Digital Support Services

Core content

All students will develop a general understanding of digital:

how digital technologies impact business and market environment
the ethical and moral implications of digital technology
using data in software design
using digital technologies to analyse and solve problems
digital environments, including physical, virtual and cloud environments
legal and regulatory obligations relating to digital technologies
the privacy and confidentiality of personal data
the technical, physical and human aspects of internet security
planning digital projects
testing software, hardware and data
digital tools for project management and collaboration

They will also learn about topics specific to digital support services, including:

roles within the digital support services sector
communication in digital support services
fault analysis and problem resolution

Options to specialise

In addition to the core content, each student must choose one of the following specialisms:

digital infrastructure
network cabling
digital support
cyber security

Awarding Organisation resources

NCFE has developed a wide range of resources to help providers to deliver the Digital Support Services T Level.

Registration, entries and results

Information on how to register learners for their T Level as well as how to make bookings for the correct assessment series can be found here

Tutor resources (found in the teaching materials tab on this page) includes:

Schemes of work – They contain information on the qualification's learning outcomes, activities and resources for learners. Tutors may use it to outline how they will deliver the programme. These are available for the core and occupational specialisms.
Essential core resources – covering some of the key topic areas, including session plans, lesson activities, e-Learning module, home study activities and revision and study sessions.
Occupational specialisms resources – session packs, including session plan, lesson activities, e-Learning module, and home study activities.

Assessment guidance (found in the assessment materials tab on this page) includes:

Past papers mark schemes and chief examiner reports for core and occupational specialisms (also includes specimen papers and mark schemes)
Example Employer Set Projects, with briefs, tutor guidance and mark schemes

Video Resources

Please find a playlist from NCFE here of recorded webinars covering training, support and CPD for the Digital T Level.

Other resources include:

ETF Resources

Supporting holistic delivery – developing learning activities to integrate core and occupational specialism content: T Level in Digital Support Services

This T Level Resource Improvement Project (TRIP) consists of employer informed and peer reviewed learning activities that combines content from the core and occupational specialism for the T Level in Digital Support Services.

Produced by South Essex College, this TRIP provides a scheme of work and session plans featuring student activities, which cover:

Core component: 03 Data
Occupational specialism: Digital infrastructure.

Core components

Elements covered include:

R3.1 The fundamental characteristics of data
- Storing data
- Cloud storage
R3.4 The concepts involved with data entry and maintenance
- Data entry: reducing risk of data entry errors
- Data entry: privacy
R3.8 Types of data access management across platforms in a digital environment
- User access controls
- Application programming interface (API)
R3.9 Types and applications of access control methods
Employer-set project - digital infrastructure: A01, A02 and A03.

Occupational specialism

Covering the Digital Infrastructure Pathway, performance outcomes covered include:

P01 Apply procedures and controls to maintain the digital security of an organisation and its data.
P02 Explain, install, configure, test and manage both physical and virtual infrastructure.

Downloadable resources

Sample scheme of work	1
Lesson plans	4
Powerpoint presentations	4
Student Activities	3
Activities (tutor version)	3
Quiz	1
Employer set project core skills activity	1

This TRIP can be found here.

Developing Python Skills for the Employer Set Project

This T Level Resource Improvement Project (TRIP) consists of a collection of resources to support the delivery of the T Level in Digital.

Produced by Leeds City College, Warwickshire College, Fareham College, Petroc College and Barnsley College, this TRIP was designed to develop a collection of resources which would allow practitioners to follow a coherent and easy to navigate programme of training when it came to the coding language, Python.

Resources include:

a lesson plan with accompanying guide
a scheme of leaning
two videos on Chatbot use.

The resources link to tasks 2, 3 and 4a of the Employer Set Project.

Core specialism

The core specialisms covered include:

Content area 2 – Programming
- 2.5 – Built in functions
- 2.7 Maintainable code.
Content area 6 – Data
6.2 – Data formats.

Occupational specialism

Learners can opt to focus more on the use of Python in Content area 6.1.

Specification appendices

Appendix 3 details Python commands and libraries.

Downloadable Resources

Lesson plan	1
Scheme of learning	1
Projects	3
Video	2

This TRIP can be found here.

Project-based learning and delivery toolkit

This T Level Resource Improvement Project (TRIP) showcases employer-led materials for the T Level in Digital.

