Changes to VCE

Following extensive consultation, the Vocational Certificate of Education (VCE) has been restructured along the lines of the General Certificate of Education (GCE). The new qualifications have an AS/A2 structure, comparable to existing GCEs. They are no longer known as vocational A levels, but are called GCEs/A levels in applied subjects. The revised qualifications will be introduced for first teaching from September 2005. Subject criteria and performance descriptions can now be found on each of the 14-19 subject pages.

The new qualifications will continue to provide a broad introduction to a vocational area and to encourage distinctive teaching and assessment approaches, using work-related contexts. As with current specifications, opportunities for the development and assessment of key skills will be signposted in the new specifications.

Qualifications available

There are four new qualifications available, with the following structure:

• Advanced Subsidiary General Certificate of Education: three AS units, one of which is externally tested, the remainder internally assessed; graded A-E
• Advanced Subsidiary General Certificate of Education (double award): six AS units, typically two of which are externally tested, the remainder internally assessed; graded AA, AB-EE
• Advanced General Certificate of Education: six units (three AS units plus three A2 units), typically two of which are externally tested, the remainder internally assessed; graded A-E
• Advanced General Certificate of Education (double award): 12 units (six AS units plus six A2 units), typically four of which are externally tested, the remainder internally assessed; graded AA, AB-EE.

Developing the new specifications

The awarding bodies have developed the new specifications from subject criteria set by QCA, in line with existing GCEs and GCSEs. This means that there is the potential for a greater difference in the content, unit titles and number of optional units in the different awarding body specifications than was previously the case with advanced GNVQ and VCE. However, QCA will ensure through its accreditation process that the different specifications are comparable in demand.

Vocational areas

New specifications have been developed in the 10 vocational areas listed below. The specifications are available at AS, AS (double award), A level and A level (double award) unless otherwise indicated.

In addition, CCEA is piloting specifications in applied business, applied ICT and health and social care in Northern Ireland from September 2004.

Unit titles are listed under each subject in QCA links. Full specifications will appear on the websites of the relevant awarding bodies.

Final teaching of current VCE specifications

The final teaching dates for the current VCE specifications are:

• Last teaching of two-year courses September 2004
• Last resit opportunity likely to be January 2007
• Last teaching of one-year courses* September 2005
• Last resit opportunity likely to be January 2007

*In the first year of the new specifications, only the AS and AS (double award) units will be available for certification. Any student wishing to complete an A level qualification in one year from 2005 must take one of the existing VCE qualifications.

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VCEs

In September 2000 the advanced GNVQ was replaced by the vocational A level in a series of different sizes of award to promote flexibility in the post-16 curriculum. The formal titles of the qualifications are:

• Vocational Certificate of Education (VCE) Advanced Subsidiary (3 units)
• Vocational Certificate of Education (VCE) Advanced Level (6 units)
• Vocational Certificate of Education (VCE) Double Award (12 units)
  

Sizes

Vocational AS level (3 units)

The three-unit vocational AS level is available in four vocational areas. It is designed to encourage breadth in the post-16 curriculum and to provide enrichment for students programmes. It enables students to mix different vocational A levels/AS qualifications and/or combine them with other qualifications. It can also help students to pursue vocational study part-time, perhaps in conjunction with employment. Students would normally complete this award in one year, but it can be taken over a longer period.

The qualification:

• consists of three compulsory units
• is the same size as GCE AS but is at the full A level standard
• is normally taken over one year.

Vocational A level (6 units)

The new six-unit vocational A level is available in the full range of vocational subject areas. It is designed to promote flexibility and breadth in the post-16 curriculum, allowing students to mix the six-unit award with other qualifications, including other vocational A levels, vocational AS, GCE A level and GCE AS. The qualification:

• consists of at least three compulsory units and a maximum of three optional units
• is the same size as GCE A level and the overall grade is on the same A-E scale
• can be taken over one or two years.

Vocational A level (12 units)

The 12-unit vocational A level (formerly the only size of Advanced GNVQ available) continues to be offered in revised form across a wide range of vocational areas. The qualification:

• consists of a minimum of six and maximum of eight compulsory units, and a maximum of six optional units
• results in the student receiving two related grades on an A-E scale, ie AA, AB
• can be supplemented with additional units, which are also graded and separately certificated. These are usually in the same vocational subject area
• would normally be taken over two years.

Titles

Three-unit titles

• Business
• Engineering
• Health and social care
• ICT

Six-unit titles only

• Retail and distributive services

Six-unit and 12-unit titles

• Art and design
• Business
• Construction and the built environment
• Engineering
• Health and social care
• Hospitality and catering
• ICT
• Leisure and recreation
• Manufacturing
• Media: communication and production
• Performing arts
• Science
• Travel and tourism

Assessment
VCEs are assessed by a combination of internal and external assessment. Usually, one-third of the overall assessment is external. The type of external assessment varies according to the vocational area.

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