Part 1 GNVQs
What are they?

Part One GNVQs are work-related qualifications that you take at school or college. You can take an Edexcel Part One GNVQ as well as GCSEs but they are very different from these academic qualifications.

Part One GNVQs allow you to gain experience of industry and commerce. You spend time on work-related assignments, often with local employers, learning about an area of work such as business, manufacturing, leisure and tourism or engineering.

You also develop the skills needed in all jobs such as communication, numeracy and IT.

The knowledge and skills you gain by taking a Part One GNVQ prepares you for employment, giving you a headstart in the search for a job. If you want to leave school or college with a qualification which:

• offers you the best possible employment opportunities
  
• keeps open your option for further study such as going to university and studying for a degree
  
• offers you a hands-on vocational course
  
• offers breadth to your academic study

then a Part One GNVQ could be right for you.

BTEC NVQs - what are they
BTEC NVQs are job-related qualifications mainly for people in work. They are different from qualifications like GCSEs and A levels because they are about employment skills rather than academic ability.
An NVQ proves that you meet national standards set by employers - that you can actually do a job rather than just write or talk about it.

There are over 300 BTEC NVQs and they are available at five levels, covering the basic occupations at level 1 to the managerial and professional positions at level 5.

Thousands of people are currently working and, at the same time, gaining a nationally recognised qualification which will help them progress in their career. If you:

• are looking to return to work after a break,
  
• drawing on previously acquired skills to reach a NVQ Level of competence.
  
• are currently in work and want to update your existing skills
  
• want to gain a nationally recognised qualification which reflects the skills you are learning at work

then an NVQ could be right for you.National Vocational Qualifications

Vocational A Levels - What are they?
From September 2000, Advanced GNVQs have been known as Vocational A Levels or Advanced Vocational Certificates of Education (AVCEs)

Vocational A levels are work-related qualifications that you take at school or college. You can take a Vocational A level as well as or instead of A levels but they are very different from these academic qualifications. Edexcel Vocational A levels allow you to gain experience of industry and commerce. You spend time on work-related assignments, often with local employers, learning about an area of work such as business, leisure and recreation, travel and tourism or engineering. You also develop the skills needed in all jobs such as communication, numeracy and IT.

The knowledge and skills you gain by taking a Vocational A level prepare you for employment, giving you a head start in the search for a job. Vocational A levels are an accepted entry route into further and higher education. If you want to leave school or college with a qualification which:

• offers you the best possible employment opportunities
  
• keeps open your option of going to university and studying for a degree
  
• offers you a hands-on vocational course
  
• offers breadth to your academic study

then Vocational A levels could be right for you.

For further information about any of the Edexcel qualifications, ask at your school or look on the Edexcel website: www.edexcel.org.uk or call Edexcel’s Customer Response Centre: 0870 240 9800.