You will study four units that will enable you to develop a core of IT knowledge and practical skills in areas such as digital marketing in the form of social media in business and website design, database development, and a wide range of interesting theory topics.  The course has a balance of internally assessed coursework and external assessments to help you develop a wide range of skills and knowledge.

First year

Unit 2 - Creating Systems to Manage Information: All businesses use databases to help track their customers, inventory and employees.  From the smallest in-house customer data systems to stock control systems for massive online retailers, databases are used to improve business operations in companies and organisations around the world.  At the end of this unit, you will be able to confidently design, create and use relational database systems.  (Practical assessment).

Unit 3 - Using Social Media in Business:  You will be familiar with social media for personal and social use, but in this unit you will discover how it can be used in a business context for digital marketing.  You will explore how businesses use social media technology to promote their products and services and you will also implement a social media plan and design some creative social media content for a company.  (Coursework).

Second year

Unit 1 - Information Technology Systems: Information technology (IT) systems have a significant role in the world around us and play a part in almost everything we do.  In this unit, you will study the role of computer systems and the implications of their use in personal and business situations.  You will explore the way that IT systems work together and how data is transmitted around organisations and the world.  You will investigate the cybersecurity risks that threaten our systems, as well as the moral and ethical issues that modern technology has brought.  (Written exam).

Unit 6 - Website Development:  Increasingly, organisations rely on websites to serve their customers and, in many cases, to generate revenue.  With millions of web pages being created daily, the need for websites to be engaging, innovative and desirable is important.  In this unit, you will investigate website development principles and then design and develop a functional website for an organisation using web development software and scripting mark-up languages such as HTML and CSS.  (Coursework).

You will be assessed in a variety of ways:

• In the first year, you will complete an externally set practical database assessment and an internally assessed coursework unit.
• In the second year, there will be a written exam and an internally assessed coursework unit.

• Online resources KnowITAllNinja, and Zig-Zag’s E - Revise provides presentations, videos and quizzes for the whole specification;
• Creative consolidation tasks encouraged throughout all theory and practical units
• Topical news stories are gathered and shared by students to keep up to date with the ever changing world of IT. IT in the news and real-world examples including multiple projects such as Amazon Fresh, AI debate, and Accessibility Project develop an opportunity for critical thinking. They also warrant deeper understanding and links to multiple topics for example Emerging technologies and the ethics of AI or automated workers, which we direct as mind maps or exam-style questions in both flipped learning and assessments.
• Elaborate and Extend activities at the end of each topic to encourage deeper understanding. Opportunities to try further challenging tasks throughout practical units.
• Provision of checklist for coursework tasks - self check before 1st submission. Reflection on coursework seeking further feedback. Opportunity to implement feedback for resubmission.
• Learning techniques help support ATTITUDE with a positive mindset - embracing challenges with a ‘can do’ attitude.

The qualification is designed to be taken as part of a study programme alongside any A levels including business, media, graphics, photography, maths, psychology etc. and other vocational qualification such as Cambridge Technicals or BTEC courses in business, media and sport etc.

This well-balanced course will enable you to progress to higher education or directly into employment via the degree apprenticeship or higher apprenticeship route.  This qualification BTEC IT carries attracts the same UCAS points as A levels and is recognised by 95% of Higher Education providers universities. as meeting admission requirements to many relevant courses.

When taken alongside other level 3 qualifications, including A levels, BTECs and Cambridge Technicals in complementary or contrasting subjects, this qualification BTEC IT helps to open many doors for your future.  gives you the opportunity to progress to a wide range of degree courses and apprenticeships.

• Higher Education – Historically, many of our IT students go on to study at university; normally around 40% of them study IT/computing or business and digital courses.
• Apprenticeships – An increasing number of IT students have been successful in gaining degree or higher apprenticeships in IT and business-related fields.  In the last couple of years, our young people have been accepted on degree apprenticeship programs at IBM, CISCO, CGI, VISA Europe as well as excellent local technology companies.

You can find the prep work for this course at prepwork.farnborough.ac.uk. 

Q: What is the difference between BTEC IT and A Level Computer Science?A: Information technology is a BTEC course for students who want to develop their practical software skills.  Assessment is through a combination of both coursework (two units worth 40%) and exams (two exams worth 60%) that are held throughout the two years.  Both exams have resit opportunities.  A Level computer science on the other hand is considered to be a science and is a course for students who enjoy programming and software development practices.  A Level computer science has two exams at the end of two years and a piece of coursework worth 20%.

Q:  I haven’t done IT before, is that a problem?
A:  No, we have a large variety of students some of whom have done IT or computer science at school, but most have not.  All of the skills and knowledge you need for this course will be taught from scratch so you will not be disadvantaged.  It is recommended that you have access to a device at home so you can complete private study easily and practice the skills that you learn.  A PC, MAC or Chromebook is ideal for this.  

Q:  Is BTEC IT accepted at Universities?
A:  Yes, according to the UniGuide.co.uk, 95% of universities happily accept BTEC students, including competitive universities from the Russell Group.  We have found that the independent learning, organisational and time management skills that are developed in BTEC courses make our students ideal candidates for university.  

BTEC IT attracts the same amount of UCAS points as an A level. For example a Distinction star gained after the two year Extended Certificate gains  56 UCAS points, the same as an A Level A*, Distinction gains 48, the same as an A grade etc.

Q:  What does this course lead to in the future?
A:  Many of our students go onto university or gain degree apprenticeships in IT and business related courses.  But we have found that BTEC IT opens doors to many fields and we have ex-students who have gone into areas as diverse as digital media, marketing,  finance and accounting, games design and programming and many others.

Q:  What combination of subjects goes well with BTEC IT?
A:  Many IT students also take A level or BTEC business which is a popular combination.  We also have a high number of students who do graphics, photography or media.  IT goes well with pretty much any combination of vocational or A level subjects.