BUSINESS, FINANCE & TRAVEL & TOURISM BTEC Level 1 Diploma in Business Administration BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Business BTEC Level 3 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Business
COURSE HANDBOOK 2013 – 2014
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BOSTON COLLEGE BTEC LEVEL 1 DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, BTEC LEVEL 2 DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS AND BTEC LEVEL 3 EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS COURSE HANDBOOK Section 1 WELCOME Boston College, and particularly the Business teaching team, extend a warm welcome to learners who wish to prepare themselves for employment in business or the professions or progression to higher education programmes. Business organisations operate in an environment of continual change: potential employees need to develop skills, knowledge and attitudes which equip them for a range of opportunities throughout their career. STAFF BTEC courses are managed by a course team made up of all the lecturers who teach you. A learner representative will be elected to the course team to represent your views. Specific roles are taken by Wendy Poole Mary Brickwood Linda Sanderson Martin Howard Jane Van Lier
Programme Area Manager Lecturer Lecturer Lecturer Lecturer
Ext. 3256 Ext. 3250 Ext. 3250 Ext. 3250 Ext. 3250
wendy-p@boston.ac.uk m-pygott@boston.ac.uk linda-s@boston.ac.uk martin-h@boston.ac.uk jane-l@boston.ac.uk
YOUR PERSONAL TUTOR: All full-time learners have a Personal Tutor. Your tutor will welcome you to the College, help you to settle in and be there to give you help and information. Your tutor is usually your first point of contact with the College and your main source of help. You will meet your tutor every week, as part of a group session or for a one-to-one discussion and review of your progress. It is important that you attend your tutorials as they will support you and make sure you to get the most out of College. You will meet your tutor at Induction. The Induction programme introduces you to staff, other learners, your course and the College. A more detailed description of the tutor’s role can be found in your handbook.
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The course tutors for 2013/2014 are:Level 1 Business Level 2 Business Level 3 Business Yr 1 Level 3 Business Yr 2
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Linda Sanderson Mary Brickwood Jane Van Lier Martin Howard
Section 2
QUALIFICATION AIM BTEC LEVEL 1 DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION The BTEC Level 1 Diploma in Business and Administration prepares you for work and/or further education and training. The course will be completed within one year.
COURSE FRAMEWORK You will gain the knowledge skills and attributes required for a wide range of business occupations. Young people need to develop flexibility so that they can quickly adapt to ever changing demands in the workplace. It helps them develop skills such as communicating effectively, using information technology and to have a basic understanding. The Level 1 course gives learners an introduction to business principles and ideas. This course provides real opportunities for learners to develop relevant business skills that can be applied to many work situations, to develop a range of employability skills and techniques, understanding, personal qualities and attitudes. A Level 1 Diploma course involves specialised studies directly relevant to business, retail and administration related sectors and provides a stepping stone into employment. You will be able to use what you learn to make better decisions in your business career. By the end of your course you will also be able to use Information Technology to a good standard. The Level 1 Diploma provides progression to:Level 2 Diploma in Business or employment/apprenticeship in a wide range of business organisations Careers guidance is offered through Tutorial sessions and individual learning plans and individual appointments with the Careers Adviser can be arranged through Learner Services. The 37 credit Diploma must be completed over one year. You will also be expected to undertake Functional Skills in Maths English and ICT. The College also provides opportunities for you to undertake a range of other relevant qualifications alongside your main course, as well as work experience placements.
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To achieve the Level 1 Diploma you will need to complete all units at Pass standard. Units include:▪ Ideas for small business ▪ Communicating electronically ▪ Job opportunities in Business Administration ▪ Health at Work ▪ Preparing for work placement ▪ Creating Business Documents The academic year will be divided into three twelve week terms. All assessments must be submitted on time. Learners may be offered the opportunity to take part in any trips or visits over the year. If assignment work is not submitted on time learners will be expected to remain at College and complete any outstanding work.
ASSESSMENT Assessment and Grading All units will be assessed internally. You will be required to spend 2 weeks out in a work experience placement which is assessed as part of the Level 1 Diploma course. All learner work will be assessed against the criteria laid down by BTEC and your progress will be continually assessed by the teaching team. Supplementary Courses Learners will also study the IFS Level 1 Award in Personal Finance and NCFE Employability Skills.
BTEC LEVEL 2 DIPLOMA BUSINESS The Level 2 Diploma in Business prepares you for work and/or further education and training. The course will be completed within one year.
The Level 2 Diploma in Business will help you require the knowledge, skills and attributes required for a wide range of business occupations. Young people need to develop flexibility so that they can quickly adapt to ever changing demands in the workplace. This involves developing a good understanding of business principles and ideas. It also involves developing skills such as the ability to communicate effectively, to use information technology and to have a sound grasp of finance.
