The City & Guilds TechBac provides 14 – 19 students with a strategic, forward-thinking curriculum that addresses some of the key challenges identified in the 14 – 19 reforms.
These include learner destinations and outcomes, employer engagement and adopting digital delivery.
The City & Guilds TechBac has been developed with and supported by leading employers.
It offers clear progression pathways into further learning, employment, apprenticeships and university.
The Level 3 Technical qualifications within it have met DfE requirements and appear on the 2018 performance tables for 16 – 19 year olds. These requirements include external assessment, synoptic assessment, grading and employer involvement in delivery and/or assessment. These qualifications have also been approved for funding under section 96.
It is closely aligned to the new Ofsted Common Inspection Framework.
It reflects recommendations set out by FELTAG (Further Education Learning Technologies Action Group).
The overall TechBac outcome is not graded. However individual elements of the outcome are graded as follows:
Technical qualifications, covering the core technical knowledge and skills for a particular vocational area are graded Distinction*/Distinction/Merit/Pass.
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), allowing the candidate to complete an extended piece of work, including preparation, planning, and delivery of the project is graded A*, A, B, C, D, E.
The City & Guilds TechBac outcome contains a mix of assessment methods across the different components.
The key components are as follows:
- technical qualification, assessed by externally set and marked examination papers delivered under exam conditions, and externally set and moderated synoptic assignments, delivered in controlled conditions.
- Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), assessed by an internally marked and externally moderated project.
- SkillsZone workplace skills, internally assessed by the centre and externally verified by City & Guilds.
TechBac is the generic term given by City & Guilds to a suite of qualifications and skills development rather than a focus on a particular occupation or subject.
Two of the six components are accredited qualifications listed on the UCAS tariff - the Technical qualification and the EPQ.
The other four components add value by focusing on students achieving the employability and wider social skills required to progress on to apprenticeships, employment or higher education.
Link to the City & Guilds TechBac webpage: http://www.cityandguilds.com/techbac