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The Howard Partnership Trust (THPT) is a Surrey based Multi-Academy Trust, comprising four secondary, six primary and two special schools with two further under development. We are proud of our ethos of collaboration and inclusion, "Bringing out the best" in students of all abilities and backgrounds. Visit website

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Information Technology

Specific Course Entry Requirements

Grade 5 in ICT or Computing

Examination Levels Offered Certificate - One Year
Extended Certificate - Two Years
Examination Board Pearson Edexcel

Information Technology is now embedded in our society and is a vital part of industries as diverse as entertainment, banking and manufacturing.  The growth in IT services, networking and data management is a key feature in global economies and the IT job market remains strong and relatively well paid.  If you are interested in a career in IT or a related field then this two year programme will give you a good understanding of a broad range of IT specialisms and will enable you to understand how IT underpins business operation.

Unit 1 - Information Technology Systems
This unit looks at the relationships between the hardware and software that form an IT system, the way systems work individually and together as well as the relationship between the user and the system.  Students explore the use of digital devices, peripheral devices, computer software and emerging technologies in IT systems. The concepts, process and implications of transferring data within and between IT systems. Online systems and online communities – benefits and risks. The issues and implications of storing and transmitting information in digital form. The uses, issues and implications of IT systems and their impact on individuals and organisations including the legal, moral and ethical issues relating to the use of IT. This is a synoptic unit in which the assessment requires students to draw on their learning from across the qualification. 

Unit 2 - Creating Systems to Manage Information
This unit examines the structure of data, its origins and how an efficient data design follows through to an effective and useful database. Students examine:

  • the purpose and structure of relational database management systems
  • standard methods and techniques to design relational database solutions

The assessment task requires students to design, create, test and evaluate a relational database system to meet a given brief.

Unit 3 - Using Social Media in Business
This unit considers different social media websites, the ways in which they can be used and the potential pitfalls when using them for business purposes. Students consider the use of social media by businesses to promote their products and services. They explore available social media websites.  The ways in which businesses use social media to promote their products and services, the impact of the use of social media on the businesses, including risks and issues.  Students develop a plan to use social media strategies for business purposes to achieve specific aims and objectives, implement their plan, collect data and review the effectiveness of their strategy. 

Unit 6 – Website Design
This unit looks at the creative process of creating eye catching websites. Looking at the principles of how the world wide web works, key aspects of website design and HTML programming, students will plan, design and create their own website. Using industry standard software and having knowledge of HTML, CSS and JavaScript will equip students with essential skills in this ever growing digital world. 

 

 

Staff Contact
Mr L Turner - lee.turner@oxted.thpt.org.uk