Today, UNLOC hosted a conference at QMC for students from Brighton Hill Community College, Aldworth School, The Vyne Community School,Testbourne Community School, John Hanson Community School, Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School, Everest Community Academy, Calthorpe Park School, Cranbourne School, The Costello School and The Hurst School, to equip them with leadership skills for their new roles as head pupils!
QMC offers a wide range of courses within the field of Digital Technology; Electronics, Computer Science & Information Technology. Watch this video to find out where the subjects overlap, where they differ and to help decide which is right for you
Over the next decade, jobs in IT will grow five times faster than the UK average.” – Department for Business, Innovation and skills.
Society has been transformed by revolutions in Computer Science & IT over the past 50 years and digital skills are now essential for many careers in the 21st century. Whether your interests lie in artificial intelligence, cyber security or games development, our range of courses will give you the opportunity to develop your digital abilities using the latest software, in dedicated labs, using state-of-the-art equipment. The skills you learn will help you make a successful transition directly into employment, onto a higher-level apprenticeship, or allow you to apply to the most selecting of universities. Whatever your ambition, improving your digital skills will help you get there.
This vocational qualification is designed for those interested in learning about the wide Computing sector. The course is made up from a number of different units and is designed to help you develop your subject knowledge and skills of computer science and computer systems. You will use computational-thinking skills to solve problems, learn the principles of how computer systems work, study IT system security threats and the methods used to protect against them and investigate the computer games industry, even designing and developing your own computer game.
To ensure you have the best possible chance of success in BTEC Computing, you are required to have obtained at least grade 5 in GCSE Mathematics and 4 or better in GCSE English. You do not need to have any experience of programming before you start.
The course provides transferable knowledge and skills that prepare learners for progression to university or employment. The transferable skills that universities and employers value include:
The BTEC Extended Certificate in Computing will allow progression to a variety of degrees when combined with other suitable Level 3 qualifications, whilst companies in the Basingstoke area offer a wide range of apprenticeships or jobs that you could apply for after achieving this qualification.
The course is assessed by means of a number of Units. Externally assessed units are set and marked by Pearson. Each internally assessed unit may have up to four assignments to complete. For all units, a point score will be awarded depending on the quality of the work in the exams or in the assignments that you submit. All the points will be added together at the end of the course and an overall letter grade awarded. You will achieve either a P (Pass), M (Merit), D (Distinction) or D* (Starred Distinction).
The course is made up of four units, three are mandatory and one optional. You will study 2 Units in the first year and two in the second year.
In the first year you will study: Unit 2 – Fundamentals of Computer Systems (External: Written examination set and marked by Pearson, 80 marks, 1 hour 45 minutes) & Unit 7 – IT Systems Security and Encryption.
Whilst in the second year you will complete: Unit 1 – Principles of Computer Science (External: Synoptic written examination set and marked by Pearson, 90 marks, two hours) & one of the following optional units: Unit 14 – Computer Games Development or Unit 15 – Website Development.
At the start of the course, materials and resources will be made available to you and on the virtual learning environment.
