Sixth Form Course Guide 2013-14 - The Purbeck School

Applied ICT
This is a wonderful opportunity to add a recognised qualification to your current ICT capability, and is a natural
extension of the KS4 ICT course. A range of familiar applications are extended with new contexts as well as a chance
to develop new skills with unfamiliar applications like Mediator 8.0.
ICT is a desired capability for many future employment and study opportunities. Stay in front, study ICT!
Summary of course content
The course is modular, with three units studied for AS (typically in year 12), and a further three studied at A2 (in year
13) to complete the A level. Exam board and syllabus: OCR 115, 515
AS Level
The AS qualification is comprises of two coursework units, GO40 “How Using ICT to communicate” and GO42 “ICT
solutions for individuals and society” together with an examination unit GO41.
GO40 focuses on developing a set of six high quality communications for a fictitious organisation such as a
local Estate Agent. You will look at examples of good practice for similar documents, and show that you can develop
and document the progression of your work.
GO42 is all about using a range of ICT skills to research, refine and present a report on a relevant topic (such
as setting yourself up as a car owner / driver). The assignment in GO42 is the sort of process many students in
further/higher education will meet.
The examination GO41 “How organisations use ICT” is based on a fictitious case study, usually about a
business that is considering improving its ICT facilities, and asks you to consider the implications of these changes.
You have the opportunity to prepare for this examination by making notes that you can then take into the
examination with you.
A Level
To gain a full A level qualification you need to complete three more coursework units. These are typically GO50
“Interactive multimedia products”, GO53 “Developing and creating websites” and GO48 “Working to a brief.”
GO50 and GO53 focus on analysing existing, designing and creating websites and multimedia products. The final
stages are testing and evaluating your work. GO48 is completed in parallel with one of GO50 or GO53, and is
concerned with planning and managing an extensive ICT project.
Where the course leads
The range of courses with an ICT component within them at higher and further education grows each year.
Specialisms such as Computing, Systems Analysis, Computer Games Design and Multimedia Creation are current
popular ones.
Entry requirements; Students need to have achieved 5 A*-C at GCSE (Route B Pathway)
Desirable qualities that will support you in succeeding in ICT are good time management skills and problem solving
determination – sorting tricky new bits out independently.
For further advice contact: Mr Shaw