Business - BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate (Block B)

Applications Open: 21st November 2025 (9.00am)

Applications Close: 13th February 2026 (4.00pm)

How to apply:

- All INTERNAL applicants MUST apply via Applicaa using this link (coming soon!)

- All EXTERNAL applicants MUST apply via Kent Choices using this link https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/login

- All correspondence between learners and the school after an application is made will be via Applicaa.

- All applicants (internal and external) will be invited in for a 1-1 guidance meeting.

- Those who have a successful guidance meeting will be offered a place to study at St John's Sixth Form from September 2026.

The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business is an Applied General qualification. It is aimed at post-16 learners who want to continue their education through applied learning and who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment in the business sector. This business qualification has been developed in consultation with academics to ensure that it supports progression to higher education. Employers and professional bodies have been involved and consulted in order to confirm that the content is appropriate and consistent with current practice for learners planning to enter employment directly in the business sector.

The Extended Certificate is equivalent to 1 GCE A Level.

The specification is divided into units, each covering different key business concepts:

Extended Certificate Units (4 Units):

• Unit 1 – Exploring Business

(Mandatory – Internal)

• Unit 2 – Developing a Marketing Campaign (Mandatory – Synoptic)

• Unit 3 – Personal and Business Finance (Mandatory)

• Unit 8 – The Recruitment and Selection Process or The English Legal System (Optional)

The new BTEC Nationals use a combination of assessment styles – both internal and external. The first ‘external assessment’ revolves around the unit entitled: Developing a Marketing Campaign

A written task set and marked by Pearson and completed under supervised conditions. Learners will be provided with a case study before a supervised assessment period to carry out research. The supervised assessment period is a maximum of three hours.

The second aspect of the ‘external assessment’ will revolve around the unit entitled: Personal and Business Finance. A written examination of 2 hours set by Pearson.

The remainder of the course will be assessed by coursework units internally verified by your teachers and externally moderated by the examination board.

Please Note: This is a two-year course and no qualification will be gained if only one year is completed

A minimum of 5 subjects at GCSE Grade 4/ BTEC Level 2 Pass or higher :

Including

• Grade 4 in GCSE Mathematics.

• Grade 4 in either GCSE English Language or Literature.

Progression from the BTEC National Diploma could be into employment where learners might take professional body examinations or complete NVQs. Alternatively, learners could continue to degree or other higher-education programmes in the same vocational sector or in a related sector.