13 Technology A-level Programs

BTEC IT is a vocational course assessed through internal and externally set coursework plus one exam.

3D Design Studies introduces you to a wide range of makers and designers.

By studying Media Studies A level, you will develop the knowledge and skills needed to analyse the products of the media. You will look at all aspects of their design from their audio-visual presentation to the rhetorical devices and connotations of the language they use. You will examine a wide range of material and media forms, ranging from television and film to online media, music, print and advertising. Case studies on a selection of products will be used to support essay answers in the exams.

IT is the application of technology to process data and provide information. Our world is rapidly shifting in terms of the use of IT at home, at school and in business and this course is designed to give students a greater understanding of the impact of IT throughout society. Students will look at how components and systems work as well as why they are beneficial particularly in a business setting.

By studying A Level Design and Technology, you will learn core technical, design, and manufacturing principles and additional specialist knowledge in material science and applications, manufacturing techniques, CAD/CAM skills, and how new technologies influence design.

A-Level Computer Science is a challenging and fast-paced subject which considers the way that technology transforms our lives in an increasingly digital world. It has computational thinking at its core, which encourages us to take a complex problem and develop possible solutions using decomposition, abstraction, logical thinking, and algorithms. Computer Science is also a creative subject that involves the innovative thinking and development of ideas through coding.

This A Level is included within the following A Level pathways as a recommended core subject: Maths, Physics and Computer Science and in the following pathways as a recommended additional subject: Engineering; Environment, Geography and Earth Science; STEM and Healthcare. However, you can choose Computer Science with any A Level/equivalent combination, there is plenty of choice and flexibility.

Computer Science is about understanding computer systems and networks at a deep level. It is a rich and diverse discipline in its own right, like Physics and Mathematics. It explores foundational principles and ideas, rather than training students in skills related to particular software. Computer Science aspects of theory and experimentation are drawn from Maths and Science respectively and it is an excellent supplementary A-Level for a range of subjects.

One of Microsoft's early dreams was a computer in every home and on every desk. Today, around a quarter of the world's population carries around daily a computer in the form of a phone and more and more people are embracing the “internet of things', allowing them to interact remotely and intelligently with their domestic appliances. Impressive as the hardware is, it is nothing without well-written software. What makes the modern world work are computer programs.

Advances in computing are transforming the way we work and with its emphasis on abstract thinking, general problem-solving, algorithmic and mathematical reasoning, A-level Computer Science is an excellent foundation for understanding and applying solutions to these future challenges. Computer Science is a broad-based course where you will gain a sound understanding of the internal structure of computers and how they operate. You will spend a significant time studying programming and developing skills in expressing solutions to problems using algorithms, as well as gaining understanding of how standard data processing can help to create mobile apps.

The course is designed not only to give you an insight into the science, mathematics and ‘art’ of how computers work but more importantly will encourage a new way of thinking about the solutions to world problems.

This course is ideal for learners who are interested in learning about designing and building electronic circuits.

Advances in computing are transforming the way we work, and our computer science specifications have changed with the times.