Bronze and Bronze/Silver Challenge Awards

Target Audience

This is a flexible programme but the guidelines for the age range for Bronze is 14+. Students who embark on Bronze will be able to receive some support to access the programme and activities. They will be able to read and write to some degree although there are many ways in which they may evidence their work. They will be working towards a more independent style of learning to progress through the mainstream programmes. There is an opportunity for progression to either to the Silver Award or the Bronze/Silver Challenge. This Award requires the student to continue completing challenges, pushing them a little further out of their comfort zone and working in a little more depth in demonstrating the essential skills. This Award does not accrue credit equivalents.

Structure

Students using the old Bronze/Silver Award books (issued prior to Term 1 2009) should follow the guidelines below:

Students need to complete 2 points to achieve the Bronze Award. They need to complete the required number of challenges and show evidence of action planning (½ point is given for action planning, recording achievement, reviewing essential skills).

Students need to complete 4 points to achieve the Bronze/Silver Challenge Award. Recognition of prior achievement from Bronze is allowed - 2 points may be taken forward if the Bronze has been achieved (½ point is given for action planning, recording achievement, reviewing essential skills). Students also need to complete the required number of challenges.

At this level, students develop a knowledge of the essential skills and they must provide some evidence of this basic awareness within the portfolio of evidence.

We are in the process of producing a Beginner's Guide to the Mainstream Awards. Below is a guide for those using the new student books (issued from January 2009 onwards):

Students need to complete 6 points, where a new point is deemed to be 10 hours of work i.e. approximately 60 hours is required to achieve the Bronze Award. They need to complete the required number of challenges and show evidence of three action plans and reviews. The time taken to produce plans and complete recording documents has been incorporated into each challenge, rather than the 'bolt-on' time in the old system.

Students need to complete 12 points to achieve the Bronze/Silver Challenge Award. Recognition of prior achievement from Bronze is allowed - 6 points may be taken forward if the Bronze has been achieved. Students also need to complete the required number of challenges.

At this level, students develop a knowledge of the key competencies and they must provide some evidence of this basic awareness within the portfolio of evidence.

Students may choose challenges from the following modules:

  • Information Handling
  • The Community
  • Sports and Leisure
  • Home Management
  • The Environment
  • Number Handling
  • Health and Survival
  • World of Work
  • Technology
  • Wider World
  • Expressive Arts
  • Beliefs and Values
  • Maori Challenge

Quality Assurance

Following internal moderation, centres are required to register candidates for external verification two calendar weeks before a regional meeting. Regional meetings are held in Terms 2, 3 & 4. Certificates are issued by ASDAN on successful completion of an Award.

Other Information

Both the Bronze and the Bronze/Silver Awards offer progression into the Silver Award which is worth 20 credit equivalents at Level 1 and can be used, if needed, towards NCEA.