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ERIC Number: ED622000
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Nov-30
Pages: 136
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Role of Cambridge Technicals in the Post-16 Qualifications Landscape. Research Report
Vidal Rodeiro, Carmen
Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Cambridge Technicals are vocational qualifications offered by OCR at Levels 2 and 3, for students aged 16 and above. They are designed with the workplace in mind and provide an alternative to A levels. The successful completion of a Cambridge Technical can provide opportunities to progress into employment, onto professional development programmes including apprenticeships, or to continue studying in Higher Education. This research aims to provide further evidence about the types of students who take Cambridge Technicals, and how the qualifications fit into their overall education. The purpose of this work is to inform efforts to increase the support for Cambridge Technicals and their role in the future post-16 qualifications landscape. This research considered the following research questions: (1) What are the characteristics of Cambridge Technicals candidates?; (2) What qualifications do candidates combine with Cambridge Technicals?; (3) How do candidates perform in Cambridge Technicals, in comparison with other qualifications taken at the same time?; and (4) To what extent do Cambridge Technicals support the progression of students, in particular to Further and Higher Education? Answering these research questions is an important step towards a better understanding of the value of Cambridge Technicals, and will provide further insights into the progression of students with different qualifications and backgrounds. This study analysed data from three different sources: (1) The National Pupil Database (NPD); (2) Individualised Learner Record (ILR) database; and (3) Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student records database. This research provided evidence to better understand the value of Cambridge Technicals and their role in the post-16 qualifications landscape by investigating the types of students who take them and the progression to Further and Higher Education of students with different qualifications and backgrounds. There is clear evidence that the Cambridge Technicals, and programmes of study combining Cambridge Technicals with other qualifications (e.g., AS/A levels) help students to progress and do not close students' options after Key Stage 5. In particular, Cambridge Technicals can facilitate progression to Higher Education courses and apprenticeships in Further Education settings. [This work was produced using statistical data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).]
Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Shaftesbury Road Cambridge CB2 8EA. Tel: 44-1223-553311; e-mail: directcs@cambridge.org; Web site: https://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Postsecondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Cambridge University Press & Assessment (United Kingdom)
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A