KS5 BTEC ICT – (Edexcel / Pearson BTEC Certificate)

This course prepares pupils with a mixture of practical and theoretical ICT skills, providing sound preparation for a range of jobs and university courses. The Certificate (AS equivalent) is awarded the end of Year 12, and the Extended Certificate (A2 equivalent) is awarded at the end of Year 13. 

Year 12 Certificate

1. Creating Systems To Manage Information (practical task) - 50% of the Certificate

This is a 10 hour task, arranged over a 1 week assessment period. The task is externally set & assessed by the exam board. It is completed on a computer and submitted electronically. Pupils will examine a given scenario and develop an effective design solution to produce a database system. You will then test and evaluate your solution.
 

2. Using Social Media in Business (investigation & written task) -  50% of the Certificate

You will explore different social media websites, and develop a plan to use social media strategies to improve the business.

Year 13 (Extended Certificate)

Both of the Certificate units above (now weighted at 25% each), plus:
 

1. Information Technology Systems (2 hour exam) - 33% of the total grade

You will explore the relationships between the hardware & software that form an IT system, the way systems work individually and together. You will examine issues related to the use of IT systems and the impact that these have on organisations and individuals.
 

2. Website Development  (practical task) —17% of the total grade

In this unit, you will review existing websites, use scripting languages or rapid application
development tools to design and develop a website to meet a client brief. Finally, you will
reflect on the website design and functionality using a testing and review process.

Topics Covered per Half Term 

Terms	Year 12	Year 13
Autumn 1	Social media websites Business use of social media Unit 3 Assignment part A	Digital devices that form part or all of IT systems. Peripheral devices used with other digital devices to form part of an IT system. Types of operating system Emerging technologies Choosing IT systems Networks
Autumn 2	Posting Schedules Preparing Content Analysing social media usage	Online systems Online communities Threats to data, information and systems Protecting data Online services Impact on organisations Using and manipulating data Moral and ethical issues Legal issues
Spring 1	Unit 3 Assignment part B and C Introduction to databases	Exam revision Unit 1 – exam Websites
Spring 2	Database skills Practice database exams	Coursework section A – website research
Summer 1	Unit 2 exam prep Unit 2 exam	Website creation. Coursework section B&C – plan and develop a website.
Summer 2	Extended certificate introduction	Coursework section B&C – plan and develop a website. Exam resits as necessary