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Further Education

Over the past several years I have developed and taught a range of further education courses in digital design, software development, and IT, from foundational Level 2 programmes through to full T-Level qualifications. Below is a summary of the courses I have been directly involved with.

Level 1 in Vocational Studies
Taught the Level 1 Vocational Studies course, providing an introductory foundation in digital skills, workplace preparation, and personal development to support progression into further education or employment.
Level 2 Digital IT and Skills
Developed the Level 2 Digital IT and Skills course, designed as a foundation programme to prepare students for progression to Level 3 qualifications. The course covered:
  • Programming fundamentals
  • Cyber security awareness and safe computing practices
  • Web design and development basics
The curriculum was built around the Gateway Awarding Body specifications, with a core focus on building practical, employable digital skills.
Lead Internal Verifier (Level 1 and 2)
Served as the Lead Internal Verifier for all Level 1 and Level 2 Gateway qualifications at the college. This involved ensuring assessment practices met awarding body standards, coordinating standardisation activities, and maintaining quality assurance across the curriculum.
BTEC National Diploma in Computing
Taught on the BTEC National Diploma in Computing, covering programming, systems analysis, and software development principles within the BTEC qualification framework.
BTEC National Diploma in Information Technology
Taught on the BTEC National Diploma in Information Technology, covering IT systems, networking fundamentals, and digital technology applications.
About the Occupational Specialism
The Occupational Specialism is the practical, skills-based component of the T-Level qualification. Unlike the core paper (which covers broad theoretical knowledge across the digital industry), the Occupational Specialism focuses on hands-on, job-ready skills in a specific occupation. Students complete a substantial project that demonstrates their ability to apply technical knowledge in real-world scenarios. My teaching focused heavily on this component, ensuring students could confidently build and deploy data-driven web applications using industry-standard tools and practices.
Digital Design, Production and Development
Taught Core Paper 2 with the main focus on the Occupational Specialism, covering advanced topics in digital design principles, production workflows, development methodologies, and practical server-side web development skills including:
  • PHP programming and object-oriented principles
  • SQL database design, querying, and optimisation
  • Integration of back-end services with front-end interfaces
Digital Software Development
Developed and taught Core Paper 2 with the main focus on the Occupational Specialism, covering software architecture, design patterns, system modelling, quality assurance practices, and practical software development using:
  • PHP for server-side application logic
  • SQL for relational data storage and retrieval
  • Web development best practices and debugging techniques
Industry Placement Support
Coordinated and supported T-Level industry placements, ensuring each student completed the mandatory 315+ hours in a relevant workplace setting. This involved liaising with employers, monitoring student progress, and providing guidance to ensure placement outcomes aligned with qualification requirements.