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Overview

The OCR Nationals suite of qualifications provides candidates with high quality, industry-relevant qualifications geared to the specific requirements of key sectors. They are vocationally-related qualifications that provide valuable opportunities for individuals to develop skills and gain underpinning knowledge and understanding which will support entry into work or progression to further studies through Further Education or Higher Education.

The OCR Nationals are attractive, practically-based qualifications intended to stimulate and interest candidates. They support achievement of Key Skills and relate to national occupational standards thereby providing an ideal progression to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) once individuals are in suitable employment.

These qualifications are typically (although not exclusively) aimed at young people aged 16-19 in full-time further education who are seeking a career in ICT or wishing to further their studies at Level 3 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

More mature learners wishing to make a fresh start on a course that prepares them for further learning or work involving ICT related activities are equally served by these qualifications.

Individual units within these qualifications can be entered and certificated separately allowing flexibility to offer individual units alongside other programmes of learning. Candidates have the option of achieving as many or as few units as are appropriate for their own learning needs or employment situation.

These qualifications will be particularly suitable for those who wish to study in preparation for (or alongside) employment in job roles where they will be expected to use ICT, liaise with customers and carry out ICT operational roles.

Specification aims

The OCR Level 3 Nationals in ICT have been developed to recognise candidates' skills, knowledge and understanding of ICT functions, environments and operations. They have been designed to accredit candidates' achievements in a modern and practical way that is relevant to the workplace. They do not certificate competence on the job but are work-related qualifications which will support progression to an NVQ once a candidate is in the workplace.

These qualifications specifically aim to:

• Develop candidates' knowledge and understanding of the ICT sector and the chosen specialist pathway if selected
• Develop candidates' skills, knowledge and understanding in contexts that are directly relevant to employment situations, thereby enhancing their employability within the ICT sector
• Develop candidates' ability to work autonomously and effectively in a ICT context
• Enable candidates to develop knowledge and understanding in specialist areas of ICT, and demonstrate the skills needed to participate in the operation and development of real ICT organisations
• Encourage progression by assisting in the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that candidates will need to access further or higher education programmes or occupational training on a full-time or part-time basis
• Encourage progression by assisting in the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that candidates will need to enter employment or enhance their current employment status
• Promote interaction between employers, centres and candidates by relating teaching and assessment to real organisations.

How will this qualification be assessed?

All units are centre-assessed and externally moderated by OCR. There are no timetabled exams for this qualification; candidates may complete units at a time that suits the centre. The full award and units from this qualification are graded as Pass, Merit or Distinction.

Approval and Funding

OCR National qualifications have been accredited at Level 1, 2 and 3 of the National Qualifications Framework and eligible for funding under the Learning and Skills Council's Section 96/97 arrangements.

Related information

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