2. gloscol.ac.uk
Course Handbook 2017 – 2018
BTEC Level 3 Construction and the Built Environment
(Extended Diploma, Diploma & Subsidiary Diploma)
3. gloscol.ac.uk
Contents…
1 Welcome
How to find us
Settling in
Your responsibilities
Introducing the team
Communication
Tutorial programme
General information
Timetable
Term Dates
2 Programme Specification
Academic standards
Benchmarks
Programme overview
Programme learning outcomes
Programme structure chart
Practical skills
Intellectual skills
Transferable skills
Progression
Assessment guidelines
Late submission and extenuating circumstances
Assessment schedule
Plagiarism
3 Essentials for FE study
Academic writing
Resources
Reading list
Glossary of terms
6. gloscol.ac.uk
Welcome to Gloucestershire College
Welcome to the BTEC Level 3 in Construction and
the Built Environment.
We hope you will find your time of study both
challenging and enjoyable. This handbook is in addition
to the College Student Handbook and is for course
specific information.
Purpose
This handbook aims to:
•introduce you to important course information;
•highlight the opportunity for you to develop
skills and offer links to resources;
•be used as a signpost for further information,
which may be stored on our virtual learning
environment (VLE) or though hyperlinks to
useful websites.
7. gloscol.ac.uk
Settling in
Gloucestershire College offers you a wide range of help
and support and it is worth while finding out about the
range of opportunities associated with such a large
college.
Student Services
The student support department of Gloucestershire
College will introduce themselves and let you know how to
get help with any aspect of student life including:
•Counselling;
•accommodation advice;
•financial advice;
•study skills.
Extra help is available from student services
representatives who will be happy to give info about the
many activities, services and social opportunities available
at Gloucestershire College.
See your generic Gloucestershire College Student
Handbook for more details.
Student Agreement
This agreement is to help you and your tutor understand
your roles within the College to ensure you gain maximum
benefit from your time with us. Gloucestershire College
aims to provide you with a welcoming and caring
environment, offering appropriate education in response to
your needs as an individual learner.
Induction
During induction we will guide you through the most
important aspects of being a student, including:
•course programme outline;
•personal tutor allocation;
•college student handbook;
•student agreement;
•health and safety;
•student Council opportunities;
•enrolment and ID cards;
•initial assessment, advice and guidance;
•expectations of Further Education study;
•finding your way around;
•Timetables;
•learning agreement;
•student services: accommodation advice, financial
advice;
•student support: counselling, study skills;
•role of Learning Links
•IT induction and introduction to the Virtual Learning
Environment (VLE);
•meet the teaching team.
8. gloscol.ac.uk
Your responsibilities
As a student, you are expected to:
•accept responsibility for your own learning with the
support of your tutor;
•complete all work required to a satisfactory standard,
submitted within agreed deadlines;
•attend all time tabled classes punctually and regularly
and account for any absences to your tutor;
•treat College equipment and accommodation with
respect;
•recognise that other students are also here to learn and
respect their opinions and beliefs;
•comply with the college rules and regulations;
•accept any reasonable action taken by the College if you
do not fulfil these requirements;
•adhere to the College Equal Opportunities Policy;
•discuss your progress with your parents / guardians /
employers where appropriate;
•feedback and engage in college improvement surveys;
•participate in Student Council activities;
•encourage leadership of enrichment activities;
•participate in your course buddy system;
•sign a student learning agreement;
•complete National Student Survey (NSS) in final year of
your course;
Self Directed Study (SDS)
To complete the assignments and unit outcomes you are
advised to take advantage of the College facilities
outside the taught sessions. These are known as self
directed study sessions (SDS).
It is recommended that you study using your manuals or
online tutorials, the subject areas currently being taught.
It is recommended that you use the libraries to continue
your assessment research and ideas generation.
Lateness
Punctuality is an essential part of working. You should
endeavour to always be on time – that means
ready to start working at the start time, not just arriving. If
you are repeatedly late this will become a disciplinary
issue.
