Minimum of four GCSEs at grade 3 (or D) or better
Level 2 Vocational Programme at Merit or above (e.g. BTEC/NVQ/OCR National) PLUS two GCSEs 9-4 (or A*- C)
This is a level 2 programme that is suitable for students who have not been able to achieve sufficient GCSE grades to enrol on advanced courses such as BTEC Extended National Diploma or A levels.
This course is aimed at giving students opportunities to learn and practice their ICT skills by making information and creative technology-based products and/or systems. The course focuses on providing students with an understanding and knowledge of how organisations function and how they operate in this age of information and creative technology.
Upon successful completion, students will achieve a qualification which is equivalent to 4 GCSE grades, which provide students with a solid and broad foundation for progression to Level 3 courses and to employment in the IT or creative technology sectors.
The course provides students with employability skills. This is because they are given opportunities to develop and practice not only ICT skills, but also transferable interpersonal skills including; working with others, problem-solving, independent study, and personal learning and thinking skills.
Units 1 and 2 will be externally assessed through multiple choice questions and short written answers. Students will be prepared for a one-hour on-line assessment in June.
Unit 3 will be a digital portfolio, which will give students a chance to showcase their achievements on the course. The digital portfolio can be viewed by anyone with a computer and an internet browser.
For the remaining 7 unit assessments are through written assignments, which will be presented in real life case studies.
The actual methods of assessing students understanding and underpinning knowledge depend on the nature of the unit and include; practical tasks which require students to demonstrate their creative skills; teacher observation and questioning.
Students creative skills are also assessed via their individual technology based products and systems, which they design, develop and create.