Adult A-Level Courses?
Discussion
Evening all,
I've recently been thinking about doing an A-Level in Maths, in order to help me move my career on a stage, and show me up to be a potential candidate for more learning with my current employer. I'm currently employed as a Cable Jointer within the power industry, and have completed a level 2 NVQ in Electrical Power Engineering. I'm wanting, at some point, to be able to complete a degree in the same field.
My questions at the moment are:
Do I need to do any access type courses to be able to do this? I currently have a GCSE in Maths at a grade C, but it was 2006 when I achieved it!
Is it possible to do an evening course at college to gain an A-Level in this subject? I'm one of those people who likes to be able to ask questions to an actual person, as opposed to doing it via email, like some of the online stuff that only has email support.
Does anyone have any recommendations for colleges in or around Essex to be able to do this?
Finally, is it even likely that I'll be able to get the qualification that I want? I worry that although I have the motivation and drive to do it, I'll end up at a point where I just can't get my head around it, and I'll need a bit of support to get through it.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me with this!
I've recently been thinking about doing an A-Level in Maths, in order to help me move my career on a stage, and show me up to be a potential candidate for more learning with my current employer. I'm currently employed as a Cable Jointer within the power industry, and have completed a level 2 NVQ in Electrical Power Engineering. I'm wanting, at some point, to be able to complete a degree in the same field.
My questions at the moment are:
Do I need to do any access type courses to be able to do this? I currently have a GCSE in Maths at a grade C, but it was 2006 when I achieved it!
Is it possible to do an evening course at college to gain an A-Level in this subject? I'm one of those people who likes to be able to ask questions to an actual person, as opposed to doing it via email, like some of the online stuff that only has email support.
Does anyone have any recommendations for colleges in or around Essex to be able to do this?
Finally, is it even likely that I'll be able to get the qualification that I want? I worry that although I have the motivation and drive to do it, I'll end up at a point where I just can't get my head around it, and I'll need a bit of support to get through it.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me with this!
davepen said:
Yes, but...
I followed the easier route and did Maths and Further Maths after O-levels at school back in the dark ages, before doing Applied Physics & Electronics at University. I also did a few (different) A levels some years ago at the local 6th form college. Maths is offered by the local college (Eastleigh).
A levels are now in two parts, year 1 is the AS level and then follow up with the A2 level. You can do the AS level as a standalone exam/certificate. The local college wants a B at GSCE to get on the AS course. Exams are in June, courses start in September, so you may be able to get up to good GSCE level by then. I'd suggest you need to be comfortable with algebra.
Maths also splits into Statistics and Mechanics. Physicists/Engineers are typically encouraged to take the mechanics options to get the Differential Calculus background, although in industry a good grasp of statistics is also required.
As with any evening course it will depend on what you put in. Also be aware that an Electrical Engineering degree will require lots of Maths.
I'm sure someone with more recent experience may be able to help, but try researching evening courses at local 6th form colleges. You may also wish to look at various funding options, speak with your local college.
Thanks for your really useful answer Dave, appreciate that. Thankfully, as part of my work, I did have to do some algebra along with transposing electrical equations so I'm fairly comfortable with the basics of that, but my worry would be not understanding, well enough, the more complex parts of it.I followed the easier route and did Maths and Further Maths after O-levels at school back in the dark ages, before doing Applied Physics & Electronics at University. I also did a few (different) A levels some years ago at the local 6th form college. Maths is offered by the local college (Eastleigh).
A levels are now in two parts, year 1 is the AS level and then follow up with the A2 level. You can do the AS level as a standalone exam/certificate. The local college wants a B at GSCE to get on the AS course. Exams are in June, courses start in September, so you may be able to get up to good GSCE level by then. I'd suggest you need to be comfortable with algebra.
Maths also splits into Statistics and Mechanics. Physicists/Engineers are typically encouraged to take the mechanics options to get the Differential Calculus background, although in industry a good grasp of statistics is also required.
As with any evening course it will depend on what you put in. Also be aware that an Electrical Engineering degree will require lots of Maths.
I'm sure someone with more recent experience may be able to help, but try researching evening courses at local 6th form colleges. You may also wish to look at various funding options, speak with your local college.
Another side of me wants to get some A-Levels to prove to myself that I can do it, as I did go to 6th Form, but achieved the grand total of 3 U's. I think a big part of wanting to do it now is to show myself how far I've come with regards to learning!
shirt said:
regarding the power engineering degree, how does this fit into your career plans? what kind of roles do you expect to move into which you can't without that piece of paper?
i work in power generation/transmission. i think only our top guy on the HV side has any university level quals, maybe a couple of the regional engineering managers as well. pretty much all the HV guys i work with on projects [commissioning and operations] came up through the tools.
To be honest, later on in my career, I want to be an engineer. I understand from the engineers at work, you don't need a degree, but they have all been through HNC and HND courses at some point.i work in power generation/transmission. i think only our top guy on the HV side has any university level quals, maybe a couple of the regional engineering managers as well. pretty much all the HV guys i work with on projects [commissioning and operations] came up through the tools.
I want to do A-Levels and a degree for myself though. I like learning stuff, and as I get older I've found that I like the academic stuff just as much as the hands on stuff. It's a shame I never realised it until I had wasted my opportunities at school! I'm pretty driven though, so if it helps me become the top guy on the HV side, then I'll be satisfied!
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