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All organisations, both private and public, rely on information technology and networks for communication and information exchange. But what happens when these systems go down? Cyber threats and technical issues can cause significant disruptions, leading to data breaches, profit losses, and reputation damage. Working in digital security is both exciting and rewarding, as you'll learn the latest techniques to stay ahead in this ever-changing industry. This course will equip you with the skills to identify and prevent cyber threats, monitor threats in real time, and find innovative solutions to intercept them. This is an exciting time to join the Cyber and IT security industry which this course will prepare you for.
What will I study in Digital Support Services T-levels?
The core part of the qualification will give you a baseline understanding of the industry. It covers a range of areas, giving you a vital underpinning knowledge of concepts and the skills that you’ll need in this sector.
The core elements of digital will cover a host of themes including the following:
- The Business Context
- Culture
- Digital Analysis
- Digital Environments
- Diversity and inclusion
- Learning
- Legislation
- Planning
- Security
- Testing
- Tools
Additionally, you will cover core digital skills such as root cause analysis, risk mitigation, project management, troubleshooting and communicating with technical and non-technical users.
You will also complete a 315 hour Industry Placement which gives you valuable work experience and key behaviours to succeed in the industry
Entry Requirements
At least five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above all from the core subjects including Maths and English. If you have completed GCSE computing we would expect at least a Grade 4 to show interest in the industry.
How will I learn?
The course splits into key knowledge, skills, and behaviours - We introduce a set of topics using a real-world case study for students to explore the impacts choices and practices have had in the past before moving into a mix of lectures and labs. Each lesson contains a lectured element to introduce a new concept followed by either a solo or group activity to explore this knowledge. This can take the form of a report, practical task, or group discussion.
How will I be assessed?
Your T-Level is made up of three components: Core, Specialism and Placement.
The core is made up of two written papers and a practical called the Employer Set Project (ESP). Core papers are sat at the end of the first year and are 2-2.5 hours long. The ESP is broken down into several tasks and is assessed over two weeks and is sat in the November of second year. Core makes up 50% of your final grade and focuses on assessing your Knowledge and some Skills from the course such as: The impact of digitification on culture and inclusion; exploring digital in a business context; understanding and applying security principles; and applying root cause analysis and troubleshooting.
Specialism is assessed via an Occupational Specialism Project (OSP). This is a large practical project lasting roughly 30 hours broken down into several assessment tasks and sat over the second half of the second year. Specialism makes up 50% of your final grade and focuses on assessing your Skills and some Knowledge from the course such as: Setting up and managing virtual machines and digital environments; writing appraisals and risk assessments; and communicating with technical and non-technical users.
Placement is a mandatory part of the qualification, covering over 315 hours at a digital work placement. You need to show "good" levels of behaviour throughout your placement through a series of workplace reviews conducted by the college and your employer. Your course allows one day a week (set at the start of each year) and two two-week blocks per year to help support you with time to do this. Placement doesn't affect your grade, but is required to achieve the qualification as a whole, and is used to develop your Skills and Behaviours in the workplace.
Any trips?
Digital T-Levels have a teambuilding day in the first term to help students form good working bonds. We also offer one educational visit to an establishment each year and hold a celebratory practical investigation into the Internet of Things at the end of the first year (we go to laser tag). Each of these trips is roughly £35 and there will be up to three offered each year.
Are there any costs involved?
There is a small course booklet that students should keep hold of with a small cost attached from our printing department. Course textbooks are available from the Library or for purchase on Amazon and are highly recommended to succeed in this course. A computer/laptop isn't a requirement but access to one at home would be useful for revision and different tasks, study spaces are available for use at the college.
FAQs
Career opportunities
- Infrastructure technician / admin
- IT Support technician / admin
- Desktop Support Analyst
- Systems Security Analyst
- Helpline Support Advisor
- Network Administrator
- Data Communications Analyst
- Cabling Engineer / technician
The work placement will be over 45 days. You will have the opportunity to work with one or two employers within the IT industry. Your work placement could be a day release or a number of weeks. We work with many organisations within the IT industry and will help you find a suitable placement. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain skills using the latest technology.
We have a new lab where learners will be able to build, repair and upgrade computers however, please keep in mind this is an academic course worth 3-A levels so there is still a considerable amount of theory and writing on these courses.
It’s really important you do your research and have an interest in a career in the digital sector. Whilst we appreciate not everyone at a young age knows exactly what they want to do next we would not recommend these courses if you have no idea what you want to do. These courses have been designed to prepare you to work in a specific sector of the digital industry.
The Digital T-level course is made up of three key parts.
- Core – The academic part of the qualification graded A to E. You will learn the underpinning knowledge in this part of the course and study a range of topics. This is assessed by two 2.5-hour exams and an Employer set project (ESP) This Employer Set Project is set by the exam board but they have consulted with employers. This consists of a series of tasks completed under exam conditions.
- Occupational Project – This is generally completed in the second year and is the vocational part of the qualification graded Pass, Merit, Distinction. Leaners specialise and complete a series of controlled assessments under exam conditions. These can range between 35 and 65 hours in total.
- Industry Placement - There is no grade for the placement but learners need to complete the required hours over two years with up to two employers.
A T-level is a full-time programme equivalent to 3 A-levels – it is not possible to study any other course alongside a T-level.
Awarding Body
NCFE
Available As
[168 UCAS pts. available]
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What can I do after I have taken this course?
Available As
[168 UCAS pts. available]
Add to Application
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