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NEWMAN CATHOLIC COLLEGE

2015-2016

BTEC Business Level 3

Extended Diploma
COURSE HANDBOOK
 BTEC Business Level 3 Extended Diploma – Course Handbook

Table Of Contents

Chapter One - Course overview & the benefits of BTECs

• What is a BTEC Diploma and where can they lead? ……….…………………………………..2

• What vocational opportunities does this course offer? ………………………………………2
• What have past students of this course gone on to do? ……………………………………..2

Chapter Two - Units and assignments & How you will be assessed

• What exactly will I be studying on this course? …………………………………….…………..3

• How and when will my achievement be assessed? …………………………………….……..3
• What will the assignments look like? …………………………………….…………………………..4
• What is plagiarism and how do I avoid it? …………………………………….…………………..5
• What do Learner Assessment Submission and Declaration Forms look like? .......5
• What evidence of achievement will I need to provide? …………………………………....6
• What do observer and witness statements look like? …………………………………….…6

Chapter Three – What to Expect and Who will be teaching you

• What can I expect of the BTEC team and what will they expect of me? ……………7
• Who are the BTEC team? …………………………………….…………………………………….…….7

What policies are in place?

• Internal Verification Policy ……………………………………………………………………..………7

• Appeals Policy …………………………………….…………………………………….…………………...8

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Chapter One - Course overview & the benefits of BTECs

What are BTEC Awards and where can they lead?

Information taken from Edexcel BTEC Level 3 in Business Extended Diploma in Business – Specification- September 2010

The 180-credit BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma extends and deepens the specialist work-related focus from the
BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma and the BTEC Level 3 Diploma. The BTEC qualifications in this specification level 3
qualifications designed to provide highly specialist, work-related qualifications in a range of vocational sectors. They
give learners the knowledge, understanding and skills that they need to prepare for employment. These
qualifications accredit the achievement for courses and programmes of study for full-time or part-time learners in
schools, colleges and other training provider organisations. The qualifications provide career development
opportunities for those already in work, and progression opportunities to higher education, degree and professional
development programmes within the same or related areas of study, within universities and other institutions.

On successful completion of a BTEC level 3 qualification, a learner can progress to or within employment and/or
continue their study in the same, or related vocational area.

What vocational opportunities does this course offer?

Each year a large number of organisations approach Newman to offer students their latest training, placement or
workshop opportunities. These vary from year to year as organisations tailor opportunities to fit their latest
developments and areas they are interested in exploring.

One of the important aspects of our approach is to instil into learners who have a limited experience of the world of
work some insights into the daily operations that are met in the vocational area being studied. The delivery of the
BTEC Firsts is enriched and extended by the use of learning materials, classroom exercises and internal assessments
that draw on current practice in, and experience of, the sector being studied. This draws on the use of:

• vocationally specific workplace case-study materials

• visiting speakers, and the assistance of local employers
• visits by learners to local workplaces

What have past students of this course gone on to do?

There is potential for the qualification to prepare learners for appropriate direct employment in the vocational
sector and it is suitable for those who have decided that they clearly wish to enter a particular specialist area of
work. It is broadly equivalent to three GCE A Levels.

Some learners may wish to gain the qualification in order to enter a specialist area of employment or to progress to
a higher education foundation degree, HND or other professional development programme. Other learners may
want to extend the specialist nature of the subjects they studied on the Level 3 BTEC Diploma or another
programme of study.

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Chapter Two - Units and assignments & How you will be assessed

What exactly will I be studying on this course?

The requirement is that you complete 4 units, Unit 1 and 2 are Mandatory and Units 3 and 8 are optional units,
which must be completed. All Unit are Coursework based, Internally marked and Verified.