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The Level 2 Business course provides real opportunities for learners to develop relevant business skills that can be applied to many work situations eg. to carry out market research, to prepare a business plan, to prepare a set of accounts etc. This course involves learning business theory which can then be applied in real situations. You will be able to use what you learn to make better decisions in your business career. By the end of your course you will also be able to use Information Technology to a good standard. The Level 2 Diploma provides progression to:Level 3 Diploma in Business or employment/apprenticeship in a wide range of business organisations Careers guidance is offered through the Tutorial sessions and individual learning plans and individual appointments with the Careers Adviser can be arranged through Learner Services. The BTEC Level 2 Diploma must be completed over one year. You will also be expected to undertake Functional Skills or GCSE in Maths and English, if you do not have a grade C or above in these subjects. The College also provides opportunities for you to undertake a range of other relevant qualifications and work experience alongside your main course. To achieve the Level 2 Diploma you will need to complete all units to a minimum Pass standard. Mandatory:Business Purposes Business Organisations Financial Forecasting for Business People in Organisation
Optional can include:Customer Relations in Business Business online Working in Business Teams Visual Merchandising and Display Techniques for Retail Businesses
The academic year will be divided into three twelve week terms. All assessments for the term must be submitted by the deadlines given. Learners may be offered the opportunity to take part in any trips or visits over the year. If assignment work is not submitted on time learners will be expected to remain at College and complete any outstanding work.
ASSESSMENT Assessment and Grading All units will be assessed internally. All units carry grades ‘pass’, ‘merit’ and ‘distinction’. BTEC set the assessment criteria for all grades and assignments are written to give all learners the opportunity to meet all of the criteria.
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The units in BTEC Level 2 qualification will have a standard format which is designed to provide clear guidance on the requirements of the qualification for the learners. Functional Skills If you do not have a grade A* - C in GCSE English or Mathematics you will be enrolled in the appropriate Functional Skill or GCSE depending upon initial diagnostics. Supplementary Courses Learners will also study the IFS Level 2 Certificate in Personal Finance as part of their learning programme.
BTEC LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA AND EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS The Level 3 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Business prepares you for work and/or higher education and training.
You will require the knowledge skills and attributes required for a wide range of business occupations. Young people need to develop flexibility so that they can quickly adapt to ever changing demands in the workplace. This involves developing a good understanding of business principles and ideas. It also involves developing skills such as the ability to communicate effectively, to use information technology and to have a sound grasp of finance. The Level 3 Extended Diploma course is recognised as being equivalent to 3 traditional A levels. The course provides real opportunities for learners to develop relevant business skills that can be applied to many work situations e.g. to carry out market research, to prepare a business plan, to prepare a set of accounts. It involves learning business theory which can then be applied in real situations. You will be able to use what you learn to make better decisions in your business career. By the end of your course you will also be able to use Information Technology to a high standard. The Extended Diploma provides progression to:HNC, HND and Degree programmes or employment/advanced apprenticeships in a wide range of business organisations Careers guidance is offered through Tutorial sessions and individual learning plans and individual appointments with the Careers Advisers can be arranged through Learner Services. *
If you are considering moving on to Higher Education, you should talk to your Personal Tutor as soon as possible so that the most appropriate complementary studies can be chosen and your UCAS application can be completed within the given timeframe.
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Learners at Level 3 will be enrolled on the 90 credit Diploma in Business in the first year, then on the Extended Diploma in Business in the second year (subject to tutor recommendation). In some cases, individuals will be enrolled onto the Extended Diploma straight away – subject to individual circumstances. Learners will be given the opportunity to resit English and/or Maths GCSE if they do not have a C grade or above in the subjects. Learners are strongly advised to take this opportunity as GCSE Maths and English are often required by Universities and employers. To achieve the Extended Diploma you will need to complete all units per academic year. A typical selection is as follows: Units (Year 1) Business Environment Business Resources Introduction to Marketing Business Communication Business Accounting Creative Product Promotion Recruitment and Selection in Business Understanding Health and Safety in the Business workplace Developing Teams in Business
Units (Year 2) Financial Accounting Market Research in Business Human Resource Management in Business Managing a Business Event International Business Starting a Small Business Understanding Business Ethics Business and the Economic Environment Visual Merchandising in Retail
Supplementary Courses Learners will study the IFS Level 3 Certificate in Personal Finance in Year 1 and may progress to the Diploma in Financial Studies in Year 2 upon tutor recommendation. Both these courses attract UCAS points. The academic year will be divided into three twelve week terms. All assessments for the term must be submitted by the deadline given. Learners may be offered the opportunity to take part in any trips or visits in the year. If assignment work is not submitted on time learners will be expected to remain at College and complete any outstanding work. If learners have not completed all assignments to a minimum Pass standard in year 1, their progression to Year 2 will be discussed at the end of year academic board.
