Pathways Help

Get To The Route Of It

At the bottom of the Pathway Tool you’ll see three options: Work Based Learning, Vocationally Related and General Academic. These refer to the learning routes that people can take to achieve a whole range of different qualifications. Here’s what the three options mean:

Work Based Learning

as the name implies, this is learning that’s carried out whilst working in a particular industry concerned or, in simpler terms ‘on the job’. The benefit of this type of learning is that the individual concerned gains practical experience as well as the knowledge that they need. What’s more, they can also earn while they learn.

Vocationally Related

this refers to studying for a specific career, rather than learning general skills that can apply to lot’s of different roles. So, for example, if you wanted to be a Nurse, you would take a specific Nursing course.

General Academic

this covers learning at Colleges or Universities. The benefits of this type of study (compared with non worked based and non vocational) are that the individual can concentrate 100% on their learning as well as opening up a wider range of career opportunities than on a purely vocational course.

Right On Course

Click on the qualification that your client wants to take and, wherever possible, the system will find details of the right courses or learning opportunities to match their needs.

Just The Job

There’s even more that this great tool can offer. On the right hand side of the map you’ll see a Jobs column. Each arrow in that column corresponds with the qualifications to the left. Click on the appropriate arrow and it will show the sort of jobs that someone with those qualifications can do. Click on the arrows next to these job titles and it will even provide a profile of that particular job.

National Qualifications Framework

Qualifications in the National Framework are arranged in five levels from entry level awards to degrees and professional qualifications. The higher the level, the greater the depth of knowledge, skills and understanding that has to be demonstrated for the qualification to be gained. The qualifications are grouped in three types: academic, vocationally related and occupational. Courses leading to different qualifications will vary in content, learning styles and methods of assessment.
FE colleges offer wide range of learning environments and vocational courses across the different levels in the qualifications framework. These courses include NVQs, AVCEs, BTECs and many other vocational qualifications. Support is available for young people who need additional help with their learning through to those of the highest ability who want to progress onto Honours degrees. A number of the FE colleges also offer Apprenticeship and e2e programmes.
If you choose to stay on in education you may be able to get an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). See: http://www.ema.dfes.gov.uk/

Apprenticeships and Entry to Employment (E 2 E)

If you want to leave full time education you can combine training with paid work.
Apprenticeships involve full time paid work in a range of industries and business with time off to study for an NVQ level 2 or 3 in your area of work, as well as working towards gaining key skills qualifications and a technical certificate.
Apprenticeships can also be a route into a Foundation degree. For more details visit http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/,

E2E suits those who are not ready for work or college as it offers opportunities for work experience, help with communication and life skills, progression to an NVQ, and help with job searching. You will be paid a training allowance. You will go to a local provider and work in small groups or with 1:1 help.

Foundation Degrees

There are now many hundreds of Foundation degree programmes and the numbers are growing all the time. A varied range is available locally, and courses are often linked with FE colleges. Many students combine study at this level with employment, so you might be working 3 or 4 days a week in a job which is relevant to the Foundation degree course. This type of course with part-time study could last 3 years, while a full time course might take 2 years.
Most Foundation degrees have a progression route onto an Honours degree course, which might involve 1 or 2 further years of study.

Learning styles on these courses is very varied and assessment is likely to be based on continual assessment of assignments rather than an end of year exam.
Entry requirements could be traditional A-level subjects, but application is encouraged through vocational pathways and students who have followed a BTEC or AVCE programme are currently found to be coping very well at Foundation degree level. NVQ level 3 is another route and for some courses, such as Youth Work, the experience you have had matters more than the qualifications.
Here are some examples of Foundation degrees where you would need to apply initially for a job in the sector: Medicines Management, where you would need a clinical placement in a hospital; Paramedical Science, would need a job in the Ambulance Service.

Level of Learning/Level of Qualification

Level 1 - (Foundation level)
Courses at level 1 (such as GNVQ Foundation or NVQ level 1) last for one year and are for those who have passes at entry level or who have had some success at GCSE level, achieving E, F or G grades. Completion of this level can lead on to employment at operative or junior level, or onto level 2 courses.

Level 2 - (Intermediate level)
Courses at level 2 (such as GCSEs, NVQ 2 or GNVQ Intermediate) last for one year and are for those who have passed level 1, or who achieved GCSEs (grades D or E for example) but want to improve their grades. This level aims to prepare students for more advanced levels or lead them into work with training.

Level 3 - (Advanced level)
Level 3 courses (such as A levels, Advanced GNVQs) last for 2 years and are for those who have passed level 2 or who have achieved 4/5 GCSEs at grade C or above. Students at this level usually go on to higher education ,or in the case of NVQ training, are employed in the subject area they are studying.

Level 4 - (Higher level - HND/HNC)
This level is equivalent to sub-degree level or HND/HNC level. Students will have some success at level 3 (such as GNVQ Advanced or an NVQ 3), achieved 1 or 2 A levels or have relevant work experience.

Providers

These are the providers of education & learning which consist of schools, FE colleges, universities and work based learning providers. They offer qualification to learners at all levels and help in transition with information, advice and guidance to higher qualifications

Job Roles

Different jobs at all levels and giving an indication of the types of roles that could be available for learners and giving examples of progression into higher job roles which should help in making decision of the kind of job role that you might wish to follow