ICT

The  Cambridge TEC  will replace L3 OCR Nationals in September.  This qualification is on the QCF and uses the units on the register.

The number of 'credits' determines the size of the qualification, i.e. Award (1-12 credits)/Certificate (13-36 credits) and Diploma (37+ credits). The difficulty is a function of the Level, e.g. L2, L3 etc.

Each Credit equates roughly to 10 GLH. Therefore an A level-size L3 Cambridge TEC (or BTEC) is 360 glh, ergo 36+ credits

Hi there

Can you also answer whether the new course would carry UCAS points and if so what they are in the similar format to the OCR National Level 3 sheet.

Many thanks

Luke

There is still no available clarification on whether UCAS points are available for this course. I cannot even consider implementing this at my school for September 2012 without UCAS points being confirmed.

I have asked both OCR and Cambridge Tech for clarification on this but as of yet have had no reply.

I am guessing that if the new Cambridge Tech is replacing the old OCR Nationals then this should have Ucas points attached.  Makes sense to me BUT sense does not seem to be in great supply at the moment :(

So many changes in such a short amount of time, Argggg

I know the feeling, just got use to the OCR National Level 3 and now a change for September, just wish that when a new specification is added at level 3 there is a UCAS equiv sheet available.  As this is the clincher to whether we do the course or not

Forgive me for being slow here but how do they equate to A levels?  We use language such as AS/A2 and double A level even though students are studying nationals and I need to judge how many credits will equate to each of these qualifications.

Let me be frank - no UCAS points will mean that this course will NOT run in this institution.  I need clarification asap about the UCAS points situation - I also need to know the structure of how these points will be awarded if this course does award UCAS points. 

I totaly agree jhorton, three e-mails to OCR and still no answer.  These changes are major and to not have some information available to teaching staff is so frustraiting. 

I believe that OCR staff do not have the answers yet, why else would they ignore my e-mails? 

Anything replacing OCR Nationals must have Ucas Points attached (I hope) BUT if not then I need to look elsewhere very quickly.

Come on guys....  A little help here :(

I hope this will finally clarify this matter:

OCR's new Cambridge Tecs comprise units on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), that are built up into qualifications of different sizes.  UCAS points are expected to be confirmed by UCAS in the very near future.  In the meantime, centres can guage the quantity of UCAS points these new qualifications will attract, from other existing QCF Nationals qualifications of equivalent size.

I hope this will help.

Keith C Parry OBE - RCC North West - OCR Nationals in ICT

Thank you that is very helpful.

Even if it gets UCAS points based on my experience with the way universities treat the existing level 3 course I wont be doing the TEC! I have had pupils who have achieved a Distinction and the universities will only count it as a maximum of a B grade! All that work and it gets unfairly downgraded!! Having taught A Level Computing etc if you teach the nationals level 3 correctly then it is just as difficult to achieve the high grades.

Keith,

I've checked other QCF Nationals and it says for the Certificate: D* = 70 UCAS, D = 60 UCAS, M = 40 UCAS, P = 20 UCAS. However, looking at the Subsidiary Diploma (90 Credits), which is of course 3 times as many credits as the Certificate, you only achieve double the UCAS points. Is this correct?

Thanks!

Paul

Hi Keith,

I've looked at the Cambridge Nationals and don't see any control units or programming units... Real shame as we would like a course structured like the new cambridge Nationals. Could these units be added. Also is the name set in stone. I have a real problem selling a course to senior managers with Tec in the title. Doesn't sound very academic.. I've really enjoyed the L3 OCR Nationals I just got used to them and now it's all change!! Any reasons why...

Thanks

J 

I think it is important to distinguish between the "Cambridge Nationals" and the "Cambridge Tecs".  The Cambridge Nationals has been developed specxifically for the 14-16 age group so that it meets all of the criteria for inclusion in performance tables.  The Cambridge Tecs have been developed for the post-16 age group where the requirements are different.

I hope this helps

Keith C Parry OBE - RCC NW