Course Explanations

AS/A2 Levels

Following a review of 14-19 education, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)
has made some revisions to AS and A Levels to be offered from September 2008 onwards.

The changes are happening nationally across all examination boards and should not cause
any concern to students opting for A Levels. The revisions are largely intended to
reduce the amount of assessment for learners.

On the whole the depth and breadth of content at AS and A Level remain the same.
Many A Levels will be sub-divided into four rather than six units for assessment purposes.

Coursework units have been removed from some A levels, but in a few other subjects
therehas been a slight increase in the amount of the programme which is
assessed through coursework.

All the examination boards have been revising their A Levels for first teaching in September 2008.
In the course descriptions of AS and A Level in this prospectus and in our other course publicity we have presented the latest information we have on the content and structure of the revised qualifications. Students may choose up to 5 subjects at AS Level and most students will continue with 4 subjects for the A2 examinations in the second year.

New Specialist Diplomas
Truro College is in a partnership with local schools to offer the new specialist diplomas. Fourteen of these diplomas will eventually be available for learners aged 14 - 19. They are being introduced in stages over the next few years. The partnership has won approval to offer one of the first of the new diplomas available, Creative Arts and Media, from September 2008. This diploma line will cover a wide range of interests from the subject areas of performing arts, art and design, and media and photography.

National Diplomas, Certificates and Awards
BTEC and OCR Nationals are specialist, work related qualifications in a range of sectors. Students undertake a variety of practical, theoretical and assignment work which will prepare them for progression into higher education and/or entry into employment.

BTEC National Diploma*
The 18 unit Diploma is a full-time, two year course, equivalent to three subjects at GCE A Level. It is an excellent route for students who have decided on the broad area of employment they wish to pursue. The combination of a broad range of specialist modules with the depth of knowledge acquired enables students to progress successfully into higher education, or, equally successfully, into a related area of employment. * The OCR National 18 unit qualification is referred to as an ‘Extended Diploma’. The OCR 12 unit qualification is referred to as a Diploma.

BTEC National Certificates
The 12 unit Certificate covers the key knowledge and practical skills relevant to the sector. A choice of specialist units allows the emphasis of the qualification to be focused in a particular direction. Full-time students will usually take a related GCE A Level subject or a National Award alongside a National Certificate. Students with access to suitable work situations may be able to achieve an NVQ or NVQ units while taking a BTEC National Certificate. It is equivalent to two GCE A Levels.

BTEC National Awards
This six unit award is equivalent to one GCE A Level. It can add breadth to an advanced course and, taken over two years, provide an applied, vocationally relevant dimension to a general academic programme. External Assessment In each qualification some units are externally assessed by an Integrated Vocational Assignment.

First Diplomas
First Diploma courses are full time courses for students who wish to gain more specialist skills in preparation for employment or progression to more advanced programmes. These are one year courses equivalent to 4 to 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above.

GCSEs

Some students may wish to re-take one or two subjects at GCSE alongside another course. A small number of subjects, including English, Mathematics and Science (Human Physiology and Health) may be available. You will need to give consideration to the overall balance of your programme and listen very carefully to the advice you receive at interview.

Apprenticeships

Getting paid while you learn might sound too good to be true, but an as Apprentice you really do get the best of both worlds.

Truro College offers high quality work-based training programmes throughout Cornwall for those who want to develop their future prospects and career. This offers an ideal route for individuals who have left or are leaving full time education.

So if you are keen to enter the world of work, make sure you continue to develop yourself through an Apprenticeship.

They enable you to start working and earn a wage, whilst learning skills and gaining nationally recognised qualifications that employers want. Apprenticeships can also improve your chances of promotion and provide a pathway to higher education. We can offer Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships in Accountancy, Advice and Guidance, Beauty, Business Administration, Children’s Care Learning and Development, Cleaning and Support Services, Customer Service, Food and Drink Services, Food Processing and Cooking, Hospitality and Catering, IT, Management, Sale of Residential Property, Sales, Teaching Assistant, Team Leading, Vehicle Maintenance and Repair, Vehicle Fitting, Warehousing/Logistics and Youth Work. For further information please contact Truro College Business Centre on 01872 242711.

Degrees

A degree is a self-contained study of a chosen discipline, completion of which indicates specific levels of understanding of the discipline as well as a commitment to following a course of study for three years.
Degrees provide an intellectual challenge and provide the opportunity to study completely new subjects or take familiar ones to greater depth. They may introduce you to different study and research methods from those you have used previously.

Your route into a chosen career could be through studying for a particular degree or if your career plan is not finalised, your degree will still be giving you the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge that employers will value. Your degree is seen as a mark of your intellectual ability and your potential.

