Information & Communication Technology (ICT)

The ICT course aims at students who are interested to study Information Technology. It would be suitable to those students who seek their careers in IT fields. The course deals with basic computer knowledge in various fields in computer science like planning, analysing, designing, programming, testing, installing procedures and so on and so forth. Students study Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel to an advanced level in the first year. Students will also learn to program using Visual Basic to the degree of being able to produce their own realistic ICT application in the second year. By the end of the course, students will have a good knowledge of Information Technology which leads them to proceed further

Teaching and learning styles

Lessons are a mixture of theoretical work, practical work, short tests, detailed descriptive written work, projects, interviewing computer users, etc. Two thirds of the lessons are theory lessons and at most, one third are practical lessons.

Examination Board : Edexcel

Assessment

The course consists of five sections each section has various chapters. Generally fist year involves first three sections, which concentrates on systems administration and the development of relational database applications. During this year students will write a report on the systems administration procedures of an ICT department in a real organisation, develop a database application, and sit two 1½-hour exam papers. The second year of the level, which involves next two sections, concentrates on systems management and programming in Visual Basic. Students will write a report on how an ICT system affects people's lives from a moral, social, ethical and legal point of view, develop a programming project, and sit two 1½-hour exam papers. The reports and projects contribute 40% of the marks towards the final grade and the exams contribute 60% of the marks towards the final grade. Students base all their assessed work on real organisations.

Entry requirements

The course requires the ability to express ideas clearly in writing and so a grade C or above in GCSE English Language is essential. The course requires good problem solving skills and so a grade C or above in GCSE Mathematics is also essential. If GCSE ICT has been studied, then it must have been passed at grade C or above. If GCSE ICT has not been studied, students should already have a very keen interest in the subject. The course moves at a fast pace and so students with little ICT experience will need to put in extra effort. Access to a computer in the home would substantially benefit students, although there is easy and substantial access to computers around the college.