Introduction to Btec NQF Digital Publishing

2. The Changes
0 Btec have worked closely with over 5,000 employers,
universities, teaching professionals and trainers to
develop the new BTEC Nationals. That means teacher
and tutors can be confident their new BTEC courses
contain the knowledge and employability skills
students need to succeed at higher level study and in
their chosen career.

3. Ways of Learning
0 BTEC Nationals use a combination of assessment
styles to give your students confidence they can apply
their knowledge to succeed in the workplace – and
have the study skills to continue learning on higher
education courses and throughout their career. This
range of vocational assessments – both practical and
written – mean students can showcase their learning
and achievements to best effect when they take their
next step, whether that’s supporting applications to
higher education courses or potential employers.

4. The Creative Industries as a
choice
0 The UK creative industries are internationally respected
and form an important part of the UK economy. In 2014,
the UK government reported that the creative industries
were worth £8 million an hour to the UK economy, which is
approximately £71.4 billion per year. Figures from 2012
show that 5.6 per cent (1.68 million) of all jobs in the UK
were in the creative industries, and that they were the
fastest growing area of the UK economy. Digital publishing
forms an important part of the creative industries in the
UK and employment opportunities are set to increase in
this area.

5. Who is this Qualification for?
0 The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Digital
Publishing is equivalent in size to 2 A levels and is aimed at
students looking to progress to employment in this sector.
The qualification has been designed in consultation with
employers as a two-year programme of study, normally in
conjunction with one or more qualifications at level 3. It is
intended as a Tech Level, and as such is designed to meet
the Tech Bacc measure, when studied alongside level 3
mathematics and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
0 No prior study of the sector is needed, but students should
normally have a range of achievement at level 2, in GCSEs
or equivalent qualifications.

6. What does this qualification
cover?
0 Students produce content and design and develop websites. They
learn to work together in teams, and also individually, to produce
vocational projects in digital publishing. Students gain an
understanding of the various roles and responsibilities within the
industry, from copywriters to graphic designers to digital
developers, and how these roles work together to produce digital
content and platforms.
0 The qualification includes four mandatory units, through which
students learn to write proposals and pitches for a commission and
to develop a treatment outlining their ideas and concepts. They learn
how to produce websites and, through option units, students
develop their technical skills in copywriting, layout design and
coding. As part of their course, students have to engage with
employers from the sector; this could be through work experience or
through employers contributing to teaching or assessment.

7. Will the qualification lead to
employment, if so, in which job
role and at which level?
The qualification has been designed in consultation with
employers and will support application to entry level roles
within digital publishing, or to further training and
Apprenticeships where appropriate. The focus on technical
skills allows students to apply for roles, such as:
0 digital content assistant
0 junior copywriter
0 design assistant
0 digital assistant
0 web coordinator.

8. Will the qualification support
progression to further learning, if
so, what to?
A significant proportion of recruitment in the media industries is at graduate level and students
may wish to progress to further learning, which will support entry to a further range of careers
in the sector. The qualification is intended to carry UCAS points and is recognised by HE
providers as meeting admission requirements to relevant Foundation Degree and BTEC Higher
National courses, such as:
0 FdA Journalism and Practical Media
0 FdA Web Design
0 HND in Creative Media Production.
When studied with other qualifications within the study programme, such as an A level or BTEC
Extended Certificate in a different complementing sector, such as English language or
computing, students can progress into higher education on full degree courses, for example:
0 BA (Hons) Publishing and Digital Culture
0 BA (Hons) Web Development
0 BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism.
Students should always check the entry requirements for degree programmes at specific HE
providers.

9. This qualification is supported by
the following organisations
Employers
0 Autodesk
0 Milo Creative
0 TraceMedia
0 Haymarket
0 @Voytek Production
0 Adastra Development Ltd
0 Team 360
0 Lobo Bobo Ltd
0 Yarrington
0 Lancashire Digital
0 Made in Me
Higher education
0 University of East Anglia
0 University of Huddersfield
0 University of Chichester
0 Kingston University
0 Southampton Solent
University
0 University of the West of
England
Professional and trade bodies
Creative Industries Federation
British Interactive Media Association

10. For More Guidance
If you want to know anything else about the course
please email or see Miss Walsh or Mr Cadwell on the
following email addresses and they will arrange a time
to sit with you and go through the content of the course.
0 Miss Walsh: jcw@range.sefton.sch.uk
0 Mr Cardwell: rc@range.sefton.sch.uk