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How is it assessed? One unit is assessed by means of a Where can this lead me? Students may progress to the
set of activities provided by the exam board. You will be BTEC National IT Practitioners course. Some students
given unlimited investigation time for this and then a set choose to study the BTEC National Certificate in Business
period of time to log your results. The other two units are course at Leyton. Alternatively, students can look for
assessed by your teachers who mark your portfolio of employment in the IT industry.
work done.
What are the enrichment opportunities? Students on this
Course duration One year at AS level, followed by course have been on numerous outdoor visits to places
another year for A2. including Kingswood Adventure Centre in Norfolk,
Stubbers Adventure Park and Thorpe Park, and taken
What do I need to study this subject? You will need part in activities such as abseiling, quad biking, sailing,
the ability to work on your own to solve problems and archery and rifle shooting.
undertake research assignments within a given timescale,
good organisational skills and the ability to recognise and
meet deadlines, and the ability to analyse a problem
IT Practitioners (Software
and carry out evaluations. An interest and enthusiasm for
computers is a must, together with an awareness of the
Development): BTEC National
range of contexts in which computers are used. Certificate/Diploma with Vendor
Qualifications
Where can this lead me? This specification provides an
excellent starting point for those students who wish to
This is a two-year, level 3 course for students interested
gain employment in the IT industry or those who wish to
in the IT industry (and programming in particular). The
pursue ICT at degree level. You can progress from the
diploma is equivalent to three A levels. The certificate
Applied ICT course to related courses in HE such as
is equivalent to two A levels.
Multimedia Technologies, Internet and Computer Science
degrees. However, this course offers the opportunity to
Course details The certificate course consists of four
develop skills which are very useful in most areas of
core units detailing the underlying concepts of software
employment, most particularly in the fields of systems
development, and eight specialist units for the more
design and computer support. ICT skills are a pre-requisite
advanced skills including: databases, spreadsheets,
of many office and administrative posts, and are a key
website production, computer game development,
component in all teacher training courses.
digital graphics and computer animation. The Diploma
course requires a further six units, making a total of
What are the enrichment opportunities? Every opportunity
eighteen units in all.
will be given for you to experience ICT in the real world
with visits and trips.
How is it assessed? The assignments are marked internally
and you are given feedback for each unit. You must
complete all criteria at each level to gain the full grade.
ICT Practitioners: BTEC First Diploma
Course duration Two years full-time.
The BTEC First Diploma is a practical, work-related
course. You learn by completing assignments across What do I need to study this subject? You should have
eight different units. The course is equivalent to four five GCSE grades A*-C and at least D in Maths and
GCSE grades A*-C. English. Students wishing to progress on to BTEC IT courses
from other vocational courses must have a grade D or
Course details The course introduces key concepts of above in GCSE Mathematics and English.
data presentation and systems, and progresses through
modules on web design and software development, Where can this lead me? The BTEC National
databases and spreadsheets, mobile communications Certificate/Diploma is an excellent course for students
technology and security. wishing to pursue a career in computing, such as
hardware testing and design, systems analysis, web
How is it assessed? All the units are assessed by written design or software engineering. Students have the option
assignments and practical demonstrations. For each unit of progressing to degrees in computer-related courses
you will be given three to four assignments, each of at university.
which you will have around four weeks to complete.
What are the enrichment opportunities? Students on the
Course duration One year full-time. course can participate in projects with other European
countries. In the past the course has been involved with
What do I need to study this subject? You should have the Comenius Project, giving students the opportunity to
five GCSE grades A*-D or a Merit in the BTEC Introductory travel to Germany or Hungary and to meet overseas
Diploma IT@Work course. students when they visit London.
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