Engineering

NCFE Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Engineering

The course is made up of two components: a non-exam assessment that is internally assessed and worth 60%  and one that’s externally set and assessed worth the remaining 40%. In the first year of the course, students will cover the following content areas -

Content area 1: Engineering disciplines
Content area 2: Applied science and mathematics in engineering
Content area 3: Reading engineering drawings
Content area 4: Properties, characteristics and selection of engineering materials
Content area 5: Engineering tools, equipment and machines
Content area 6: Hand-drawn engineering drawings
Content area 7: Computer-aided design (CAD) engineering drawings
Content area 8: Production planning techniques
Content area 9: Applied processing skills and techniques Students will investigate the selection of materials, proprietary components, making processes and disassembly of a given engineered product. They will plan, reproduce, inspect and test a single component.

In the second year of the course, students will investigate and create solutions to problems in response to a set synoptic assessment brief. They will have two opportunities to sit the externally assessed exam (November and March)

The assessment structure is also designed so that students can build on what they learn, and develop their skills, as they move through the course.

NCFE Specification

Technical Award in Constructing and Maintaining the Built Environment

Exam Board: City & Guilds

This will be suitable for students who are interested in a career in construction like plumbing, painting and decorating, carpentry and plastering. You don't need any experience - you just need to be serious about having a go and seeing if construction is the right career for you.

You will explore the structure of the construction and built environment industry in terms of how different people work together to deliver construction projects. You will develop an understanding of what makes a building and how the selection of different materials, affects the overall look and feel. You will have the opportunity to carry out a selection of realistic practical construction tasks related to the repair, maintenance and refurbishment of a building. The qualification has four units:

• Working in the built environment

• Construction methods and materials

• Maintenance, repair and refurbishment of buildings

• Using tools to construct and maintain buildings

You will learn the key elements of the four units through practical activities. This includes learning basic health and safety as well as good working practices.

You will demonstrate your progress through practical assignments. There is also an optional multiple-choice online exam covering health, safety and working practices. It is a good idea to take this optional exam if you are thinking of progressing to another qualification.

To gain this qualification, candidates must successfully achieve the following assessments:

• One externally set, externally moderated assignment

• One externally set, externally marked exam, sat under examination conditions

This qualification is graded Pass/Merit/Distinction/Distinction*.

C&G Technical Award in Constructing and Maintaining the Built Environment Specification

NCFE Tech Award Engineering Level 1/2

The NCFE Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Engineering (Qualification Number: 603/7006/3), is for learners who want to acquire technical knowledge and technical skills through vocational contexts by studying mechanical, electrical/electronic and engineering design as part of their  learning programme. The qualification recognises the value of learning skills, knowledge and vocational attributes to complement GCSEs. The qualification will broaden the learners experience and understanding of the varied progression options available to them.

The Award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific knowledge and skills in a practical learning environment. The main focus is on four areas of equal importance,  which cover the:

• development of key engineering practical and technical skills, such as research, observation, measurement, making, using computer-aided design (CAD) and disassembly
• knowledge of key engineering sectors (mechanical, electrical/electronic and engineering design) and the interrelation of each in industry
• knowledge of the stages involved in planning and implementing an engineering project
• knowledge and skills involved in the investigation of solutions to engineering problems in response to a given brief.

This Award complements the learning in other GCSE programmes by broadening the application of ‘design and make’ tasks, working with an engineering brief, testing and evaluation.

NCFE Level 1/2 Engineering

BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Engineering

In the real world, engineering projects do not always go to plan; learners willexplore strategies for resolving implementation problems so that they can employ them if required.  The engineering sector is very diverse and includes manufacturing and service companies that produce, operate and maintain products such as aircraft, cars, chemicals; electrical, marine and medical equipment; polymers, smart materials; and energy, telecommunication and transportation systems.  The range of possible project areas is therefore extensive.

Learners have the opportunity to integrate the knowledge and skills gained throughout their programme of study into a range of practical projects.  They will develop their ability to identify and plan a course of action and then follow this through to produce a viable outcome to an agreed specification and timescale. The end result could be an engineered product, service or process; a modification to an existing product or service; or anything of an engineering nature that maps to the learning outcomes.

BTEC Level 3 Engineering