Edexcel Functional ICT, 5 day window accredited!

I am pleased to announce that our Functional Skills ICT qualification has been accredited at all levels from September 2010. One very welcome aspect is the inclusion of our 5 day assessment windows available at four oppertunities throughout the academic year. This affords you the flexibility to allow your learners to sit the assessment anytime between Monday morning and Friday afternoon. The assessment windows for Functional ICT will be available in; November, January, March and June.

You can read more about Functional ICT and view the accredited specification and Sample Assessment Materials on our Functional ICT pages

ICT Subject Advisor BTEC Update

Hi just to let you know that Edexcel has announced that the new BTEC Level 3 Nationals in IT have been accredited onto the Qualification Credit Framework (QCF). The following statement can be read on the Edexcel Website.

 

"Accreditation of the new BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Information Technology (QCF)

We are delighted to announce that our new BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Information Technology have been accredited onto the Qualification Credit Framework (QCF). The QCF is the new vocational qualification framework, which is responsive to the demands of employers and learners. The improved BTEC IT qualifications:

• are enhanced to help learners develop deep, specialist, practical skills and understanding in IT.
• are available as an AS equivalent and as 1, 2 or 3 A Level equivalent qualifications.
• attract UCAS points improving the progression opportunities for your learners.

 The following qualifications have been accredited onto the QCF:  

• 500/9148/7 BTEC Level 3 Certificate in IT
• 500/9147/5 BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in IT
• 500/9150/5 BTEC Level 3 Diploma in IT
• 500/9149/9 BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT

These qualifications have been accredited until 31st December, 2012 and have a final certification date of the 31st December, 2015. The full specification will be available on our website before the end of May 2010.

  

Please note that we intend to make an announcement about the new BTEC Level 2 Firsts in IT (QCF) soon.

 

If you have any queries about this announcement then please contact our customer service centre on 0844 576 0026 or email our ICT Subject Advisor on ICTSubjectAdvisor@edexcelexperts.co.uk."

 

A series of training events have been arranged to help support centres offering this course.

  

Date          Location        Event Code

 

21st June   London         9NNQ02/02

 

25th June   Birmingham   9NNQ02/03

 

30th June   Bristol            9NNQ02/04

 

5th July      London         9NNQ02/05

 

7th July      Manchester    9NNQ02/01

 

You can book onto one of these events by visiting the Edexcel Training site and typing the event code or by contacting the training team on 0844 576 0027.

If you have any questions regarding this information you can contact me on ICTSubjectAdvisor@EdexcelExperts.co.uk or call the BTEC team on 0844 576 0026.

Regards
Gareth

A Level Data Files Available

Edexcel GCE Applied ICT

6953 and 6957 Exam datafiles are now available for download from our secure website.
 
The files are lcated in the section titled "Exam Data Files - January 2010" on the GCE Applied ICT website.
 
You will need an Edexcel Online password to access these files. This can be obtained by talking to your Exams Officer or contacting Edexcel on 0844 576 0024

A Key Stage 4 Alternative

Anyone currently looking for an alternative qualification to offer to their students at KS4, please take note.
BTEC ITQ is available at Entry 3, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. The course consists of of a number of bite-sized units. All are highly practical and emphasise ‘doing’ rather than ‘writing’ about IT. Learners can mix and match units at different levels and learners accumulate credit at their own pace.

At Level 2 students can achieve equivalant to a half, single or double GCSE and teachers can tailor the course to suit their students.

If you are unhappy with your current course or unsure what the future holds for your KS4 provision, take a look at BTEC ITQ.

You can read about BTEC ITQ at Entry 3 and Level 1 on our Foundation Learning website.
You can read more about BTEC ITQ at Level 1 and 2 on our new ITQ pages.

You also have the added bonus of delivering a BTEC and all the recognition that comes with such an established brand. 

