This exciting two-year program offers the Cambridge Technicals Level 3 Extended Certificate equivalent to one A-Level. It's designed for students passionate about technology, programming, and creative problem-solving, providing the vocational skills and academic knowledge necessary for a successful career in the modern digital economy, particularly in the fields of software, application, and games development.
A minimum of five GCSE subjects at grade 4 or above, including Maths and English Language. There is no need to have completed a GCSE in Computer Science.
The course is structured around core units, giving you a deep, practical understanding of the software development lifecycle: 40% Examination, 60% NEA (coursework).
| Unit | Title | Outline |
|---|---|---|
| F160 | Fundamentals of Application Development | In this Examined Unit you will learn the core concepts of software development, including object-oriented principles, basic data structures, and the software development lifecycle. |
| F161 | Developing Application Software | In this Examined Unit you will develop an understanding of the physical and logical components of a computer system, networking principles, and security considerations relevant to application development. |
| F162 | Designing and communicating UX/UI solutions | Focus on the critical area of User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design, learning how to plan, prototype, and communicate effective and accessible digital solutions. Students will be assed through coursework assignments where they will create a UI solution for a Desktop, Mobile or Web application |
| F163 | Game Development | Dive into the process of creating functional digital games, exploring game engines, scripting, game physics, and the iterative design process used by industry professionals. Student will be assessed through coursework assignment where they will create their own game using widely used industry tools. |
| F166 | Software Development | Develop advanced technical proficiency by designing, developing, and testing a substantial, complex software application to professional standards, meeting vocational assessment criteria. This final Coursework unit will allow students to create a more advanced complete application. |
Programming is a major element of the course. practicing these skills throughout the course will be essential. Creating your own games using the development tools we use (e.g. the freely available Godot), will help you directly in the course and allow you to build a portfolio that will be invaluable if you wish to progress in the games industry.
The course uses two dedicated, fully equipped IT/Computing rooms with very high specific PCs as well a workshop for more hands on work. The rooms are spacious and extremely well resourced with up-to-date business and creative design packages including game development studios. Many of the teachers in the department have extensive industry experience.
The department boasts its own dedicated technician who will be ready to assist students with a wide variety of equipment including, 3D printing, digital cameras, graphics tablets.
In addition to the mandatory elements of the course we encourage students to engage with our enrichment opportunities of Games design and eSports, and we welcome students to use our facilities to develop their skills outside of lessons