T-level Foundation Year in Digital (ICT)

DO NOT DELETE OR EDIT THIS ROW OR ITS CONTENTS

Foundation Digital ICT is designed for progression ontoour Digital T-level Cyber Security pathway. For the Software Development pathway students are recommended to also take Higher Maths GCSE to achieve the Grade 5 in Maths required. You will be offered a variety of experiences including a full Level 2 Digital qualification, industry appropriate work experience opportunities and project work designed to teach research and development skills.

What will I study in T-level Foundation Year in Digital (ICT)?

Students will study a level 2 certificate in ICT. This consists of two written exams and a variety of internally assessed assignments. In order to pass the level 2 qualification students will need to pass all of these assessment points.

Students studying on the ICT pathway will sit exams in Introduction to IT and Security. They will be assessed on two other units, data and emerging technology.

The course is designed to allow a student to choose a study course that matches their interests, skills and career plans.

Students will also undertake 105 hours of work experience designed to give them invaluable workplace skills and an exposure to the world of work and the expectations the workplace places on employees. This work experience is designed to be flexible and easy to complete and is supported by the college.

Students will also undertake a variety of projects. These projects are designed to develop student’s broader skills including, planning, time management, study and research skills as well as numeracy, literacy and communication skills. All these are vital future employment and study skills.

The course has three expected progression routes.

1) Progression to Digital T Level programmes

2) Progression to an alternative programme of study, if you find that Digital isn't for you

3) A route to the workplace

Each of these progression routes is equally valid and students are supported to make the choices most appropriate to them and their desired career progression.

Entry Requirements

3+ GCSEs at Grade 3 or higher which must include English Language and Maths

How will I learn?

The course is made up of a number of units which are all assessed via exam and course work. Students will sit two exams at the end of January as well as completing two units that are assessed using assignments. Our lessons contain a mix of teacher-led lectures, and practice tasks encouraging teamwork and self-initiative for students. Tasks like practical data collection and cleansing activities, or exploring emerging technology with drone flights.

The Essentials of IT - This unit is the foundation for this qualification and it is designed to give students the underpinning synoptic knowledge that will prepare them to study this suite of qualifications. This is an exam unit.

Essentials of Cyber Secuity - This unit has been designed to enable students to gain knowledge and understanding of some of the threats and vulnerabilities that can have an impact on individuals and organisations. This is an exam unit.

Emerging Technology - The use of technology has become so extensive that everryone is expected to understand not just how technology is used today but what future developments are underway and what these developments might mean for the future. As a result students will undertake work to investigate emerging technologies such as drone usage, the Internet of things and other key components of the modern world. This is an internally assessed unit.

Using Data Analysis Software - This unit will enable learners to understand the difference between data and information and the quality of the data, which data needs to be analysed for a given business need and how to carry out the analysis and present the findings and recommend the use of their analysis model for future analyses and decision making. This is an internally assessed unit.

These units have been specially selected to help prepare you for the Digital T Levels.

How will I be assessed?

This course is consists of two exam units and two internally assessed units. Exams are sat in late January while assessed units contian multiple assignments that are submitted over the course of the units.

Students must achieve a passing grade in all aspects of the programme, as well as demonstrating key knowledge, skills, and behaviours with lecturers to achieve their foundation year and progress to the Digital T Levels.

Any trips?

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.

Are there any costs involved?

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.

Device Requirements

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 Level 2 Digital Foundation 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. This course often leads to further study on a STEM T level, such as ‘Digital; Cyber’. You may wish to check the BYOD guidelines for this or other T levels; 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.

Information about what device may be required for this course, where available, can be found on our Bring Your Own Device guidance page.

FAQs

What if I'm not sure about joining a T Level after my course?

Not many people know what they want to do at a young age - and it's okay to change your mind! Give this year a go and see if you like the digital content we're covering. If you do, you can progress onto the T Level and know you're going to enjoy it and succeed - if not, you'll finish the year with a qualification worth several GCSEs and be able to apply for an alternative course knowing you don't want to work in digital. No hard feelings!

Do I need to have any previous Digital knowledge before starting?

Everything helps - but there's no requirement for any pre-existing knowledge before joining the course. We've designed the programme to start with the very essentials of digital to properly prepare students with an interest in the industry.

How much time will I spend on my Foundation Year?

You are expected in Digital classes for 10.5 hours per week, with a further expectation that you will complete 5 hours outside of the classroom towards your studies (the T Level is 18 hours in class, 10 hours out, so this helps warm you up to the expectation!).

You will also have time towards your GCSE resit classes, which if required are crucial to your progression to T Levels.

I'm interested in Media, will this course prepare me for that industry?

If you are more interested in Media or creative pathways - the Media Foundation Year is also available as a pathway, please check that course out on a different page.