BTEC National in Information Technology

The Pearson Level 3 AAQ BTEC National in Information Technology (Extended Certificate) at Sandy Secondary School is designed for students interested in learning about the IT sector alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses. Examined by Pearson, the course is designed to be taken as part of a programme of study that includes A Levels.

Students study four mandatory units covering the breadth of modern IT. Unit 1 examines Information Technology Systems, studying the role of IT systems and the implications of their use in personal and professional situations. Unit 2 covers Cyber Security and Incident Management, exploring threats, vulnerabilities, protection methods, and managing security incidents.

Unit 3 focuses on Website Development, where students investigate fundamental principles and design and develop a website in response to a client brief. Unit 4 covers relational database development principles, including data storage, normalisation techniques, and designing data storage solutions to meet client requirements. External assessment accounts for 66.6% of the qualification.

The IT sector continues to grow rapidly, offering outstanding career prospects for qualified professionals. This qualification provides a strong foundation for further study at university or entry into the IT industry through apprenticeships.

Students from Sandy Secondary School have progressed to IT Apprenticeships, university to study ICT, and university to study Computer Science. The practical skills developed in website development, database design, and cyber security are directly relevant to employers across every industry sector.