Attendance
As with punctuality, attendance is an important part of
proving yourself to be reliable. Flexibility & reliability are
two of the most important aspects to being successful
within industry. If you drop below target attendance, in
line with college policy, there will be the possibility of
disciplinary action.
9. gloscol.ac.uk
Be responsible for yourself
Arrive on time and aim for 100% attendance
Achieve the best results that you can
Always have an outstanding attitude to learning
Demonstrate good conduct at all times
Hand in excellent work on time
Wear correct uniform (if appropriate)
Wear your ID badge
Be responsible for others
Allow others to learn to the best of their ability
Give respect to all
Take an active part in Student Voice to improve GC for all
Show respect for others views even if they are different from your own.
Be responsible for the environment
Take care of our building
Be an ambassador in the community for GC
Recycle paper and whatever you can
Follow the rules in different areas
10. gloscol.ac.uk
How to be a successful* student at Gloucestershire College
Our most successful students demonstrate these
personality traits:
They have ‘grit’: the most successful students have a
determination and never give up on any task.
They practice: the most successful students know that
they must practice a lot to be ready for assessment. A
boxer would say ‘train hard to fight easy’.
They enjoy helping others: the most successful know
that by helping others you help yourself.
They finishing everything: the most successful
students know that in order to attain the best outcome,
everything must be finished.
They experiment: and take risks. Sometimes these
risks don’t work but that’s OK because…
They learn from failure: the most successful learners
take critical feedback and learn from it
They are accountable for themselves: they take
responsibility for their actions and do not apportion
blame.
They are honest: both with themselves and with others
They present solutions: and not problems.
They are critical of their own performance: they
look back and say ‘what could I have done better’
They ask questions: and then ask more questions.
They set high standards for themselves: and they
care about achieving those standards.
They reflect on their performance: they look back
and ask ‘what went well?’ and ‘what did not go well?’
They make ‘To Do’ lists: and they track their
performance.
They present themselves and their work in a
professional manner: because they understand the
value of professionalism.
*successful is not defined by ‘highest grade’ in this
instance. It is people who have done well at college
and gone on to be successful in their ‘life and
career’.
11. gloscol.ac.uk
Introducing the team…
Head of School Mr. Mike Lawson michael.lawson@gloscol.ac.uk
Personal Tutor TBA TBA
Curriculum Leader Mr. Craig Bloxsome
MCIOB
craig.bloxsome@gloscol.ac.uk 01452 563365
Course Tutor Mr Gordon Tolmie gordon.tolmie@gloscol.ac.uk 01452 563365
12. gloscol.ac.uk
Communication with staff
Lesson time
Your main contact with teaching staff will be in
timetabled sessions each week. If you have concerns or
queries about your study then this is the time to voice
them. Teaching staff will set aside adequate time within
a session for 1:1 queries.
Email
If your academic queries cannot be answered in a
timetabled session you should then email the teaching
staff for that subject. The teaching staff will get back to
you within three working days. You can also telephone
staff if needed but email is the preferred method of
communication.
We will send regular emails through the college email
system. You will receive a college login after you enrol.
We recommend that you check your emails a minimum
of every working day if you are on a full-time course and
every two days if you are on a part-time course
You can access your email from home by going to
www.gloscol.ac.uk homepage and clicking on the ‘login’
link which will then allow you to access your email. From
here you use your student number and password to
access your emails.
Telephone or post
We may also contact you via the telephone or via
post when required according to details you provide
at enrolment.
14. gloscol.ac.uk
Tutorial Programme
The focus of your personal tutor is to
encourage your personal development
planning so that you receive structured
support to:
•monitor and review targets for achievement;
•develop awareness of your own strengths and
weaknesses;
•develop a clear vision of what you want to achieve
through your study;
•develop a greater understanding of how study in your
discipline area can help you towards goals;
•develop responsibility for your choices in modules, work
and social life;
•develop a reflective approach to all the feedback you
receive on your work;
•develop a sense and record of progression and
achievement in your development of subject and generic
skills and attributes (qualities).
