BTEC Tech Award in Construction is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. Within the vocational training pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and skilful. The construction industry is one of the UK’s most important sectors. It employs, directly or indirectly, around 2.4 million people and accounted for £122 bn of the value to the UK economy. With lessons BTEC Construction pupils will gain valuable hands-on experience which can help them progress to higher education or an apprenticeship, or go straight into a career in the industry.

The Tech Award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific applied knowledge and skills through realistic vocational contexts. Learners will have the opportunity to develop applied knowledge and practical skills in the following areas:

● construction technology

● construction in practice

● construction and design.

This Tech Award complements the learning in GCSE programmes such as GCSE Design and Technology by teaching additional and specific skills in either brickwork or carpentry and joinery, and by providing a more applied area of study when looking at the different types of technologies being used in a real-world setting for low-rise construction.

Assessment The three components in the qualification give learners the opportunity to develop broad knowledge and understanding of the construction and built environment sector, and specialist skills such as interpreting and designing a low-rise construction to a brief, construction of a practical outcome to specification and ensuring quality of outcome at Levels 1 and 2.

It is worth noting that there are two different essays that need completing through the course and these relate to the roles in the construction industry and an Architectural project. These essays are timed and have to be completing within the set period allocated form the exam board.

Finally, The Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Construction and the Built Environment (603/7051/8) is for learners who want to acquire sector-specific applied knowledge and skills through vocational contexts by studying practical skills used in construction

What can the qualification lead to?

Study of the qualification as part of Key Stage 4 learning will help learners to make more informed choices for further learning, either generally or in this sector.

 The choices that learners can make post-16 will depend on their overall level of attainment and their performance in the qualification. Learners who generally achieve at Level 2 across their Key Stage 4 learning might consider progression to:

Study of a vocational qualification at Level 3, such as a BTEC National in Construction and the Built Environment, which prepares learners to enter employment or apprenticeships.

A Levels as preparation for entry to higher education in a range of subjects.