Produced by Bolton College, Hopwood Hall College, Wirral Met, Priestly College and Blackburn College, this TRIP consists of mini schemes of work, resources, and activities to inspire and provide guidance on how to plan and pitch work for T Level learners.

The materials have been developed in conjunction with digital employers and the sequence of learning and associated tasks discussed and refined with their expert insight.

Resources include:

five mini schemes of work
a teacher guide for each scheme of work.

Core specialisms

The core specialisms covered include:

T Level in Digital Production, Design and Development – Python Programming and Testing – Content Area 2 – Introduction to Programming: prepare first year students for their exam and Core Employer Set Project Assessment (ESP).
T Level in Digital Production, Design and Development – A01 Planning / A02 Application: prepare first year students for their exam and Core Employer Set Project Assessment (ESP).
T Level in Digital Support Services – Unit 4 Digital Analysis (Route Core element 4): prepare first year students for their exam and Core Employer Set Project Assessment (ESP).
T Level in Digital Support Services – Unit 5 Digital Environments (Route Core element 5): prepare first year students for their exam and Core Employer Set Project Assessment (ESP).

Occupational specialisms

The occupational specialisms covered include:

Digital Production, Design and Development.
Digital Support Services.

Downloadable resources

Scheme of learning	5
Teacher guide	1

This TRIP can be found here.

Working with employers to co-design Digital T Level content

This T Level Resource Improvement Project (TRIP) provides materials to support the delivery of the T Level in Digital.

Produced by East Norfolk Sixth Form College, AST Group, Great Yarmouth Borough Council & Here Studio, Youth STEMM Award CIC, and Gravity Well, this TRIP consists of resources to support learners with a range of different digital topics that are industry led.

In the long term, the goal is using the learning and applying it across all T Level routes so that industry participation is embedded in the T Level programmes, at both Level 3 and as part of the transition route.

Resources include documents covering:

introduction to programming using C#
feasibility study
website development project
what are hackathons?
supporting documentation.

The resources provide teachers and learners with industry-based examples related to Digital T Levels and signpost a range of careers available in this sector.

Downloadable resources

Introductory guides	4
Supporting documentation	1

This TRIP can be found here.

Exploring Industry Placement options for Digital and Business T Level learners within the Football Industry

This T Level Resource Improvement Project (TRIP) constitutes of key knowledge, skills, behaviours, and occupational competencies required to work in the football industry for the T Level in Digital and Business.

Produced by Weston College, with contributions from Bridgwater and Taunton College, Somerset FA, Taunton Town FC, Bridgwater United FC and Weston-super-Mare FC, this TRIP provides a guide for employers and providers, and outlines some activities to support the hosting of industry placements for football organisations.

This TRIP is designed to be used by football employers as well as provider employer engagement teams to help identify activities and understand how best to engage with T level learners, and to support talent pipelines for the future workforce, ensuring high quality and relevant placement provisions can be sourced and sustained.

Resources includes a guide covering:

understanding T Levels and Industry Placements
key competencies / knowledge, skills, and behaviours framework
example activities for the sector mapped to the T Level
barriers, challenges, and solutions
wider employer insights
benefits to employers.

Example activities

This TRIP also provides example placement activities and projects to support the Digital T Level that relate to the following occupational specialisms:

Core: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Core: Employer Set Project.

Downloadable resources

Guide

This TRIP can be found here.

Developing strategies to support CEIAG for vocational learners

This T Level Resource Improvement Project (TRIP) showcases materials for the T Level in Construction, the T level in Digital, the T level in Education and Early years and the T level in Health and Science.

Produced by East Sussex College Group, East Sussex County Council, SCTP and Plumpton College, this TRIP conducted a systematic review and mapping across East Sussex of existing careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) arrangements and needs in relation to technical education. The review was driven by key stakeholder feedback, specifically employers, young people and their parents, carers, and teachers.

Resources include five videos providing overview of the relevant T Level, with modules and specialisms covered, along with feedback and explanations from a course leader, learner and employer on industry placements.

Reference is made to some core specialisms as part of the videos.

Downloadable resources

Videos

This TRIP can be found here.

Gatsby resources

The Technical Education Networks programme supports teachers bringing industry and the classroom closer together by delivering an engaging and enriched curriculum for their students in an evolving education landscape, drawing on expertise of specialist teachers, employers and professional bodies. Please find the resources page here.