Foundation Degrees are for everyone with the ability and motivation to succeed: for post A level and National Diploma students; for people who are unemployed and looking for a way into work; for employees who want to get on in their job; for those wanting to return to work or change their career and for people who want to gain a work-related qualification. A Foundation Degree can also provide a route into higher education for people who have never before considered higher education.

Thousands of students are currently studying for a Foundation Degree and the choice of subjects available is varied. In some countries undergraduate degrees are awarded either as pass degrees or as honours degrees, the latter denoted by the appearance of “(Hons)” after the degree abbreviation. An honours degree generally requires a higher academic standard than a pass degree. Degrees are often divided into first, second upper, second lower, third and (sometimes) fourth classes. After completing the first degree, students can move on to doctoral studies.

NB: This information was sourced from the Prospects (www.prospects.ac.uk)
Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org)
Foundation Degree Forward (www.fdf.ac.uk)
and Edexcel (www.edexcel.org.uk) websites respectively.

Education

Teacher education qualifications for the Lifelong Learning Sector (covering Post-Compulsory and Adult Education) were restructured in 2007. There is now a three stage qualification framework:

1) Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) qualification which is the minimum entry qualification for teachers in the sector. Truro and Penwith College offers a one term stand alone City & Guilds PTLLS qualification for those who are new to the sector. Or for those whose teaching requires them to hold a DTLLS qualification, PTLLS is incorporated within the first term of the Cert Ed/PGCE qualification.

2) Certificate to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (CTLLS) qualification, for those who are teaching, but not fulfilling all the requirements of a full teaching role. This could be just assessing, or training using prepared materials. Truro and Penwith College offer a two term CTLLS through City & Guilds and a flexible attendance mode through the University of Greenwich. It is also incorporated within the Cert Ed/PGCE qualification.

3) Diploma to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS) qualification. This is the required qualification for all teachers in the sector who are fulfilling a full teaching role, ie. Planning, preparing, teaching and assessing learning. It can be taken as a one year full time course, or as a two year part- time course.

Truro and Penwith College also offers a range of other education courses.

The Foundation Degree (FdA) Education and Training provides an opportunity for those working within education and training to study aspects of educational theory related to their practice and gain a degree. This is not a teaching qualification and there is no requirement for teaching practice.

The Foundation Degree (FdA) Education (Teaching Assistants) provides an opportunity for those employed as teaching assistants to study aspects of educational theory related to their practice and gain a degree. Students need to have relevant practice as a teaching assistant.

The BA Education and Training offers further study at Level 6 to enable those who have completed a Foundation Degree to obtain a BA Honours degree in Education and Training.

The Integrated Masters Programme (IMP), is a modular Masters programme, available at Truro and Penwith College. It offers flexible part-time study towards a Masters degree in Education, validated by the University of Plymouth.

Foundation Degrees

A Foundation Degree is a modern, vocational higher education qualification which combines study with hands-on work experience. Designed, developed and supported by employers who are keen to make sure that these degrees meet their needs, they are highly valued by both employers and students because they equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to get on in the workplace.
The Foundation Degree is a qualification in its own right. You can use the letters FdA or FdSc after your own name when you’ve gained your Foundation Degree. Upon successful completion of a Foundation Degree, there is one or more articulated progression route, usually to the third year or an Honours Degree course. You can also progress from a Foundation Degree to other professional qualifications. Foundation Degrees are for everyone with the ability and motivation to succeed: for post A level and National Diploma students; for people who are unemployed and looking for a way into work; for employees who want to get on in their job; for those wanting to return to work or change their career and for people who want to gain a work-related qualification. A Foundation Degree can also provide a route into higher education for people who have never before considered higher education.
Thousands of students are currently studying for a Foundation Degree and the choice of subjects available is varied.

Short University Credited Courses Enabling Sustained Success (SUCCESS)

This is a brand new scheme which we have recently introduced to Truro and Penwith College. The aim of this programme is to allow you to study an individual module(s) from our Higher Education courses on a flexible part time basis. When a course has been successfully completed you will receive a Certificate from the University of Plymouth. It is not possible to build a degree out of Short Courses, but it may be possible that credits gained can be used towards an appropriate foundation or honours degree or a Certificate of Professional Development. This could be an opportunity try out an area of study before you commit yourself to a longer course, or top up your knowledge and skills between longer courses.

HNDs

Higher National Diplomas are a vocational Higher Education qualification, one that prepares you for working life.
They will give you a thorough grounding in practical skills and key concepts. As they are recognised nationwide by employers, once you have finished your course, you can easily progress directly into employment. All Higher National qualifications will help develop some essential skills that you will use throughout your whole career, including creative problem solving, planning and scheduling your work and applying complex theories to work related challenges.
Successful completion of an HND means you could go on to the second or third year of a related degree course.
Alternatively many students progress onto professional qualifications or to occupational National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) in their chosen area of employment.