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Information Technology at Fulston

Highsted Grammar School

Highsted Road, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 4PT

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent
Level 3
Information and Communication Technology

Available start dates

Available start dates

Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Highsted Grammar School
2 Year(s)

Application Instructions

Applications Open: - Friday 14 November 2025

Applications Close: - 13 February 2026. Applications may be considered after this date but it is strongly advised to apply before this deadline.

Entry Requirements: - Admission to courses - This is based on your needs and staff advice, but you should be aware of these points: 1. You will need to obtain a minimum of six GCSE passes at Level 5 or above including Mathematics and English (a minimum of a grade 5 in the reformed GCSE qualifications in English and Mathematics) and grades 9-6 in their preferred A-Level subjects or nearest equivalents. 2. Subjects have clear entry requirements. You will find these under the course details or from Subject Heads.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices (Internal and External Students)

External Applicants - please click here (This form is for external candidates and parents/carers to book a slot to ask any questions about the admissions process and Sixth Form at Highsted Grammar School). Please be aware that it is first come, first served. We will try our best to accommodate your preferences but this might not always be possible).

Internal candidates - should contact their Head of Year directly.

Course Summary

WHY TAKE THIS COURSE?

Young people taking their first steps towards a new career need the right blend of technical and academic skills in order to become the highly skilled, work-ready individuals, employers and universities look for.

BTEC Level 3 Nationals are vocational qualifications designed to help learners succeed. The Pearson BTEC Level 4 National Extended Certificate in Information Technology is equivalent in size to one A Level. It is designed for learners who are interested in a basic introduction to the study of IT alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in IT. Learners will develop a common core of IT knowledge and study areas such as managing and porcessing data to support business and using IT to communicate and share information.

AIMS OF THE COURSE

They give learners the knowledge, understanding and skills that they need to prepare for employment of progression to higher education, degree and professional development programmes within the same or related areas of Infomation Technology study.

Course Details

COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT

Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Certificate – 2 units

The BTEC Level 3 Certificate is broadly equivalent to one GCE AS Level.

Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate – 4 Units

The BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate is broadly equivalent to one GCE A Level.

All students will study 2 mandatory CORE UNITS of:

UNIT 2 - Creating Systems to manage Information (externally assessed)

UNIT 3 - Using Social Media in Business

Extended Certificate students (4 unit course) will study two further additional units

Unit 1- Information Technology Systems (written examination)

Unit 6 - Website Development

Entry requirements

A student is expected to have achieved either at least 5 GCSEs grades 9-5 (or equivalent), ideally one of these being an ICT or Creative Digital Media qualification at 4 grade or above. In addition, it is strongly advised that a student should have gained grade 5 at GCSE in English and Mathematics. Students are also expected to have a keen interest in IT, be familiar with a range of software and keep themselves up to date with technological developments and advances.

Your next steps...

BTEC Level 3 in IT qualifications are designed to relate to the National Occupational Standards for the sector, where these are appropriate, and are supported by the relevant Standards Setting Body (SSB) or Sector Skills Council (SSC). Some BTEC Level 3 in IT qualifications form the technical certificate component of apprenticeships and all attract UCAS points that equate to similar-sized general qualifications.

On successful completion of a BTEC Level 3 in IT qualification, learners can progress into or within employment and/or continue their study in the same vocational area.


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