Course Overview

Explore health and safety issues surrounding the constructing of new buildings.  Discover the technology used in the industry today.  Investigate the processes involved in the design of new buildings.  Examine the different construction materials used, and the pros and cons of each.  The National Award extends your learning to cover the various plans, programmes and policies surrounding development control, and gain an understanding of the functions of management in the planning stage of a construction project.

Pre-requisites

You must be over 16 to take this course.  You must also be educated to at least GCSE standard D-G or hold an NVQ at level 1, or a GNVQ Foundation Certificate.

Qualification

BTEC National Award in Construction

Support and benefits

• Complimentary textbook: ‘Construction Technology’
• Complimentary CITB interactive CD-ROM: ‘Health and Safety Test’
• Gain a nationally recognised award 
• Access to a dedicated tutor and student advisors to guide you through your studies

Key topics

• Health, Safety and Welfare

Examine the employer’s and employee’s responsibilities for health, safety and welfare in the workplace. Learn how to reduce risks in the workplace.

• Construction Technology and Design

Explore the various stages of the design and planning processes, and examine factors that can affect these processes. Study both traditional and modern methods of construction. Investigate how water, drainage, gas and electricity are provided to buildings.

• Construction Science and Materials

Examine the various static and dynamic forces that act on structures, as well as their stresses and effects. Explore a range of different construction materials and their properties.

• Building Technology

Explore the different forms of low-rise construction used for domestic and commercial buildings. Examine the processes involved in the construction of both the substructure and superstructure of such buildings.

• Planning, Organisation and Control of Resources

Examine the planning and organisational roles of each party involved in the construction process. Consider the resources needed to complete a building contract. Study the functions of management in the organisation of a construction project.

• Planning Procedures

Examine the application procedure, rights of appeal, enforcement powers and environmental protection. Explore the functional and aesthetic requirements of different types of development. Consider implications for urban and landscape design.

• Building Surveying

Explore the role of the building surveyor. Learn the processes and procedures involved in performing building surveys and condition surveys. Discover how to prepare and present schedules of dilapidation and condition surveys, and how to produce simple refurbishment and maintenance schedules.

Course Code

W20

Hours of study

National Award: 24 months / 360 hours

Technical requirements and fees

• Internet access is required
• Edexcel registration fees of £111.20 are additional to your course fees

Outline

You’ll complete five formative assessments and six compulsory assessments during your course. Please note that, while Construction Technology and Design is studied as part of the National Award, it is not assessed. This is the reason why there are seven modules but only six compulsory assessments.

All assessments can be submitted to ICS online via the Student Community – or they can be posted to ICS. It is recommended that you submit your assessments online as you will receive your results more quickly this way – in fact, for multiple choice assessments, you receive your results instantly!

Assessment Breakdown

• Formative Assessment 1: 12 multiple choice questions
• Assessment 1: a scenario-based assignment
• Formative Assessment 2: 10 multiple choice questions
• Assessment 2: a scenario-based assignment
• Formative Assessment 3: 10 multiple choice questions
• Assessment 3: a scenario-based assignment
• Assessment 4: a scenario-based assignment
• Formative Assessment 4: 20 multiple choice questions
• Assessment 5: a scenario-based assignment
• Formative Assessment 5: 10 multiple choice questions
• Assessment 6: a scenario-based assignment

Notes

Each multiple choice question comes with four potential answers. Only one of these answers is correct; the other three are wrong. You must identify the correct answer.

Scenario-based assignments test that you can apply the knowledge you have learnt from the course to imaginary scenarios. Each assignment requires you to complete a number of questions or activities.