Level 2 & 3 ICT courses at HCT September 2017 intake

Stage 1 interview activities A brief Introduction to the Technology Faculty and courses offered. Computer based English and Maths skills test. Written aptitude test. Personal questionnaire.

Stage 2 (Pre-enrolment) Level 2 – June 29th Thursday Level 3 – June 30th Friday The pre-enrolment exercise will provide applicants with the chance to experience a days study at HLC. The day will consist of a class in the morning. There will be a further lesson with an assignment to be completed in the afternoon. This process was used for selection for successful candidates.

Green form We will now progress through the form please ask if you have questions about any of the topics covered. Please do not fill in anything in the following boxes: ‘Initial assessment results’ ‘Course offer details’ At the end of the session you will be required to sign the form and hand it to the tutor.

Section 1 Course Information Entry requirements Course details Costs/finance Assessment methods

Entry requirements GCSE results Maths and English test result Level 2 Course 4 X GCSE grade D or equivalent including English and Maths Level 3 Course 4 X GCSE grade A- C or equivalent including English and Maths Students need to satisfy us that they will be able to cope with the academic rigour of the course through: GCSE results Maths and English test result Aptitude test result Personal statement Does anyone have any questions about qualifications?

Computing department facilities T104 - Hardware Room Servers Darth Comp-TIA Windows 7 Twin core computers Diagnostic computers Cisco equipment Networking Equipment T202 - Software Room Software development workstations Software includes: Windows 7 Visual Studio Dreamweaver Flash Games dev Dual boot computers T208 – Teaching Room Software development workstations Software includes: Windows 7 Visual Studio Dreamweaver Flash Games dev Dedicated software development server

Level 2 units and course content Weeks 1 - 18 Unit 1 externally assessed The Online World (30 GLH) Unit 14 Installing & Maintaining computer Hardware (60 GLH) Unit 17 Multimedia Products Development (60 GLH) Weeks 19-36 Unit 2 externally assessed Technology Systems (30 GLH) Unit 3 A Digital Portfolio (30 GLH) Unit 11 Computer Networks (60 GLH) Unit 22 Computer Security in Practice (60 GLH) Unit 13 Website Development (60 GLH) L2 Extended Certificate 8 Units, 480 GLH

Level 3 year 1 units and course content Weeks 1 - 18 Unit 2 Computer Systems Unit 9 Computer Networks Unit 13   IT Troubleshooting and Repair Unit 14 Event Driven Programming Weeks 19-36 Unit 6 Software Design and Development Unit 19 Computer System Architecture Unit 25 Maintaining Computer Systems Unit 28 Website Production Unit 1 Communication and Employability (Core) IT 90-credit Diploma 9 Units, 540 GLH

IT Practitioner 2016/17 Course Progression Level 2 (1 year) First Diploma in ICT To bridge this gap you will need at least 1 merit and 1 distinction in the level 2, you will also need to complete the pre-enrolment exercise for the level 3 course next year. Level 3 Year 1 60 Credit Subsidiary Diploma in ICT (6) 90 Credit Diploma in ICT (9)

IT Practitioner 2016/17 Course Progression Year 1 60 Credit Subsidiary Diploma in ICT (6) 90 Credit Diploma in ICT (9) Year 2 Diploma (12) / Extended Diploma (18) Year 3-4 Higher National Diploma or University

Career prospects Students that completed the Level 3/L5 courses have found positions with the following employers: Sidney Phillips, BBC (London), Microsoft (Reading), Wyvern Business, Muddy boots software, G4S, Allpay, Leadership Trust, Herefordshire Council We offer a broad syllabus to enable students to gain skills in varied ICT fields and help you decide which area of IT may be of interest. Some of our students are now taking an apprenticeship programme. Web design, Programming, ICT maintenance and support, Networking and Databases. IT industry – growth market. 2013 starts: 75% to HE, 2 to Army, 2 to 6th Form 2014 starts: 43% to HE, 46% to apprenticeships, 11% to jobs

Maths and English GCSE – grade E or below GCSE – Grade D Functional Skills – appropriate level GCSE – Grade D GCSE GCSE Grade C or above Directed Study This is a mandatory part of the course to ensure Maths and English competence is maintained & developed.

