Cambridge Nationals Explained

Cambridge Nationals are a vocational qualification in the United Kingdom introduced by the OCR Examinations Board to replace the OCR Nationals. These are Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications for students aged 14 to 16 ^[1] and are usually awarded after a two-year course.^[2] Students can progress to A Levels, apprenticeships or other Level 3 vocational qualifications within the national qualifications frameworks in the United Kingdom.

OCR is part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

Regulation

In 2014 the UK government announced that it would reform all vocational qualifications. [5] By 2021 it was ready to set out its plan for vocational qualifications in England [6] and redeveloped Level 1/Level 2 Cambridge Nationals qualifications were approved by OFQUAL for inclusion on the key stage 4 performance tables in England for 2024, to be taught from 2022. Ten redeveloped Cambridge Nationals qualifications were to be taught from 2022:^[3]

• Child Player
• Creative iMedia
• Enterprise and Marketing
• Engineering Design
• Engineering Manufacture
• Engineering Programmable Systems
• Health and Social Care
• IT
• Sport Science
• Sport Studies

During the COVID-19 pandemic, OCR announced a series of adjustments it would make to support learners taking Cambridge Nationals.^[4]

Subjects

The following subjects were offered up to 2022:^[5]

• Child Development Certificate Level 1/2
• Creative iMedia Award/Certificate Level 1/2
• Engineering Design Award/Certificate Level 1/2
• Engineering Manufacture Award/Certificate Level 1/2
• Enterprise and Marketing Certificate Level 1/2
• Health and Social Care Award/Certificate Level 1/2
• Information Technologies Certificate Level 1/2
• Principles in Engineering and Engineering Business Award/Certificate Level 1/2
• Sport Science Award/Certificate Level 1/2
• Sport Studies Award/Certificate Level 1/2
• Systems Control in Engineering Award/Certificate Level 1/2

References

OCR website

External links

• Cambridge Nationals

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cambridge Nationals explained (2022) .
2. Web site: Cambridge Nationals 2022 launch FAQs .
3. Web site: Showcase events for our redeveloped Cambridge Nationals begin . 2022-03-14 . ocr.org.uk.
4. Web site: Proposed adaptations for Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals during 2021/22 . 2022-03-14 . ocr.org.uk.
5. Web site: Cambridge Nationals . 2022-03-14 . ocr.org.uk.