1. Level 2 & 3 ICT courses at HCT
September 2016 intake

2. 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.

3. Stage 2 (Pre-enrolment)
Level 2 – June 30th Thursday
Level 3 – July 1st 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.
A second assignment will be set which is to be completed at home and submitted electronically within one week (full details will be given to students).
This process was used for selection for successful candidates.

4. 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.

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

6. Entry requirements GCSE results Maths and English test result
Level 2 Course
4 X GCSE grade D- G 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
Pre-enrolment exercise (Stage 2)
Does anyone have any questions about qualifications?

7. 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

8. Level 2 units and course content
Weeks
Unit 1 externally assessed
The Online World
(30 GLH)
Unit 14
Installing & Maintaining computer Hardware (60 GLH)
Unit 17
Multimedia Products Development (60 GLH)
Unit 18
Computational thinking (30 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)
Unit 19 Computing in the Workplace (60 GLH)
IT Diploma 10 Units, 480 GLH

9. Level 3 year 1 units and course content
Weeks
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

10. 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)

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. Course Costs (2016/2017) Level 2 (2016/17) £900 tuition £135 materials
£130 registration fees = £865 for 19+ and £135 for years
Level 3 (2016/2017)
Yr 1 - £900 tuition
£135 materials –
£185 registration fees = £920 for 19+ and £135 for years
Yr 2 - £900 tuition –
£135 materials = £735 for 19+  and £135 for 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.

15. 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.

16. 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 to us. See handout.
Level 2:
Level 3:
Deadline: Friday 27TH May 2016, 11:59am.

17. 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.

18. 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.

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

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

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

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

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

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

27. 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
Your main contact is your course tutor:
Julie Hodsdon, or telephone (L2)
Terry Prosser, or telephone (L3)

28. 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?

29. 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!

30. 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.

31. 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