BCS is committed to enhancing digital skills globally through various educational initiatives, including collaborations with schools, businesses, and government. They offer a range of qualifications to promote digital literacy from basic to advanced levels, emphasizing the importance of IT skills for employability. The organization also addresses e-safety education and seeks partnerships to ensure accessibility in digital skills training.

1. Digital skills
and BCS
bcs.org/digital

2. About BCS
We enable the global information society by
improving the IT skills of everyone who uses, or
wants to use, technology.
The leading awarding organisation for IT qualifications,
we work with partners in schools, adult education,
government and business in the UK and
internationally.
We are experts in our field and at the forefront of
innovation in learning delivery and assessment.
bcs.org/digital

3. Supporting digital skills
• Government consultations
– As well as supporting public education initiatives, we regularly
contribute to government policy consultations on issues such as
the use of digital inclusion, skills development and internet
security.
• Partnerships initiatives
– Working with a range of organisations and membership groups
such as Tech Partnership, AbilityNet, IT Can Help and IT4C, to
support the UK’s digital skills agenda to ensure that IT is fully
accessible by everyone.
• BCS Academy of Computing
– Working with key partners such as Computing at School, Google
and Microsoft to drive new digital curricula across the education
sector.
bcs.org/digital

4. Supporting digital skills
• Qualifications – we offer a wide range of
qualifications for everyone of any age who uses or
wants to use technology.
– Schools and academies
We recognise that today IT skills are as vital as maths and
English studies therefore our qualifications help children to be
digitally literate by the time they leave school.
– Further and higher education
Digital skills are key to securing employability, we help colleges
and universities embed digital literacy into their programmes for
school leavers and graduates
– Training centres
Providing adult learners with the opportunity to increase their
skills, confidence and productivity using IT
bcs.org/digital

5. Digital skills at work
Increased levels of digital literacy is needed among
today’s employees.
On the next slide, hear more on this subject in an
interview with Dave Eva, National Officer of
Unionlearn (part of the TUC).
bcs.org/digital

6. BCS qualifications
bcs.org/digital

7. Digital skills pathway
• Our qualifications form a pathway for absolute
beginners through to advanced IT users
• Whether at school, college, in work or looking for
employment, everyone has the opportunity to
develop their digital capability
bcs.org/digital

8. Digital Skills
• An entry level qualification
• Flexible training to suit classroom delivery, one-to-
one training or self-study
• Content reflects the competencies needed in today’s
job market
– Searching for employment online
– Using jobsites and applying online
– Formatting CVs and using email
• Combines with training on other digital technologies
– Digital media, music and photography
– Audio and video software
bcs.org/digital

9. ECDL
• The world’s number one IT user qualification, tried,
tested and trusted by over 11 million people globally
• BCS is the only awarding body licensed in the UK
with 2.5 million having taken it since 1997
• Recognised by employers as proof of IT user
competence
• Ofqual registered, it attracts up to 58 performance
points in schools and is GCSE equivalent A*-C
• ECDL Advanced now appears on the UCAS tariff,
attracting 40 points
bcs.org/ecdl

10. ECDL – learners
In the following video, we asked some of our learners
to explain why they rate ECDL.
bcs.org/ecdl

11. ECDL – training centres
In the following video, we asked some of our training
centres to explain why they rate ECDL.
bcs.org/ecdl

12. e-safety
• Level 1 qualification that teaches young people how
to stay digitally safe
• Mapped to the national curriculum for PSHCE (PSE
in Wales, ICT and Every Child Matters
• Suitable for delivery in schools at key stage 3 and 4
• Provides validation of a school’s e-safety provision,
as required by Ofsted
• Automated assessment with instant results
• Provides students with a recognised qualification
bcs.org/esafety

13. e-safety
The following video explains more about our e-safety
qualification.
We interview Swindon Academy, member of United
Learning Trust, who were one of the early adopters of
this qualification.
bcs.org/esafety

14. Become a BCS centre
bcs.org/digital
Offer our qualifications

15. Working with BCS
• Make the most of your organisation’s potential by:
– benefitting from our unique position in the industry
– delivering Ofqual accredited, funded qualifications that are in
demand
– collaborating with us to shape future learning and development
– accessing exclusive benefits, tools and support
• Your BCS accredited status gives you:
– free centre training
– access to other ongoing training opportunities
– visits from our external verifiers
– ongoing client service support
– a dedicated account manager
bcs.org/digital

16. Testimonials
‘Having helped more than 4.5 million people to learn
new skills and enter the digital world, we have worked
with BCS on the development of this programme to
support our vision of helping people realise their
potential.’
learndirect
‘BCS provides us with all the support we need. Their
service delivery team is excellent.’
Best Training, London South
bcs.org/digital

17. Testimonials
‘We’ve integrated ECDL into our learning programme
because it’s an internationally recognised IT
qualification that employers ask for.’
Potential4Skills
‘We saw straight away the added potential that BCS
e-safety could deliver within our schools.’
United Learning Trust
‘Parents have told us they are delighted we’re offering
ECDL as early as Year 9.’
Sale Grammar School
bcs.org/digital