Curriculum Pathways
At BOA Digital Technologies Academy, our curriculum pathways are uniquely designed for each student to offer both success and support. Each student will be offered a combination of GCSEs and BTECs which is designed to support their transition into post-16 education and beyond, with a particular focus on careers in digital industries.
Each student will have a core curriculum of subjects they must take, as well as a series of option subjects they will choose. This is outlined as follows:
Core Curriculum |
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Core Curriculum |
English Language (GCSE) | English Literature (GCSE) | Mathematics (GCSE) |
| Combined Science (GCSE) | PSHE (Non-examined) | Core PE (Non-examined) | |
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Digital Curriculum |
Digital Technical (one of the below) | Digital Design | |
| Computer Science* (GCSE) | BTEC in Digital Information Technology | BTEC in Creative Media Production | |
| * This will be an option for those students who have been identified as having an aptitude for this subject | |||
Option Choices |
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| Option Choice 1 | Triple Science* (GCSE) | History (GCSE) | Geography (GCSE) |
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Option Choice 2 |
History (GCSE) | Geography (GCSE) |
Spanish* (GCSE) |
| If not selected in Option 1 | If not selected in Option 1 | ||
| Photography^ (GCSE) | Hospitality & Catering (GCSE) | Fine Art^ (GCSE) | |
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* This will be an option for those students who have been identified as having an aptitude for this subject |
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Choice Selection
While we make every effort to ensure that students study the course they opt for, we are constrained by timetable construction, staffing and group sizes. With this in mind, we ask that you list subjects in order of preference and please note students may not get their first or second preference.
Key Questions ↓
What are GCSES?
GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. GCSEs are at levels 1 and 2 on the National Qualifications Framework, depending on the grades you get.
NQF Level |
Examples of qualifications |
What they give you |
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Level 1 |
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Level 2 |
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What are BTEC and EDUQAS vocational awards?
BTEC are types of vocational qualifications. These courses have been designed in collaboration with industry, so they can equip students with the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for. These qualifications offer a mix of theory and practice.
how do GCSES and BTEC vocational awards compare on points?
BTEC Level 2 grades (Pass, Merit, Distincition, Distinction*) equate roughly to GCSE grades 4 - 9, with a Level 2 Pass like a GCSE 4, a merit to a 5/6, a Distinction to a 7, and a Distinction* to a 8/9, providing a vocational alternative for students and mapping practical skills to academic benchmarks for further study or employment.
| GCSE 9 - 1 Points | BTEC First Award | ||
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| Grade & Points | Grade Terms | Grade | Points |
| 9 | L2D* | 8.5 | |
| 8 | L2D | 7 | |
| 7 |
L2M |
5.5 | |
| 6 | |||
| 5 | Strong Pass (Dfe) | ||
| 4 | Standard Pass (Dfe) | L2P | 4 |
| 3 | L1D | 3 | |
| 2 | L1M | 2 | |
| 1 | L1P | 1 | |
What is the English baccalaureate?
This was introduced by the Government in 2011, as a standard that some students can aim for in their KS4 studies. To achieve the English Baccalaureate, students must complete and obtain a Grade 4 or higher in the following subjects: Mathematics, English Language, two Sciences, a Language (e.g. Spanish) and either Geography or History.
Students will be awarded a number from 9 to 1 (9 being the highest), rather than a letter grade. A grade 4 will be equivalent to a current grade C or a 'standard pass'. A grade 5 is considered a 'good pass'. In order to obtain the English Baccalaureate, students will therefore need at least 4s in the subjects listed above. We will tailor this pathway to particular students, if we feel that this route is appropriate to them and their future aspirations.