If you’re considering adding vocational qualifications to your KS4 curriculum, the qualification itself is just the beginning; the ongoing support from the awarding body is crucial for your preparation, delivery, and assessment. Paul Jones, strategic partnerships manager explains the comprehensive support you’ll receive on your journey…
Cambridge Nationals are practical, accessible, and a lot of fun to teach and learn. They’re designed for students aged 14–16 years and complement GCSE choices perfectly.
These courses inspire students to develop real-world skills. We offer a variety of subjects, including Child Development, Creative iMedia, Engineering Design, Engineering Manufacture, Engineering Programmable Systems, Enterprise and Marketing, Health and Social Care, IT, Sport Science, and Sport Studies.
What resources are available to help teachers understand and deliver Cambridge Nationals qualifications?
Initially, teachers can access specifications, sample assessment materials (SAMs), and switching guides to get an overview of the qualifications. These resources are designed to help teachers understand the structure and requirements of Cambridge Nationals.
Once you’ve started teaching a Cambridge National we’ve a wealth of free resources on our secure teacher website, Teach Cambridge. This includes candidate-style answers, schemes of work, assessment guides, and curriculum planners, ensuring teachers have the tools they need throughout the teaching process.
You’ll also be supported by leading publishers, including Cambridge University Press and Hodder Education.
How can teachers get expert guidance on delivering Cambridge Nationals?
Teachers can receive expert guidance from our dedicated subject teams who are passionate about their subjects and committed to supporting teachers. They’ve impressive teaching experience and assessment expertise, and they’re ready to answer queries to help teachers get the best from their students.
You can get to know them here.
Paul Jones
Partnerships manager, OCR
- Area of expertise: Secondary and Further Education, particularly KS4 and KS5. Education policy and curriculum planning
How do we ensure teachers are confident in delivering their qualifications?
We offer a professional development programme designed to help teachers understand and deliver the qualifications confidently. This includes courses like Ask the Subject Advisor/Moderator, Exploring the NEA and Enhancing your Teaching, as well as free online, on-demand training for marking and moderating coursework.
What resources are available to help you promote Cambridge Nationals to students and parents?
We’ve a toolkit for each qualification, which include student and parent guides, course content and career posters, and a customisable PowerPoint presentation. These resources are designed to help showcase the qualifications during your open days or virtual options discussions.
How can teachers stay informed about updates and new resources?
Teachers can stay informed through regular email updates. These updates include essential administrative guidance, key dates, new and updated resources, professional development opportunities, and insightful blogs from our subject advisors.
Get in touch and schedule a call back with one of our team here or find out more here.
- All our Cambridge Nationals are recognised on the KS4 performance tables for England
- Coursework can be done in the classroom under teacher supervision, without the need for exam conditions
- Cambridge Nationals offer flexibility with one re-submission opportunity for OCR set-assignment units each year
