T Level in Digital Design Production and Development
Opening Doors to: Knowledge, Skills, Real work experience, Industry/Employer contacts, Varied Career Pathways, University/Higher Education Options
Info High Level About the Program
At Ferndown Upper school we are an experienced provider of T levels. We are the first Dorset provider of T levels and have now completed 1 full successful cycle of our Digital Design, Production and Development course – 100% pass at Merit (BBB) or Distinction (AAA) for the cohort 2022-2024. Our students are heading to an exciting range of further education and degree level apprenticeships – including a degree level software apprenticeship with JP Morgan.
Distinction * = AAA*
Distinction = AAA
Merit = BBB à This is the average Uni/Apprenticeship Offer
Pass (C or Above on Core) = CCC
We take a small cohort (20 or less) through to help ensure a high student/teacher face time with individualised feedback. This also allows us to help support you (with a dedicated placement manager) into placements that provide you with high quality experiences to boost your future career prospects.
Within the department we also offer a range of additional opportunities to help boost your CV – including:
- Coding project clubs to help you develop your own passion projects (run by one of our teachers who worked as a game developer)
- Robotics club to help build your teamwork and leadership (2 x National Finalists)
Entry Requirements
What do you need to have gained at GCSE to enter the course?
- 2 x Grade 5’s including Maths
- 3 x Grade 4’s including English
This is to help ensure you are able to successfully access the course.
SEN needs that impact your ability to meet these requirements?
Please contact the sixth form team directly on 01202 871243. We have successfully guided other students with SEN needs through the course.
Teaching Staff
Kirsty Holloway
- Head of Computing
- Previous career Experience: Working in Projects in a financial organisation
- How she can help you = Guided support of creating and building content for a CV to help you get through the paper shift when applying for the next job, Guided support of the steps of a software project with advice on how to avoid potential pitfalls.
Kyle Jacobs
- Teacher of computing
- Previous Career Experience: Working for Game development companies to create AAA games.
- How he can help you = Guided support on how to enter the industry, Guided support on development of projects, Guided support on learning additional programming languages e.g. C++
Amy Armour
Where Will I Be Learning?
In our purpose built T block. Opened in May 2023, this block contains 2 purpose built computing suites and a large seminar space. You teacher’s are also based in the block and so easily available if you need support.
The block is based next to the 6th form study centre and canteen, so well located near key facilities.
What career Paths can this take you to?
Throughout the year, we have industry speakers in to speak to you. This allows you to gain insight into a range of possible careers the software development skills can take you.
Software Developer
Web Developer
Games Developer
Application Developer
Information About The Course
The course is broken down into:
- 40% grade from a ‘Core’ element.
- 2 Exams covering the Core content.
- 1 Employer Set Project [Data analysis and Python]
- Task 1: Project Planning Task
- Task 2: Debugging Code + Testing Task
- Task 3: Algorithms Task
- Task 4a: Data Analysis and Coding Task.
- Task 4b: Review of Project Task
These will be completed either side of the May Half Term.
This is graded A*-E.
You receive the grade in the August after year 12 – allowing you to have that grade in hand when you apply for your next steps in Term 1 of year 13.
- 60% grade from ‘Occupational Specialism’ element.
- This is a 50 hours extended supervised project creating a front end UI and back end data handling system based on a brief.
- Task 1: Project Planning and Design Task
- Task 2: Creation and Programming of the Task
- Task 3a: Feedback and suggested improvements Task
- Task 3b: Review of the Task.
- This is a 50 hours extended supervised project creating a front end UI and back end data handling system based on a brief.
Completed from March – May
This is graded Distinction* – Pass
You’ll receive this grade in August of year 13.
- Placement = Pass/Fail. 315 hours.
How are the final grades worked out?
| Occupational Specialism | ||||
| Distinction | Merit | Pass | ||
| Core | A* | Distinction* | Distinction | Distinction |
| A | Distinction | Distinction | Merit | |
| B | Distinction | Merit | Merit | |
| C | Distinction | Merit | Pass | |
| D | Merit | Merit | Pass | |
| E | Merit | Pass | Pass | |
| Revised grades in bold | ||||
From: https://support.tlevels.gov.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/6433328028690-How-grades-are-calculated
Note: Most offers for next Steps are ‘Merit’ (BBB)
Placement
- 9 Weeks full time
- Equivalent to 315 hours.
- Please note: where required e.g. medical conditions, SEN needs, this may be a value that can be lowered after consultation with the exam board. Please contact us directly if you would like to discuss this.
- We run the placement as a block placement in year 13 to help you gain the benefit of experiencing the ‘real life’ work setting. This allows you to become actively involved in projects and gain valuable experience for your future.
- We’re able to line you up with valuable work placement opportunities, but these will require you to complete an interview with the employers.
- We help to prepare you for these by bringing in professionals to help support you.
Companies our students have been on placement/offered placements with:
- JP Morgan
- Telesoft
- Ultra Energy
- Dorset Council
- NHS
- BAE systems
Progression Routes
We encourage our students to apply for a range of progression routes to help ensure they are gaining the next step up with their career.
- Full time Apprenticeships – Level 3 or Degree Level depending on the needs of the student
- Many of our placement links offer Degree level apprenticeships and so we encourage students to use their placement as a trial run.
- University
- A wide range of universities accept T levels – with that list growing every year
- Employment
- With a T level in Digital Design, Production and development, students have all the skills to go straight into employment.
Our 2022-2024 class have successfully gained entry to:
- Full Time Apprenticeship in Digital Support.
- Advanced Apprenticeships with JP Morgan for software development
Computing and Cybersecurity courses with Southampton Solent and Bournemouth University
Action Step
- Apply here: https://fernup.applicaa.com/sixthformapply
- For any further queries please contact:
- Mrs Holloway (Head of computing): kirstyholloway@fernup.dorset.sch.uk
- Sixth form team: 01202 871243 / KerryCurchin@fernup.dorset.sch.uk