IT

Sixth Form Open Evening- Wednesday 5th November 5-7pm

Applications Open - Now!

Applications Close - End of Term 4 2026. Please contact Mrs Silvester if you would like to apply after this date (lucy.silvester@swale.at)

Entry Requirements: - Generally 5 grade 5s or above in GCSE, including English and Maths but some subjects do vary.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices

This is a vocational qualification that will prepare students for a huge range of careers. Students will develop a common core of IT knowledge and study areas such as the relationship between hardware and software that form IT systems, managing and processing data to support business and using IT to communicate and share information through social media for example. Students will also study computational thinking skills and the principles of designing and developing websites. They study a wide range of IT skills from understanding basic computer systems to understanding how businesses use social media.

A range of topics will be covered within this qualification, such as information technology systems, creating systems to manage information using databases, social media in business using professional platforms and website development using bespoke software.

On the BTEC course assessment takes place in a variety of ways. Students will be assessed externally by means of a written exam that will last for 2 hours where students will be tested on their understanding of computer systems and the implications of their use in personal and professional situations. Students will also complete a practical activity which will be completed under supervised conditions. The activity will test the students’ ability to design, create a test and evaluate a relational database system to manage information. There will also be a series of internally assessed tasks set by the teacher.

In addition to the general requirements to access a BTEC course students would benefit from previous IT experience but it is not an essential requirement.

This course prepares students for employment in many areas of IT, as well as qualifying them to study for an HNC/D or Degree like: Computing (Foundation Degree), Computing (BSc), Business Computing (BSc), Forensic Computing (BSc), Internet Computing (BSc). Students may consider becoming a software developer, work in the social media industry or perhaps a career in data modelling with a view to helping businesses make informed decisions.