The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Agriculture was first delivered at Gresham’s from September 2020 with the first cohort certificating in August 2022. The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Agriculture is now being delivered alongside the Diploma providing pupils with a one or two A level equivalent option to complement their A level choices. Both are two-year programmes when studied alongside further Level 3 qualifications.
Strictly speaking there are no entry requirements for this course, however, having achieved grade 4 Science at GCSE will be a good starting point.
Pupils completing their BTEC Nationals in Agriculture will be aiming to go on to employment in the industry or related industries, often via the stepping-stone of higher education.
- NATIONAL DIPLOMA (EQUIVALENT TO 2 A LEVELS)
Exam board: Pearson
The following 7 units are mandatory:
- Professional Working Responsibilities
- Plant and Soil Science
- Work Experience in the Land-based Sectors
- Estate Skills
- Land-based Machinery Operations
- Managing Environmental Activities in Agriculture
- Managing Activities for Agricultural
- Enterprises
The following 2 units are selected by us:
- Livestock Husbandry
- Grass and Forage Crop Production
Pupils have a ‘free choice’ of 1 of the following units to suit their personalised learning needs:
- Crop Production
- Livestock Health and Disease
- Developing a Land-based Enterprise
- Combinable Crop Production and
- Processing
- Livestock Nutrition
- Organic Agricultural Production
- Land-based Workshop Practices
- EXTENDED CERTIFICATE (EQUIVALENT TO 1 A LEVEL)
Exam board: Pearson
The following 3 units are mandatory:
- Professional Working Responsibilities
- Work Experience in the Land-based Sectors
- Applied Agricultural Farming Practice
The following 1 unit is selected by us:
- Land-based Machinery Operations
- ASSESSMENT
There are three main forms of assessment for the BTEC Agriculture: external, internal and synoptic:
Externally assessed units:
- Examinations – all students take the same assessment at the same time, normally with a written outcome.
- Set tasks – students take the assessment during a defined window and demonstrate understanding through completion of a vocational task.
Internally assessed units:
- Write up the findings of their own research
- Use case studies to explore complex or unfamiliar situations
- Deliver presentations
- Construct portfolios to demonstrate practical
ALUMNI
Tim Rymer
CEO of JSR Farms and JSR Genetics
WOODLANDS 1982
“Having grown up on a farm in Yorkshire, Gresham’s was certainly a home away from home. With its rich history in agriculture, I am delighted to now see that the BTEC in the subject is being offered at Gresham’s. The School, with its location and abundance of land and knowledge, is a perfect place for a young person to learn more about the farming business.”
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