Your personal tutor will also:
•respond to your requests for support and help
with problems which affect academic work either at
subject level or by referral to other Gloucestershire
College facilities;
•provide information for and assist in the drafting of
references
15. gloscol.ac.uk
General Information
Accommodation
The Gloucestershire College Accommodation Office is
based in Student Services at the Cheltenham Campus.
This service is available to all students who need help
finding accommodation or who have any other
accommodation issues. Drop in or telephone 01242
532007 (24-hour voicemail).
Careers
Gloucestershire College has a team of qualified Careers
Advisors based in Cheltenham and Gloucester who offer
1:1 confidential and free careers interviews to help you
plan your next career move.
The Careers Room at Cheltenham is located in Student
Services, close to the Reception area. At Gloucester
Docks, it is located in Room B010A, near to Student
Services. To book an appointment:
e-mail the Careers Team: careers@gloscol.ac.uk
telephone Student Services on 0845 155 2020
Chaplaincy
A Faith area is available on both main sites for your use,
this is open to people of all faiths. The Cheltenham
Chaplaincy is resourced by churches within Cheltenham.
A team of chaplains from Gloucester City centre
churches resource the
Gloucester Chaplaincy. You can discuss personal
and communal issues with students and staff or get
involved in tutorial and discussion groups on a wide
range of ethical issues. Please see the college
student handbook for further details, availability.
Childcare
Gloucestershire College has two day nurseries and
a crèche, which service all sites and provide
facilities for children aged three months to five
years. This service is open to students, staff and
private clients. Our nurseries are staffed by
qualified, dedicated people, providing a safe,
secure and happy environment
for your children. Primary school children can be
accommodated on in-service days, during half term
holidays and after school. Play schemes are
provided at the Cheltenham and Gloucester
Campuses in the main school holidays for children
aged 4 years to 11 years.
Confidential counselling
Gloucestershire College Counselling Service is a
free, confidential service available for everyone in
the College. It offers an opportunity to talk about
personal difficulties in a private setting.
17. gloscol.ac.uk
Term Dates
Always refer to the college calendar that is available
via the college website for term dates.
This can be found at www.gloscol.ac.uk
The website is also updated to inform the students of
closure days if they occur.
18. gloscol.ac.uk
Section 2 - Programme Specification
Name of final awards:
Full time: BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in
Construction and the Built Environment
Part Time: BTEC Level 3 Diploma / Subsidiary
Diploma in construction and the Built Environment
FHEQ: Level 3
Date of programme specification: September 2010
Programme accredited by: Edexcel
Teaching Institution: Gloucestershire College
Programme duration: 2 years (Subsidiary 1 year)
Number of modules: Extended 18, Diploma 12,
Subsidiary 6
Programme leader: Craig P. Bloxsome MCIOB
Entry criteria
5 GCSE’s at grade C or above including English,
Mathematics and Science
Potential for work experience
The programme, including all assessments is focussed
on personal development and direct benefits to the
organisation where the learner is actively employed.
All candidates have the opportunity to use their
knowledge, understanding and skills in their workplace.
19. gloscol.ac.ukKey Features of the BTEC Nationals in Construction and the
Built Environment
The BTEC Nationals in Construction and the
Built Environment have been developed in the
Construction and the Built Environment sector
to:
•give education and training for construction
and the built environment employees
•give opportunities for construction and the
built environment employees to achieve a
nationally recognised Level 3 vocationally-
specific qualification
•give full-time learners the opportunity to enter
employment in the construction and built
environment sector or to progress to
vocational qualifications such as the Edexcel
BTEC Higher Nationals in
•Construction and the Built Environment
•give learners the opportunity to develop a
range of skills and techniques, personal skills
and attributes essential for successful
performance in working life.
