Engineering BTEC (Foundation Diploma)

This qualification is worth 1.5 A Levels. It consists of 60% coursework assignments and 40% externally examined units). Assignments, units and final marks will be graded as Pass (E), Merit (C), Distinction (A) or Distinction* (A*). This ENGINEERING course is specifically aimed at young people wanting to study Engineering at university or take up an apprenticeship or a degree apprenticeship career in Engineering. Local engineering employers tell us that they need skilled employees with a good technical knowledge as well as the ability to work well in a team and communicate effectively. This course addresses these needs. It is ideal for students who would enjoy more practical and project work than they would experience studying 3 A Levels. Depending on ability, students will study either ONE or TWO A Levels with the new Level 3 Engineering BTEC (National Foundation Diploma - 540 hours - 7 UNITS). They will also complete the Extended Project Qualification in Year 13 worth 0.5 of an A Level. Students NOT taking Maths A Level will be asked to take Core Maths (worth 0.4 of an A Level) over 2 years. Students will leave the course with the equivalent of 4, 3.5 or 3 A Levels.

Ideally, to study Engineering all students should have a 5 or 6 in Maths, a 4 in English and 5s in Science. A grade 5 in a Design & Technology subject or a Pass grade in a BTEC Level 2 Engineering. Students who have a Grade 6 in GCSE Maths will be eligible to study A Level Maths (preferred by most universities). Additionally students wishing to study A Level Sciences should have a grade 6 or better in Science GCSEs.

Unit 1 Engineering Principles (exam) Unit 2 Delivery of Engineering Processes Safely as a Team Unit 3 Engineering Product Design and Manufacture (extended exam from a brief) Unit 4 Applied Commercial and Quality Principles in Engineering Unit 10 Computer Aided Design in Engineering Unit 19 Electronic Devices and Circuits Unit 35 Computer Programming

Student assignments during the 2 years mainly take the form of practical project work, case studies and presentations and are closely linked to the modern engineering industry but 2 of the compulsory units will be externally examined. There will be several site visits to engineering companies. Students learn the necessary skills in science and maths to equip them to be successful engineers and to access higher level courses.