Year 1
Unit 1 – The Business Environment
Unit 2 – Business Resources
Unit 3 – Introduction to Marketing
Unit 4 – Business Communication
Unit 5 – Business Accounting
Unit 19 – Developing Teams in Business
Unit 18 – Managing a Business Event
Unit 34 – Website Design Strategy
Unit 37 – Understanding Business Ethics

Year 2
Unit 9 – Creative Product Promotion
Unit 10 – Market Research in Business
Unit 12 – Internet Marketing in Business
Unit 13 – Recruitment and Selection in Business
Unit 16 – Human Resource Management in Business
Unit 21 – Aspects of Contract and Business Law
Unit 27 – Understanding Health and Safety in the Business Workplace
Unit 38 – Business and the Economic Environment
Unit 36 – Starting a Small Business

How and when will my achievement be assessed?

In order to pass an assignment you will need to produce evidence, this is proof that you have met the requirements
of the unit. All units are broken down in exactly the same way. Every unit is introduced with a learning outcome,
which describes what you will achieve while completing the unit. Assessment objectives describe what you are
required to do in order to achieve the learning outcome. You must achieve every assessment objective in the unit.
You are able to achieve a Pass (7 points), Merit (8 points) or Distinction (9 points) for each unit. In order to calculate
your overall grade you will need the following points:

Points range above pass grade Grade

1300-1339 MPP 1500-1529 DDD
1340-1379 MMP 1530-1559 D*DD
1380-1419 MMM 1560-1589 D*D*D
1420-1459 DMM 1590 and above D*D*D*
1460-1499 DDM

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You will be given time to familiars yourself with each unit and lessons will be delivered by your teacher before you
start the assessments.

Each unit is internally assessed and has specific assessment criteria that your centre must use to judge learner work
in order to arrive at a grading decision for the unit as a whole. The assessor judges the evidence that the learner has
presented to determine whether it meets all the relevant criteria, and then awards a grade at the appropriate level.
The criteria are arrived at with reference to the following grading domains:

● applying knowledge and understanding in vocational and realistic contexts, with reference to relevant
concepts and processes, to achieve tasks, produce outcomes and review the success of outcomes
● developing and applying practical and technical skills, acting with increasing independence to select and
apply skills through processes and with effective use of resources to achieve, explain and review the success
of intended outcomes
● developing generic skills for work through management of self, working in a team, the use of a variety of
relevant communication and presentation skills, and the development of critical thinking skills relevant to
vocational contexts.

What will the assignments look like?

Sample of unit 18 Managing a Business Event Learning Criteria: You must complete all the Pass’s in order to
progress onto Merit and Likewise you must complete all Pass’s and Merits before you progress onto the Distinction
criteria.

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What is plagiarism and how do I avoid it?
You need to consider how the further assessment opportunity ensures that assessment remains fit for purpose and
in line with the original requirements; for example, you may opt for learners to improve their evidence under
supervised conditions, even if this was not necessary for the original assessment, to ensure that plagiarism cannot
take place.
What do Learner Assessment Submission and Declaration Forms look like?

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What evidence of achievement will I need to provide?
Evidence for assessment may be generated through a range of diverse activities including assignment and
project work, case studies, workplace assessment, role play and oral presentation. Delivery strategies should
reflect the nature of work within the business sector by encouraging learners to research and carry out
assessment in the workplace or in simulated working conditions wherever possible.
What do observer and witness statements look like?

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Chapter Three – What to Expect and Who will be teaching you

What can I expect of the BTEC team and what will they expect of me?

We have excellent teaching staff who have a great track record of helping students reach their
potential. The units are internally assessed with the exception of unit 2 through assignments,
observation/witness statements and project work that are set and marked by your teacher.

Before you start an assessment, you should:

• Be confident you are sufficiently prepared to undertake assessment

• Encouraged to aim at “getting it right” on first submission so they are not relying on a repeat
submission or retake.

Who are the BTEC team?

Mr Farah Mohamed
Miss Thu Nguyen

What policies are in place?

Internal Verification Policy

Aims of this policy

To ensure there is an accredited Lead Internal Verifier in each BTEC programme.
To ensure that internal verification is valid, reliable and covers all assessors and programme activity.
To ensure that the Internal Verification procedure is open, fair and free from bias.
To ensure that there is accurate and detailed recording of internal verification decisions.