20. gloscol.ac.uk
Programme Learning Outcomes
The specification and unit descriptions for all of the National level courses
can be found on the Edexcel website:
http://www.edexcel.com/quals/nationals10/cbe/Pages/default.aspx
23. gloscol.ac.uk
Membership of professional bodies
There are a number of professional bodies and
institutions that we recommend that you consider
joining during your studies.
The most popular with construction students are:
•The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
•The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
•The Chartered Institute of Architectural
Technologists (CIAT)
•The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Membership of these bodies will help you with your
professional profile and increase your prospects in
the future.
More information about joining at student level can
be found on the institutions websites. In addition,
your tutors will be able to give you advice and
guidance about how to join.
25. gloscol.ac.uk
Assessment guidelines
Accreditation of prior learning (APL)
APL is recognition of achievement from a range of
activities gained prior to enrolling on this programme.
APL will only be possible where learning is shown to be
appropriate to the outcomes of the relevant modules or
awards and has been achieved through valid methods.
Initial assessment
The initial assessment process aims to gather
information from a range of different sources to help you
achieve your career goals and aspirations through
successfully completing your programme.
Assessment tasks
Assessment tasks will emphasise active and reflective
learning at level 3 on the FHEQ. You will be given clear
and full information at the outset of the programme on
the nature, timing and general criteria of assessment.
Assessment submission
Assessments are usually uploaded to the Virtual
Learning Environment (VLE) for the unit(s) that you are
studying. Assessments can also be submitted by hand.
If you are in any doubt about how to do either method,
please ask the subject tutor in the first instance.
All assessments will be due on a Friday at 15.30 unless
specifically stated otherwise.
Internal verification of assessment
Standards and quality of assessment will be monitored
by the appointed internal verifier for your programme
according to the Gloucestershire College Internal
Verification policy. This will ensure reliability, validity
and authenticity.
Feedback
Feedback on your assessments will be written on the
Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Feedback should
be timely, supportive and identify areas for
improvement and progression. This is as an integral
part of the assessment process.
External examiner
An external examiner will review a sample of marked
assessments to ensure reliable, valid and fair
assessment has been conducted.
Exam board
All assessment grades that have been internally
awarded will be confirmed at the ‘Examination Board’
meetings.
Assessment appeals
The college has a full assessment appeals policy
that can be viewed on the intranet.
26. gloscol.ac.uk
Assessment submission
All assessments must be submitted on time and to the
highest standard that you can.
In exceptional circumstances you may be granted an
opportunity to resubmit. This will be decided by the ‘lead
internal verifier’ for your course.
You may only be granted an opportunity to resubmit if the
following conditions have been met:
•You have met the initial deadline for submission
•Your tutor judges that you will not require any further
guidance from any teaching staff
•the assessor has authenticated the evidence and the
evidence is signed and dated (by hand or electronically
via the VLE) by yourself
Units are made of ‘Pass’, ‘Merit’ and ‘Distinction’ criteria.
To gain a ‘Distinction’ in the unit you must achieve all
Pass, Merit and Distinction criteria.
To gain a ‘Merit’ in the unit you must achieve all Pass and
Merit criteria.
To gain a ‘Pass’ grade you must achieve all Pass criteria
The criteria are spread evenly throughout the unit and
therefore throughout the course.
Plan ahead carefully, and start assessments as soon as
you can.
28. gloscol.ac.uk
Late submission and extenuating circumstances
Late Submission
An Assessment Extension Request (AE) form must
always be used when you have mitigating circumstances
that has prevented written coursework being presented
at the stipulated date and time.
These forms are available to complete online for each
assessment.
You need to complete the AE form prior to the
assessment deadline.
Students who are deemed to have abused the
Assessment Extension Request process will lose this
privilege and may have extensions refused.
Your request must be made to the Head of School who
will consider your request provided that you have
communicated in good time about the mitigating
circumstance and in advance of hand-in date of the
assessment .
