Welcome to the Calderdale College Website

Threshold
(level 01,02)
Courses at this level are for those with specific learning difficulties. Such courses aim to improve the student's independent living skills.

Entry Level
(level 03)
Courses at this level last for one year and are for those who have no formal qualifications. Reasons vary for this; the student may have had personal problems or may not have felt comfortable in the school environment. Courses at this level aim to prepare students to move onto NVQ or to introduce them to work related skills.

Level 1
(Foundation level)
Courses at level 1 (such as GNVQ Foundation or NVQ level 1) last for one year and are for those who have passes at entry level or who have had some success at GCSE level, achieving E,F or G grades. Completion of this level can lead on to employment at operative or junior level, or onto level 2 courses.

Level 2
(Intermediate level)
Courses at level 2 (such as GCSEs, NVQ 2 or GNVQ Intermediate) last for one year and are for those who have passed level 1, or who achieved GCSEs (grades D or E for example) but want to improve their grades. This level aims to prepare students for more advanced levels or lead them into work with training.

Level 3
(Advanced level)
Level 3 courses (such as A levels,Advanced GNVQs) last for 2 years and are for those who have passed level 2 or who have achieved 4/5 GCSEs at grade C or above. Students at this level usually go on to higher education ,or in the case of NVQ training, are employed in the subject area they are studying.

Level 4
(Higher level - HND/HNC)
This level is equivalent to sub-degree level or HND/HNC level. Students will have some success at level 3 (such as GNVQ Advanced or an NVQ 3), achieved 1 or 2 A levels or have relevant work experience.

NB: Mature students often have skills and experience which are valuable but which are not formal qualifications. Therefore adult students can have their individual ability assessed and a level will be recommended to them.