Summary BTEC Level 3

1 Qualification purpose Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Sport In this section you will find information on the purpose of this qualification and how its design meets that purpose through the qualification objective and structure. We publish a full ‘Statement of Purpose’ for each qualification on our website. These statements are designed to guide you and potential learners to make the most appropriate choice about the size of qualification suitable at recruitment. Who is this qualification for? The Pearson BTEC National Extended Certificate in Sport is an Applied General qualification for post-16 learners who want to continue their education through applied learning and who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment in the sport sector. The qualification is equivalent in size to one A Level, and it has been designed as a one-year, full-time study programme, or a full two-year programme when studied alongside a further Level 3 qualification. What does this qualification cover? The content of this qualification has been developed in consultation with academics to ensure that it supports progression to higher education. Employers and professional bodies have also been involved and consulted to confirm that the content is appropriate and consistent with current practice for learners who may choose to enter employment directly in the sport sector. Learners will study three mandatory units: • Unit 1: Anatomy and Physiology • Unit 2: Fitness Training and Programming for Health, Sport and Well-being • Unit 3: Professional Development in the Sports Industry. Learners will also choose one optional unit from a range which has been designed to support choices in progression to sport courses in higher education, and to link with relevant occupational areas. What could this qualification lead to? The qualification carries UCAS points and is recognised by higher education providers as contributing to meeting admission requirements for many courses if taken alongside other qualifications as part of a two-year programme of study. It combines well with a large number of subjects and supports entry to higher education courses in a very wide range of disciplines (depending on the subjects taken alongside). For learners who wish to study an aspect of sport in higher education, opportunities include: • BA (Hons) in Sport Studies and Business, if taken alongside A Levels in Business and Maths • BSC (Hons) in Sport Psychology, if taken alongside a BTEC National Extended Certificate in Applied Science and A Level in Psychology • BA (Hons) in Sports Education and Special and Inclusive Education, if taken alongside an A Level in English Language and a BTEC National Extended Certificate in Performing Arts • BA (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science, if taken alongside a BTEC National Diploma in Applied Science. Learners should always check the entry requirements for degree programmes with specific higher education providers. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Sport – Specification – Issue 8 – September 2019 © Pearson Education Limited 2019 11 How does the qualification provide employability skills? In the BTEC National units there are opportunities during the teaching and learning phase to give learners practice in developing employability skills. Where employability skills are referred to in this specification, we are generally referring to skills in the following three main categories: • cognitive and problem-solving skills: use critical thinking, approach non-routine problems applying expert and creative solutions, use systems and technology • intrapersonal skills: communicating, working collaboratively, negotiating and influencing, self-presentation • interpersonal skills: self-management, adaptability and resilience, self-monitoring and development. There are also specific requirements in some units for assessment of these skills where relevant, for example, where learners are required to undertake real or simulated activities. How does the qualification provide transferable knowledge and skills for higher education? All BTEC Nationals provide transferable knowledge and skills that prepare learners for progression to university. The transferable skills that universities value include: • the ability to learn independently • the ability to research actively and methodically • being able to give presentations and being active group members. BTEC learners can also benefit from opportunities for deep learning where they are able to make connections among units and select areas of interest for detailed study. BTEC Nationals provide a vocational context in which learners can develop the knowledge and skills required for particular degree courses, including: • reading technical texts • effective writing • analytical skills • creative development • preparation for assessment methods used in degrees. In addition to the sport sector specific content outlined above, the requirements of the qualification will mean that learners develop the transferable and higher order skills that are valued by higher education providers and employers. Study of sport particularly encourages the development of skills and behaviours such as teamwork, leadership, performance analysis, resilience, evaluation, analysis and synthesising concepts. These skills are developed through the variety of approaches to teaching and learning enabled by the specification. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Sport – Specification – Issue 8 – September 2019 © Pearson Education Limited 2019 12 2 Structure Qualification structure Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Sport Mandatory units There are three mandatory units, one internal and two external. Learners must completed and achieve a Near Pass grade or above in all mandatory external units and achieve a Pass or above in the mandatory internal unit. Optional units Learners must complete one optional unit.