The following reasons are not considered to be
mitigating circumstances:
•Minor illness e.g. cold, headache, flu, sore throat
unless severe and prolonged. A medical certificate
would be required.
•Transport problems
•Computer problems e.g. loss of disk / virus
•Time management
•Other assessments taking priority
•Work commitments
•Holidays
•Software issues
30. gloscol.ac.uk
Presentation of assessed work
• Assessed work must be presented to a professional level standard. This is true
whether is submitted digitally or physically.
• It must have a fully completed front sheet.
• It must be legible.
• Citations and images must be referenced.
• Drawn diagrams must be clear and annotated.
• Digital submissions must be in a format that is in common use. If in doubt, you
must ask your lecturer before submission.
• Any physical submission must be in an appropriately sized folder – not a plastic
pocket.
• Submissions in A3 size must be folded neatly and correctly.
• Drawings must contain a completed title box.
31. gloscol.ac.uk
Assessment Submission
• This assessment must be completed and submitted within the submission
window. This is the date and time shown on the VLE. This will always be a Friday at
15.30.
• 'Uploading' is not the same as 'submitting'. You can upload a file at any time that
can be edited. When you 'submit' you can no longer edit your submission. It is
then your final submission that the assessor will grade.
• If an extension is required then this must be requested during the submission
window. Extension requests received after the submission window will only be
considered if there are mitigating circumstances such as serious illness
or hospitalisation. The student will be asked to provide evidence of these
mitigating circumstances.
• You must work independently on the assessments.
• Course tutors cannot and will not guide you on the content of your assessments.
• There is only one submission of evidence for assessment.
• Only a 'lead internal verifier' can authorise a resubmission of any assessment. Your
tutor will tell you who this person is, on the Level 3 construction courses this
person is Craig Bloxsome.
32. gloscol.ac.uk
• You do not have a right to a resubmission of the assessment.
• You may be granted a resubmission opportunity as long as:
– you have met initial deadlines, or met an agreed deadline extension. If you do not submit within the
submission window then you will not be allowed an opportunity to resubmit
– your tutor judges that you will be able to provide improved evidence without any further guidance.
– the evidence has been authenticated by both yourself and your assessor. This means that the evidence
that you have submitted has not been plagiarised.
• Please try an upload one document, preferably in a PDF format, unless otherwise
directed.
• Please include a front sheet for all submissions. This should include your name,
student number, the date, course details and unit details.
• All grades will be released at the same time.
• Any resubmissions that have been granted must be completed and resubmitted
within the time given by the assessor, this will be a maximum of 15 days from the date
of the grades being released.
• You must resubmit the assessment in its entirety, not just the part that required
resubmission.
• It is your responsibility to check your grade and resubmission date.
• If you wish to formally appeal an assessment decision then please notify your course
leader.
34. gloscol.ac.uk
Plagiarism
Cheating is a serious offence and takes many forms
including:-
•Plagiarism – passing off the work of someone else as if
it is your own.
•Collusion – working closely with someone else to
produce an assignment that is meant to be the work of an
individual.
The College deals severely with students who cheat and
penalties extend to suspension and withdrawal for a
second, or particularly serious first attempt.
In order to avoid an allegation of cheating make sure that
you follow the guidance you will have been given on
conventions for referencing and for use of quotations.
If you are in any doubt, check with your tutors who will be
happy to advise you.
Any student suspected of cheating (i.e. deceiving
intentionally to gain unfair advantage, for example
through the use of non-permitted materials in
examinations or copying another students work and
attempting to present it as one’s own), or plagiarism (i.e.
using ideas, work or words of another person/s as if they
were one’s own without giving credit to the source using
the approved method of citation), may have their case
presented to a Disciplinary Panel.
Be sure that any phrases, sentences (even part
sentences) that appear in your assessments are
either your words or if the words of others that they
are referenced appropriately. Failure to do so could be
construed as plagiarism with serious consequences.
