Information Technology

Why study Information Technology

The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Information Technology (AAQ) is equivalent to one A Level and is designed for post-16 students with an interest in the Digital sector. This is a broad and varied course that offers a range of opportunities for students to develop an understanding of Information Technology and it’s uses in the business environment. The course is composed of both internally assessed units (coursework) and externally assessed units (examination) in both Year 12 and Year 13. Students will also develop important practical skills for creating websites to meet a specific purpose and to manage data through the development of a relational database solution.

Key Stage 4

The qualification has four mandatory units covering the following topics:

Information Technology Systems including the relationship between software and hardware, and the issues related to IT systems
Cyber Security and Incident Management including types of cyber security attacks, the vulnerabilities in networked systems and how to plan and respond to attacks
Website Development including the development tools, techniques and processes used in website development and how to test usability, functionality and fitness for purpose.
Relational Database Development including the structure of data, data design and database management systems (DBMS)

Assessment

The course assessment is a combination of 33% coursework and 67% exam across Year 12 and 13,

Career Opportunities

Information Technology offers learners a modern, work-related qualification which opens the door to higher education and a career in IT, It builds high level skills such as teamwork, creative thinking and presentation skills and develops independent research and study skills.