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ASSESSMENT Assessment and Grading All units will be assessed internally. All units carry grades ‘pass’, ‘merit’ and ‘distinction’. To achieve a grade the learners must meet assessment criteria set out in the specifications. The units in BTEC qualifications will have a standard format which is designed to provide clear guidance on the requirements on the qualification for the learners. Assignment hand-in It is very important that you submit your assignments on, or before the deadlines set. Please read and follow the programme area Assignment hand-in policy, a copy of which will be given to you by your tutor. Appeals against Assessment decisions There may be occasions when a learner disagrees with the assessment outcome. In such cases the learner must talk to the assessor and/or Personal Tutor and follow the College procedure to resolve the problem (see Learner Handbook for detail).
If a learner is having problems understanding what is required of them to successfully complete any assignment task, then early consultation with the tutor concerned is strongly advised.
THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE You will take part in a wide range of learning experiences. There will be classroom sessions in each subject area where learners will gain the knowledge and understanding they need to support achievement in assignments. These sessions will be supported by up-to-date textbooks, videos and documentation used in business today. You will also learn independently through research activities undertaken in College and externally. Learners need to note that at Level 2 and Level 3 they will be expected to research and study independently and complete assignment tasks in their own time.
Attendance Monitoring We want you to be successful on your course and to achieve your qualifications. It is, therefore, most important that you attend all your classes. Good attendance is an important part of being successful. The College Attendance Monitor will contact every absent learner by telephone or letter. The attendance monitor will work with you and your tutors to promote good attendance. Absence procedures are available from your tutor or on the College Intranet.
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What will they do? offer support if you are having problems which affect your attendance refer you to Learner Services who can help with childcare, travel, money, medical or a range of personal problems refer you to your tutor who will discuss your attendance and, if appropriate, take disciplinary action. What can you do to maintain excellent attendance? Make personal appointments outside your College timetable Inform your tutor if you are going to be unavoidably absent Telephone (01205) 365701 or e-mail absent@boston.ac.uk Follow College absence reporting procedures Make your personal tutor aware of any issues or problems you are having which are having an impact on your attendance as soon as possible The Attendance Monitor is: – Gail Bevan
Absence and Punctuality Learners must arrive punctually for classes. Your Personal Tutor will monitor both attendance and punctuality. Repeated lateness will become a recorded action planning point for the learner and be entered as such in the personal file. Persistence in this respect could also result in examination entries being restricted or a disciplinary procedure being implemented. These requirements apply to the main course of study and also to complementary studies undertaken. If learners know in advance that they are unable to attend, then they should ask for a leave of absence form from Reception. This should be completed, and if the learner is under 18 years of age, signed by the parent. This should then be submitted to the Personal Tutor for approval. When learners are absent they should follow the College absence reporting procedures. Extended absence requires self certification and/or a medical certificate. Holidays in term time will not be approved.
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PROGRESS REPORTING Parents Evenings Parents are invited to visit the College regularly to find out more about your course, how you are progressing, options after your course and any other details. There will be an opportunity to speak to key staff as well as your Personal Tutor. Progress Parents are encouraged to keep in regular contact with their course tutor and/or programme leader to discuss their son/daughter/ward’s progress and any other issues. Reports All College learners are assessed by the course team 5 weeks after enrolment to confirm continuation onto the full programme. If there is any doubt as to suitability to continue, learners and parents will be consulted as early as possible after the start of term.