Course Costs (2016/2017) Level 2 (2016/17) £900 tuition £135 materials £130 registration fees = £865 for 19+ and £135 for 16-18 years Level 3 (2016/2017) Yr 1 - £900 tuition £135 materials – £185 registration fees = £920 for 19+ and £135 for 16-18 years Yr 2 - £900 tuition – £135 materials = £735 for 19+  and £135 for 16-18 years The only difference is where students commenced on the 1st year course at 18 yrs they only pay the material fee in the 2nd year as MIS state it is a 2 year course.

Assessment methods Each unit may be assessed by: Report Timed test (L2 has external, on-line exams ) Presentation Witness statement Failure to submit assignments will jeopardise continuation on course. A review of your academic performance will commence following September’s assessments.

Section 2 Previous education and experience Expected/achieved qualifications School record of achievement – anyone have these to-hand? Work experience Wider interests We have prepared a short exercise which we would like you to complete and email to us. See handout. Level 2: hodsdonj@hlcollege.ac.uk Level 3: prossert@hlcollege.ac.uk Deadline: Friday 27TH May 2016, 11:59am.

Work experience Work experience is not required for the course, however the course structure will generally allow you two days a week in which you could be working part-time. Even if this is not in an IT-related role, future employers will value the ‘soft’ skills (eg communication with customers) that you will develop in these environments.

Wider interest and achievements Weekly sports opportunities, clubs and group events. Welcome ‘new’ activities If you have non-academic achievements you would like to share with us please take time at the pre-enrolment day to tell us about them.

Section 3: Course Accessibility Safeguarding needs Adjustments for disability Learning support

Disclosure of safeguarding issues Do you have any safeguarding issues (for example, if you are in a temporary home) that you would like to make us aware of? If yes, please wait at the end of this session to discuss this in private. If you are unsure please discuss this with the tutor at the end of the session.

Disclosure of disability Do you have any disabilities issues that you would like to make us aware of? If yes, please wait at the end of this session to discuss this in private. If you are unsure please discuss this with the tutor at the end of the session.

Learning Support What is Learning Support? LS can offer help with written reports (spelling, grammatical support or proof reading) not necessarily with the content. Students that require LS are likely to have received learning support in a previous place of study. Do you require additional learning support? ALS can be actioned at any time during your course if you feel that you are struggling, please raise this with your course tutor.

Section 4: General Information General learner experience Behaviour Inclusive learning Use of IT

College Life Time in college (Wiki Timetable). Increased responsibility for self organisation, motivation, workload management and attendance. Make new friends.

Enrichment Opportunities Armed forces visits The Gadget show Oakerwood leisure Charity fundraising Bletchley Park Weekly sports opportunities, clubs and group events. Group tutorial sessions.

Behaviour Expectations Punctual Polite – non-discriminatory, an equal opportunities workplace Attentive Complete assignment work on time Organised

Attendance monitoring Students are expected to attend each lesson, any absences must be reported. An attendance level of less than 90% is regarded as unsatisfactory! Absence reporting Phone Text Or Email Your main contact is your course tutor: Julie Hodsdon, email hodsdonj@hlcollege.ac.uk or telephone 01432 365514. (L2) Terry Prosser, email prossert@hlcollege.ac.uk or telephone 01432 365477 (L3)

Backup plan Due to the timing of the pre-enrolment exercise it may be too late to start an application for an alternative course after you have attended the pre-enrolment day. What is your backup plan if the course is not what you expect? Have you applied for a second course?

Use of IT We told you about our facilities; we use our own server, separate from the college server. We can give you access to our wi-fi but only if you have appropriate anti-virus software on your device. We still use the college firewall though. Tell us if you are unhappy about any content!

What next? Please check your full name in the two boxes at the top of the page. Please sign the box at the bottom (signature of learner). Please complete the emergency contact details form and hand this to the tutor. Take an information sheet with our web address. Take an exercise handout and return by noon on 27th May, 2016.

Level 2 – Thursday June 30th Formal feedback Q & A session Tutor to sign interview form, and record the conditions of any offer, following receipt of the completed exercise. You should receive a letter from admissions within two weeks of today:- Conditional offer Suggested alternative course For those who do not need to wait, see you on the pre-enrolment day. Level 2 – Thursday June 30th Level 3 – Friday July 1st