Our school Internal Verification Policy

• Internal verification at BTEC should cover all Assessors and all units.
• A Lead Internal Verifier for each BTEC programme will be registered with edexcel.
• Lead Internal Verifiers for Level 3 programmes will take the OSCA online standardisation exercise. Lead
Internal Verifiers who already hold accredited status following successful completion of the OSCA will re-
register every year to maintain their accreditation.
• Lead Internal Verifiers for Level 2 programmes and Lead Internal Verifiers from Level 3 programmes subject
to standard sampling will be responsible for liaison with their subject standard sampler and for preparing the
sample.

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 • Each Lead Internal Verifier will oversee teaching staff as they complete the published online standardisation
exercises at the beginning of each academic year.
• Each Lead Internal Verifier will ensure that teaching staff receive off-site or online training as
appropriate. Updated programme information and assessment procedures that are presented at such
events will be shared within programmes.
• The internal verification schedule and specific staff roles towards that end will be identified on each
programme’s BTEC Assessment Plan.
• Edexcel’s Internal Verification- Assignment Brief template will be used for each assignment thus each
working assignment brief will have been verified as fit for purpose.
• Edexcel’s Internal Verification- Assessment Decisions template will be used for each sampled student. Thus a
sample of students’ work and the accompanying Assessment Decision form will be verified to ensure
standardisation in marking.
• Internal verification comments will be specific and constructive to the Assessor to ensure consistently robust
assessment practice is in place.
• Each programme will complete certification in pairs to reflect the consistent internal verification across the
programme.
• Secure records of all internal verification activity will be maintained.

Appeals Policy

Aims of this policy

To enable the learner to enquire, question or appeal against an assessment decision
To attempt to reach agreement between the learner and the assessor at the earliest opportunity
To standardise and record any appeal to ensure openness and fairness.
To facilitate a learner’s ultimate right of appeal to the awarding body, where appropriate
To protect the interests of all learners and the integrity of the qualification

Our School Appeals Policy

We ensure that:
• Internal assessments are conducted by members of the teaching staff who have appropriate knowledge,
understanding and skills in this area.
• Assessment evidence provided by candidates is produced and authenticated according to the requirements
of the Awarding Body for the subject concerned.
• The consistency of internal assessment will be maintained by internal verification and standardisation.
• All student work being assessed by teaching staff for external qualifications is carried out fairly, consistently
and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the specification relating to the qualification.

BTEC Appeals Procedure

1. Initially the student raising the appeal should talk to their Assessor (teacher) in order to arrive at a clearer
understanding of how the mark in question was awarded.
2. BTEC Lead Internal Verifier will manage all appeals. Should the appeal be against the Lead Internal Verifier
then another Lead Internal Verifier will be brought into review the original decision.

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3. Appeal should be made in writing stating the details of the complaint and the reasons for the appeal within
7 working days of receiving the feedback and grade of work in question.
4. The Assessor who made the assessment decision will be given a copy of the appeal and will respond in
writing to this to the Lead Internal Verifier within 5 working days.
5. The Lead Internal Verifier will then make a decision on the grading and give written feedback to both the
student and the teacher involved within a further 3 working days.
6. Student raising the appeal will have an opportunity to a personal hearing if they are not happy with written
response received. The student will be given reasonable notice of the hearing date and should have sight of
all relevant documents to the case in advance of the hearing. Where the student is presenting their own
case they are allowed to bring along a carer/friend. The Assessor(s) and student will have the opportunity to
hear each other’s submission to the panel at the hearing.
7. The panel will comprise of a Lead Internal Verifier from another subject area, the Quality Nominee and the
Exams Officer.
8. A written record of the appeal and hearing will be taken including the outcome of an appeal and reason for
that outcome. This will be kept at on file for 18 months and the student will also receive a hard copy.
9. The school will inform the awarding body if there is any change to an internally assessed grade as a result of
an appeal.
10. Should students wish to appeal against the assessment decisions for externally assessed units they should
make an appeal in writing directly to Pearson for consideration.