Digital Analysis and Cyber V-level

5 Grade 4's at GCSE including Maths and English

The Digital V-Level combines classroom theory learning with some practical activities, giving you opportunities to understand digital concepts and then apply your knowledge to real world situations. Lessons will include a mixture of activities including independent research, practical tasks, problem solving challenges, group work and vocational projects.

You will explore areas including computer hardware and software, networks, data, cybersecurity and emerging technologies. Through activities and projects, you will investigate how digital technologies work, how they are used by organisations and how they can be applied to solve problems.

Throughout the course, you will develop a range of valuable technical and transferable skills, including digital literacy, research, analysis, communication, teamwork, organisation, time management and independent learning. You will also build your confidence in presenting ideas, explaining your decisions and evaluating your own work.

The vocational elements of the course will give you opportunities to work on realistic scenarios and project based tasks, helping you understand how the knowledge and skills you develop can be used in further study and the workplace.

By the end of the Digital V-Level, you will have developed a broad understanding of the digital world alongside the practical, analytical and problem solving skills needed to progress to further study, an apprenticeship or employment in an increasingly digital workplace.

The Digital V-Level uses a combination of examinations and vocational assessment, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate both your technical knowledge and your ability to apply what you have learned.

During the course, you will complete externally assessed examinations covering the core knowledge and understanding you have developed. These exams will take place at set points during the course and will include questions designed to assess your understanding of topics such as hardware, software, networks, data, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.

Alongside the examinations, you will complete vocational modules and coursework  assessments. These will allow you to apply your digital knowledge and skills to practical, realistic scenarios.

Learners will attend trips in order to experience the wider world of Digital. Whilst we usually have guest lecturers visiting our students, we will have at least one trip out during your course. Depending on the opportunities at the time, this will be in the realms of £35 for the trip.

Students will be supplied with the technology and applications needed to complete the course. Access to a home computer or laptop is highly recommended.

Students will be required to pay for any external trips undertaken.

Cirencester College is offering ‘Bring Your Own Device’ guidelines, in order to encourage digital literacy and make the most of how digital devices can support learning in the classroom and independent study. Please find below some specific guidance for this subject but do be aware that each subject will have it’s own guidance. If you are taking more than one course (eg A levels, GCSE etc), check the guidance for each subject carefully. If you do decide to invest in a device, consider something that will cover the requirements of all the courses you are taking. Also, bear in mind that some students change their mind about the courses they are studying within the first few weeks of year one; after this time programmes of study should be settled.

Classrooms for Digital V-level are well equipped with desktop PCs. As a consequence, it is not necessary to BYOD for study in the classroom in this course, in fact we would discourage students from BYOD in the classroom.

However, independent study is an important component of this course, and students should expect to work outside of the classroom. This might be in study spaces in college, or at home / outside of college. For independent study, having access to a basic laptop or desktop at home is a good option. The benefit of a basic laptop is that they would also be able to use it during their ‘free periods’ in college, in between their lessons.

It is possible to complete this course without access to a device at home, but there will be times when students without a device at home has to be very well organised and proactive in using study spaces at college in order to complete a task outside of lessons. If you are considering investing in a device, it might make sense to consider a longer term investment which will suffice for future years of study.

Windows machines are preferable to Apple (macOS) in STEM subjects. Lecturers use windows and will use this platform to demonstrate processes, tasks etc in the classroom. All computer-based assessments are conducted on Windows machines; regularly working on macOS could disadvantage students who would be less familiar with windows during assessments. We find the range of machines (incl. touchscreen) and software available, alongside budget considerations make windows the preferred option.

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