyXHCNrs-YGVL08BYey_-Pg

APMR Guidance

http://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/downloads/APMR-Pilot-Guidance-for-completion-December-

2015.pdf

• Enables centres to analyse and reflect on

their HN provision

• Assisting centres to meet HE expectations

• Invaluable insight for Pearson into BTEC HN

provision across the world

• Will help to inform the continued

development of the BTEC HNs

• Pilot launched December 2015 deadline

31.03.2016

• New online APMR form due to be available

from Sept 2016

Revised qualification registration fee

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Applies only to NEW Higher National

programmes for first teaching from

September 2016.

●Higher National Certificate £185.00

●Higher National Diploma £235.00

●Top Up HNC to HND £50.00

Includes qualification registration,

certification and up to three annual quality

assurance visits (up to two EE visits and a

QMR or AMR visit).

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HN Global Direct support for Higher National students and providers

•Key library resources based on consultation feedback

•Access to high quality learning resources for centres, tutors and students

•Developing a global community of students and academics

•Continuous development of new resources and materials

•Online study skills modules for students

6

Training for 2016

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Launch event for new HN Business

●Free training event

●Half-day

National training events

●£200.00 for a full day

●£125.00 for a half day

●£90.00 for 2 hours online training

Centre-based training events (on

request)

●£850.00

Training for 2016 cont.

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Subject Location Date

HN Business (launch

event, free, half day)

London, Manchester,

Birmingham, Newcastle

21st & 22nd March

18th & 19th April

HN Engineering Leeds, London, Bristol May, July, Aug

HN Electrical Engineering Midlands July, Sept

HN Construction Newcastle, London,

Birmingham

April, June, July

HN IT London, Manchester,

Birmingham, Newcastle

May, June, July, Aug

Training for 2016 cont.

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Subject Location Date

HN Health & Social Care London, Manchester,

Birmingham, Newcastle

April, June, July, Aug

HN Performing Arts London, Bristol, Manchester April, June, June

HN Creative Media London July

HN Hair & Beauty London, Newcastle May, August

HN Public Services Midlands July

HN Sport Midlands May, August

Training for 2016 cont.

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Subject Location Date

HN Best Practice Midlands June

HN Generic Newcastle, London,

Birmingham

April, July, Sept

Interpretation of Pass Criteria

and Contextualisation of Merit

and Distinction Criteria for

Higher National Programmes

London, Birmingham,

Newcastle

April, June, August

HN Assessment, Verification

and QA

London, Newcastle June, July

HN Implementation London, Newcastle May, August

Commissioned Higher National Process

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●Centre can author their own units for inclusion in regulated Pearson HNs

- up to 30 credits for an HNC and 30 credits for an HND.

●Centre can import Meeting Local Needs units in regulated Pearson HNs.

●Centre can commission their own bespoke HN from Pearson. Centre

must create a rationale for the qualification and student numbers for the

first 3 years. The qualification design will be subject to review by external

stakeholders and a formal validation panel once developed.

●Derogations from HN academic design regulations, if requested, would

have to be reviewed and approved by the Higher Nationals Unit.

For more information...

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General queries about the Pearson BTEC HN redevelopment

highernationals@pearson.com

Queries regarding HN Global & how to register your students and

tutors

HNglobal@pearson.com

Queries regarding the new Pearson BTEC HN quality assurance

measures

hnqa@pearson.com