T Level: Digital Production, Design and Development (Digital)

T Levels are a two-year qualification designed with employers to give you a head start towards the future you want. They follow GCSEs and are equivalent to three A Levels. T Levels offer an alternative to A levels, and apprenticeship or other post 16 courses and ensure that you gain the knowledge and skills you need to move into skilled work, an apprenticeship or further study.

The digital sector has one of the largest projected economic growth outputs in the UK which means that there will be lots of future jobs in this ever-changing and quickly evolving sector. Significant changes in employment working practices will continue to take place as more companies embrace the many benefits of digital technology.

The Digital Production, Design and Development T level will give you the skills and knowledge needed to flourish in this exciting sector so that you can be part of the future digital workforce. You’ll learn a wide range of knowledge on topics needed to be successful in the fast-paced Digital industry such as Digital Analysis, Abstraction and Algorithms, and Virtual and Cloud Environments.

Year 1 is made up of three key parts:

1. Core: Knowledge and understanding of contexts, concepts and theories of the digital industry:

• Business Context Culture, Data, Digital Analysis, Digital Environments, Emerging Issues, Legislation, Planning, Security, Testing, Tools, English and Maths.
• Developing and projecting a positive digital identity and manage digital reputation.
• Adopting professional approaches to using digital communications and social media.
• Being aware of information security and the security controls that can be used to mitigate security threats within solutions and services.
• Choosing devices, applications, software and systems relevant to different tasks, having assessed their benefits and constraints.
• Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data in spreadsheets, databases and other formats, and interpreting data by running queries, data analyses and reports.
• Understanding digital media as a social, political and educational tool, and of media production as a technical practice.
• Understanding digital research methods and data analysis tools and techniques.
• Understanding innovation, enterprise and project management in digital settings.

2. Employer Set Project: A project set by digital leaders that requires you to apply your knowledge to a real-life problem in the industry.

3. Industry Placement: Towards the end of the year, you will get the opportunity to put the knowledge and skills you have learned into action as you start your industry placement. You will work with an external digital industry employer to apply your knowledge and develop your technical skills in a real-life digital workplace.

Year 2 is made up of two key parts:

1. You will specialise in key areas of Digital Production, Design and Development; which will help you to develop deeper knowledge and skills on the following key topic areas:

• Analysing a problem to define requirements and acceptance criteria aligned to user needs.
• Designing, implementing and testing software.
• Changing, maintaining and supporting software.
• Creating solutions in a social and collaborative environment.
• Discovering, evaluating and applying reliable sources of knowledge.
• Applying ethical principles and managing risks in line with legal and regulatory requirements when developing software.

2. Continuation of your Industry Placement; with an external digital industry employer which will develop your technical skills and apply your knowledge in a workplace environment.

Across year one and two, you will complete at least 45 days in total working in the digital industry, giving you valuable experience in the workplace and employers the chance to see the new talent in their industry.

Year 1:

• Core Assessment: Externally Set Test – Paper 1 and Paper 2 are both graded A*-E.
• Employer Set Project: Externally assessed project work is graded A*-E.
• Industry Placement: Evidence log to show completion of hours required and evidence of development of technical skills and application of knowledge in a workplace environment.

Year 2:

• Synoptic assessment to judge how well the competence requirements have been met. Graded: Distinction, Merit or Pass.
• Industry Placement: Evidence log to show completion of hours required and evidence of development of technical skills and application of knowledge in a workplace environment.

GCSE English Language at grade 4 or above.

GCSE Maths at grade 5 or above.

GCSE Computing or Computer Science grade 4 or above (preferable).

And at least two other GCSE qualifications at grade 4 or above.

A previous study of a digital subject is not a requirement; however, you should have an interest in the digital sector and be prepared to discuss this further at interview.

T Levels offer many opportunities for progression:

• Progress to University: You can use the UCAS points you achieve as a result of completing your T level to continue your studies at university.
• Enter Employment: You can use the skills, knowledge and experience you have gained to start working in the digital industry.
• Apprenticeship: There are many opportunities offered through apprenticeships that allow you to carry on learning (20%) whilst spending most of your time (80%) furthering your skills in the workplace.