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Computing With Programming and App Development - Level 3
Start Date: 1st September 2025
Other start dates:
2nd September 2024
- Length 2 Years
- Study Full-Time
- Location Kidderminster College
More about the course
With the rise of smartphones and our increasing dependency on computers, the app development and computer programming sector is coming into its own. Do you reckon you've got what it takes to come up with the next popular software? Then this Computing With Programming and App Development - Level 3 course is for you!
Designed to inspire and get your inventive side going, this course focuses heavily on the technical skills required in computing and IT.
At the end of this course, there is an option to complete a further year of studying for an Extended Level 3 Diploma.
Entry requirements
- 4 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, including English and maths.
What will I achieve?
Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Computing.
What will I learn?
- Principles of computer science
- Software design and development
- Mobile app development
- Website development
- IT systems security and encryption
- The impact of computing
- Planning and management of computing projects.
How is the course taught?
- Practical assignments
- Course work
- One-to-one support
- Tutorials
- Presentations
- Demonstrations
- Classwork.
Classes generally run between 9am-5pm but may vary.
How am I assessed?
- Coursework
- Practical assessments
- Externally assessed projects.
Work experience opportunities
Our learners may have opportunities to work with in-college IT staff to maintain large complex networks. You'll also have opportunities to visit different workplaces within the computing industry and listen to guest speakers with years of valuable experience.
English and maths
If you're aged 16-18 and haven't achieved a GCSE grade 4/C in English and maths, you'll need to take English and maths classes alongside your programme of study.
This qualification requires you to develop your written and verbal communication skills. This is essential for computing professionals who need to be able to communicate effectively with their colleagues, clients and the wider computing community. For example, you may be required to write a report on a software development project or to give a presentation on a topic related to computing. You'll also use numeracy skills to analyse complex problems and develop solutions and budgets for large computing projects. For example, you may be asked to optimise the performance of a computer programme or use Gannt charts effectively in project planning.
Where can I progress?
Upon completion of this course, you can go on to study a university degree, or enter into the world of work.
Get in Touch
IT, Games Development & Design
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What can I do with a qualification in Computing?
Daily tasks:
- Reports on IT activities to senior management.
- Plans and monitors work and maintenance schedules to ensure agreed service levels are achieved.
- Supervises the technical team and coordinates training.
- Takes responsibility for managing the development of a specialist aspect of IT provision such as user support, network operations, service delivery or quality control.
- Liaises with users, senior staff and internal/external clients to clarify IT requirements and development needs.
- Plans, coordinates and manages the organisation.
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Daily tasks:
- Writes operational documentation and provides subsequent support and training for users.
- Plans and maintains database structures.
- Implements and evaluates the software.
- Writes code for specialist programming for computer games, (for example, artificial intelligence, 3D engine development).
- Tests and corrects software programs.
- Develops user interfaces.
- Writes and codes individual programs according to specifications.
- Undertakes feasibility study to design software solutions.
- Examines existing software and determines requirements for new/modified systems in the light of business needs.
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Daily tasks:
- Deals with and reports on breaches in security.
- Examines IT system for potential threats to its security and integrity and draws up plans for disaster recovery if security is compromised.
- Makes recommendations concerning software/system quality.
- Develops quality standards and validation techniques.
- Develops, implements and documents test plans for IT software, systems and computer games.
- Undertakes the testing of software, systems or computer games for errors, identifies source of problems and proposes solutions.
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Daily tasks:
- Acts as a liaison between users, outside suppliers, and other technical teams.
- Performs server backup and recovery operations and restarts systems following outages.
- Identifies problems, agrees remedial action and undertakes emergency maintenance if required.
- Analyses systems and makes recommendations to improve performance.
- Schedules and performs system maintenance tasks, such as loading user applications, programs and data.
- Configures and sets up new server systems.
- Administers, monitors and supports internal/external networks, servers, email, database and security systems.
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Daily tasks:
- Reports on commonly occurring queries to detect underlying problems.
- Maintains a log of work in progress, calls received, actions taken and problems detected.
- Researches possible solutions in user guides, technical manuals and other documents.
- Refers more complex or intractable problems to appropriate IT professionals.
- Facilitates user access to systems.
- Installs and upgrades hardware, cables, operating systems and/or appropriate software.
- Advises users on how to resolve hardware and software problems.
- Provides technical support to IT users.
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Daily tasks:
- Maintains documentation to track and log work in progress and completed.
- Advises on and installs operating soft/firm ware and may carry out upgrades.
- Repairs or replaces defective components.
- Diagnoses hardware related faults.
- Installs, tests and maintains computer-related hardware (processors, memory chips, circuit boards, displays, sensors, data storage devices, printers, etc.) according to given specifications.
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What can I do with a qualification in Computing?
IT Specialist Managers
Daily tasks:
- Reports on IT activities to senior management.
- Plans and monitors work and maintenance schedules to ensure agreed service levels are achieved.
- Supervises the technical team and coordinates training.
- Takes responsibility for managing the development of a specialist aspect of IT provision such as user support, network operations, service delivery or quality control.
- Liaises with users, senior staff and internal/external clients to clarify IT requirements and development needs.
- Plans, coordinates and manages the organisation.
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Programmers and Software Development Professionals
Daily tasks:
- Writes operational documentation and provides subsequent support and training for users.
- Plans and maintains database structures.
- Implements and evaluates the software.
- Writes code for specialist programming for computer games, (for example, artificial intelligence, 3D engine development).
- Tests and corrects software programs.
- Develops user interfaces.
- Writes and codes individual programs according to specifications.
- Undertakes feasibility study to design software solutions.
- Examines existing software and determines requirements for new/modified systems in the light of business needs.
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Information Technology and Telecommunications Professionals
Daily tasks:
- Deals with and reports on breaches in security.
- Examines IT system for potential threats to its security and integrity and draws up plans for disaster recovery if security is compromised.
- Makes recommendations concerning software/system quality.
- Develops quality standards and validation techniques.
- Develops, implements and documents test plans for IT software, systems and computer games.
- Undertakes the testing of software, systems or computer games for errors, identifies source of problems and proposes solutions.
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IT Operations Technicians
Daily tasks:
- Acts as a liaison between users, outside suppliers, and other technical teams.
- Performs server backup and recovery operations and restarts systems following outages.
- Identifies problems, agrees remedial action and undertakes emergency maintenance if required.
- Analyses systems and makes recommendations to improve performance.
- Schedules and performs system maintenance tasks, such as loading user applications, programs and data.
- Configures and sets up new server systems.
- Administers, monitors and supports internal/external networks, servers, email, database and security systems.
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IT User Support Technicians
Daily tasks:
- Reports on commonly occurring queries to detect underlying problems.
- Maintains a log of work in progress, calls received, actions taken and problems detected.
- Researches possible solutions in user guides, technical manuals and other documents.
- Refers more complex or intractable problems to appropriate IT professionals.
- Facilitates user access to systems.
- Installs and upgrades hardware, cables, operating systems and/or appropriate software.
- Advises users on how to resolve hardware and software problems.
- Provides technical support to IT users.
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IT Engineers
Daily tasks:
- Maintains documentation to track and log work in progress and completed.
- Advises on and installs operating soft/firm ware and may carry out upgrades.
- Repairs or replaces defective components.
- Diagnoses hardware related faults.
- Installs, tests and maintains computer-related hardware (processors, memory chips, circuit boards, displays, sensors, data storage devices, printers, etc.) according to given specifications.
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