Alton College

Vocational Courses

In vocational courses everything you learn is directly related to your chosen career. The course usually includes work experience and gives you the opportunity to work on tasks as a member of a team. Your results are based much more on your coursework than on any examinations that you take. Employers, colleges and universities recognise vocational courses to be equivalent to academic courses.

Will a vocational course suit you?

Yes, if one or more of the following statements apply to you:

  • You are reasonably certain of the career area that you wish to enter
  • You enjoy applying your knowledge and solving problems
  • You prefer coursework to examinations
  • You want to concentrate on your favourite subject area
  • You want some work experience in your course
  • You enjoy working in teams

To be successful on a vocational course you need to be well organised and enthusiastic about the subject you are going to study.

Eight vocational courses are on offer at Advanced Level. They include BTEC National, AS/A level Double Awards and CACHE.

BTEC National

The BTEC National is a work related course aimed at those who wish to commit themselves to vocational study in a particular subject. It is designed to allow progression to university or directly into employment.

The award is available as: A BTEC National Diploma, equivalent to three A levels and available in:

  • Art
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Health and Social Care
  • Information and Communication Technology
  • Media Production
  • Sport

CACHE Childcare and Education Diploma

This is a two year vocational course involving significant on-the-job training. It is the equivalent to three A levels and is a pathway to University or a career involving working with young children.

Key Skills

All advanced level students will develop Communication and Application of Number skills as and when these are required in their subjects. In addition, unless you are studying IT or Computing, you will have a lesson each week in IT and be assessed on this.

David Simonds and Ann-Marie Hankins both formerly from Mill Chase School

Pictured above: Advanced vocational course students, David Simonds and Ann-Marie Hankins.

"I have really enjoyed my time at Alton College because I have been allowed to learn in a way that best suited me."

David Simonds

Print view | To top

Related Items