Section 3
COLLEGE CALENDAR 2013/2014 2013 September 2nd September 3rd September 26th October 3rd October 8th October 10th October 16th October 21st – 25th October 29th October 30th & 31st November 5th November 7th November 14th November 15th December 19th
Autumn term starts. Learner Services Induction week Spalding Enrolment Higher Education Fair at BCUC HE Parents’ Briefing ‘Going to University’ BCUC Spalding College in Action Boston College in Action Volunteer Fair at BCUC Half term HE Open Event Parents’ evenings School Taster day Boston College in Action Spalding College in Action Closing date for UCAS applications (internal) End of Autumn term
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2014 January 6th January 23rd February 6th February 11th February 17th - 21st March 3rd - 7th March 4th & 5th April 4th April 22nd May 5th May 26th June 10th June 12th June 26th
Spring term starts HE Open Event Boston College in Action Spalding College in Action Half term for learners Careers week Parents’ evenings End of Spring term Summer term starts Bank Holiday Bank Holiday Spalding Open Event (Information) Boston Open Evening (Information) Summer term ends
Note Any learner taking holidays outside of holiday periods will be considered absent from the course. Learners receiving support from the College Bursary Fund need to be aware that they will not be paid for holiday periods taken outside the academic breaks. Section 4 REQUIRED PURCHASES It would be advisable for you to purchase:a course file for coursework data stick(s) a supply of A4 ruled paper a ruler, pens, pencils, felt tips a calculator Learners will have access to course texts through the Library loan service. There will be an opportunity during Induction to register as a Library user. Financial Assistance If you have financial difficulties you can apply for help from the College Bursary Fund, 19+ Learner Support Fund or 24+ Advanced Learning Loans Bursary Fund. This may help to meet the costs of: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Travel Books and equipment (16-18, 19+ only) Food (16-18, 19+ only) Specialist clothing required for your course (16-18, 19+ only) Childcare costs whilst at College (19+ and 24+ only) Exams/tuition costs (19+ only)
Some learners aged 16-18 are guaranteed help from the Bursary Fund – this includes: learners living in care recent care leavers learners receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in their own right learners receiving Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment in their own right. For further details please check with Learner Services staff.
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Childcare If you are under 20, you may qualify for Care to Learn payments for childcare costs. Please go to Learner Services for more information, or contact Care to Learn on 0845 600 7979 or visit the website at www.gov.uk/caretolearn
Section 5
SUPPORT SERVICES The College Mission Statement The College Mission Statement describes the type of College we provide for all our learners and staff. ‘to be a brilliant college that transforms people’s lives and makes an outstanding contribution to the economic, social and cultural life of Lincolnshire’. All learners at the College attend voluntarily so there is not a set of ‘College Rules’. We do however have a range of policies which describe the standards we expect and what we offer in return. To access all the learner related policies and procedures please look on Moodle, or ask your Personal Tutor for details.
Section 6
POLICIES At the College we have a range of policies detailing what the College will offer you and how we ensure high standards are maintained. To access the policies click on the links below. If this is not possible please ask your Tutor to provide you with a copy. Admissions Assessment and Examinations Assessment Malpractice Bullying and Harassment Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Car Parking for Residential Learners Compliments & Complaints Procedure Computer Services Unit: Code of Conduct and Practice and Equality Impact Assessment Coursework / Self Study Drugs and Alcohol
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Financial Support for Learners Functional Skills Hall of Residence Disciplinary / Sanctions Higher Education Admissions Induction Code of Practice Information, Guidance and Support International Student Late Enrolment Learner Attendance Learner Disciplinary Policy and Procedure for Further Education Learners Mobile Electronic Equipment Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Safeguarding Learners Skills for Life and Learning Support Tutorial – Full Time Learners – Appendix 1 Weapons and Search Work Experience Equality and Diversity – see our page on Moodle Examination Policy Students Copy Important Exams Information for Candidates Access arrangements – General Access arrangements – International Students Examination Clashes Conduct of Exams Internal Appeals Procedure – Students Copy Appeals Procedure – Externally Marked Exams
CODES OF PRACTICE
Learners are expected to take due care for their own safety and the safety of others at all times. Health and Safety procedures e.g. the fire drill, will be explained during Induction.
SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT Boston College places a high priority on the safety and wellbeing of our learners. We are committed to creating and maintaining a friendly, welcoming and safe working environment for all young people and vulnerable adults, whether learning is taking place on or off College premises. We have a duty to safeguard all learners, and we will respond immediately if there is a concern that a learner might be the victim of bullying, harassment, abuse or neglect.
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All staff are trained in safeguarding and there is a designated specialist Safeguarding Team to help with any concerns you might have about your own or someone else’s safety. If you need to contact the Safeguarding Team please go to:
Main reception Learner Services The ‘Stay Safe’ button on Moodle E-mail staysafe@boston.ac.uk
If you need to contact someone out of College hours about safeguarding contact:
Children’s Social Care on 01522 782333 In an emergency situation dial 999 and call the police
An important part of safeguarding is making sure only authorised people are on our College premises. Please help us with this by carrying your ID badge at all times and showing it if asked by a member of College staff. At Boston College we respect everyone within the College community. We also emphasise respect for personal property and for the facilities of the College. We therefore, expect learners to work with us to create an environment where everyone feels safe and valued and can work to achieve their full potential.
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Boston College Skirbeck Road Boston Lincs PE21 6JF Telephone: 01205 365701
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