If you have any questions about ITQ or any of the BTEC IT courses please email me on ICTSubjectAdvisor@EdexcelExperts.co.uk

Easter Time

I hope everyone out there enjoys the Easter break.
Remember if you would like the chance to win £50 of Amazon Vouchers while at the same time helping to improve the Subject Advisor service please complete our 5 minute survey!

Regards
Gareth

Some Key Dates

The following dates are important if you are delivering any of Edexcel's IT soecifications.
I hope this helps but if you need any further info just let me know.

GCSE

•  15th May - final date for coursework samples, record sheets and OPTEMS
• 23rd August - online results for centre staff use only
• 24th August - candidates obtain results from centres
• 26th August - hardcopy results published

GCE Applied ICT

• 7th April - 6953, 6957 and 6959 pre-release documents and sample data available
• 12th April - final date for Enquiries About Results for January 2010 series
• 27th April - 6953, 6957 and 6959 exam data files available
• 10th May - 6953, 6957 and 6959 Exam windows open
• 15th May - final date for coursework samples, record sheets and OPTEMS
• 18th August - online results for centre staff use only
• 19th August - hardcopy results published

DiDA

• 15th May - D101, D201, D102 and D2022 Deadline submission of centre marks
• 15th June - Submission of centre marks for remainder of units

IGCSE

• 23rd August - online results for centre staff use only
• 24th August - candidates obtain results from centres
• 26th August - hardcopy results published

Functional Skills

• 10th -14th May - Final assessment window for Functional ICT within the pilot

BTEC Training

The response to our BTEC 2010 training events has been very high with many of the events fully booked. Because of this we have scheduled the following additional events...

Date                      Location          Event Code

2nd March PM       Birmingham      9ONM02/02

9th March             Online Event    9NNM03/06

You can book onto one of these events by visiting the Edexcel Training site and typing in the event code. We are in the process of arranging another event to be held in London at the end of March. Once the date and event code are confirmed I will let you know.

Cool Stuff!

I have recently been on the prowl for some new and innovative websites and have found the following gems currently being used in schools. Gone are the days of endless powerpoint presentations produced every time a computer lab is free. Move over Microsoft because the following online presentation software has taken over.

VoiceThread enables you to create presentations from photos and documents and add a soundtrack. What’s amazing is that viewers are able to leave their own audio comments on each slide.

Glogster creates presentations in the form of a poster that can contain not only text and graphics, but sound and video too.

SlideShare is like an online version of PowerPoint where you can upload your PowerPoint presentation. Unlike PowerPoint presentations, SlideShare ones can be embedded in your blog or web page.

Why not try these next time you make a presentation?

BTEC 2010 announcement

Good news on the Edexcel BTEC website updating centres on the changes to BTEC from 2010. It's good to see there will be limited impact to centres offering BTEC Firsts and Nationals along with something new and interesting for schools to offer their GCSE students.
The new BTEC ITQ looks like an excellent oppertunity for schools who want to give their GCSE kids something interesting and up to date but were previously unhappy with the courses available at the moment.

You can read more about the new quals on the NDAQ website.

Festive Cheer

One last quick post before I sign off for Christmas.

The Subject Advisor service will be closed from the 24th and I will be available again on the 4th of Jan 2010 to answer any questions you might have. You can get me on ICTSubjectAdvisor@EdexcelExperts.co.uk or call the ICT Subject advisor team 08443722186.

A few reminders for those of you with education on your minds over the holidays:

• Edexcel GCE ICT Pre-release exam files will be available to download from the Applied GCE pages from the 5th of January
• Announcement on the BTEC ICT plans for 2010 expected very early in the new year (promise!)
• Lots of interesting info on the 2010 GCSE ICT coming in the new year, including Controlled Assessment Support Service and Teacher Toolkit.
• BETT show in London's Olympia 13-16 Jan. I'll be there Thurs - Sat if you would like to discuss your ICT needs. If you would like to book an appointment please email me at above

You can still follow me on Twitter @ICTSubAdvisor
Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Gareth