Students should be aware of the seriousness of these
acts, and the vigilance with which the college
endeavours to enforce the Assessment Submission
Policy.
‘Turnitin’ is plagiarism detection software that will
be used to check submissions.
36. gloscol.ac.uk
Section 3 - Essentials for Further Education Study
Studying requires a great deal of effort on your part and
the time you spend in reading, researching and producing
assessments will be much greater than the time spent in
teaching sessions. Here are a few essentials for effective
study:
Manage your time
It is very important to organise and plan your assignments
so that you don’t leave everything to the last minute. Use
your college diary, VLE calendar and time between
lessons to study as this is not meant to be recreational
time.
Regard all lessons as essential
You will be given information that is vital if you are to
correctly complete assessments. Do not regard
attendance as optional, if you do this you are on the road
to failure.
Embrace Harvard Referencing
This is a professional expectation that all sources are
referenced correctly.
Practise critical analysis
You need to be able to evaluate different types of
evidence, based on an understanding of how your data
has been collected, interpreted and presented.
Exam skills
Exam skills need to be developed if you are to
progress to a third year at university.
Utilise the VLE
The VLE is used to support your learning experience
and communicate with you. It is essential in
developing you as an independent and interdependent
learner.
Before submission of an assessment please
ensure you have done the following:
•number pages and tasks and include a contents page
where appropriate and use student number on each
page;
•all assessments must be word processed unless
stated otherwise in the assessment brief using Arial
font point 12, with double line spacing;
•use Harvard referencing in work and a reference list;
•check you have not plagiarised.
38. gloscol.ac.uk
The UWE Construction Information Website
As a Gloucestershire College Construction student you have access to the University
of the West of England's Construction Information Website. Details of how to
access this are on the Gloucestershire College VLE, or can be requested from Craig
Bloxsome.
40. gloscol.ac.uk
Academic Writing
The process of academic writing
Research – primary and secondary sources
Plan – list, organise, outline or mindmap
Write a draft – take time to write a number of drafts,
with revisions, based on further reading and
reflection
Peer review – review by ‘critical friend’
Edit and proof read – formatting, spelling,
punctuation and references
Submit assessment
Adapted from (Stella Cottrell, 2003)
Helpful hints:
Write clearly and concisely:
•Try to avoid long, awkward sentences that risk
losing the interest of the reader;
•Avoid a showy display of ‘jargon’ to hide a poorly
structured assessment.
Understand the structure of paragraphs
•A paragraph tends to develop a single idea, a
series of which forms an essay.
Leave out needless words
•Try to avoid phrases such as ‘It can be seen at this
point of the enquiry that...’.
Include a reference list in all assessments
41. gloscol.ac.uk
Glossary of Terms
Analyse - Study in depth, identifying and deciding the
detail in main characteristics
Appraise – consider positive and negative points and
give reasoned judgement
Assess – Make judgement on the importance of
something – similar to evaluate
Compare – look for qualities or characteristics that
resemble each other. Emphasise similarities and be
aware of differences
Contrast – Stress the differences between the items in
question and don’t ignore points of similarity
Define – Give concise and clear meanings without too
much detail
Discuss – Examine and analyse carefully, giving
reasons for advantages and disadvantages. Consider
all sides of the issue and reach a balanced conclusion
Evaluate – examine closely, measure strengths and
weaknesses, points for and against, in conclusion state
your judgement clearly
Explain – clarify, interpret and spell out the material
you present. Give reasons for important features and
try to analyse causes
Justify – Prove, give reasons for decisions and
conclusions, use evidence to convince reader.
List – write an itemised series of simple statements
Outline = provide a framework description under main
points and sub points, leave out minor detail. Stress the
arrangement of material
Review – examine subject critically, analysing and
commenting on the important points and stages of
development.
Summarise – give the main points or facts in condenses
form, omitting details and illustrations