Software and Web DevelopmentAdvanced to Technical Modern

Apprenticeship F R O M N Q - L E V E L T O S K I L L E D D E V E L O P E R

Apprenticeships

SCOTLAND

ContentProgramme Overview ..............................

Classroom Units Part 1 ................................

Workplace Units Part 1 ................................

Vendor Qualifications Part 1 ...................

Workplace Units Part 2 ..............................

Programme Add-ons .................................

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Our Software and Web Development Advanced to Technical Modern Apprenticeship combines high-quality classroom training with on-the-job experience to develop your apprentice’s real world skills. The programme gives them the qualifications, skills and technical grounding in the most popular technologies and programming languages, relevant to the wide range of activities where software and web development play a role.

Roles this programme is suitable for:

• Software Developer • Web Developer • Programmers

Programme duration:

16-24 months (with the opportunity to step off after part 1 and still gain qualifications equivalent to working at Advanced Higher/HNC level)

Approximately 8% of training takes place at a QA study centre, with the remaining 92% completed in the workplace.

PROGRAMMEOVERVIEW

in workplace in classroom

Our programme includes SCQF 6 and SCQF 8 qualifications

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SCQF 8SCQF 6

How is the programme structured?

The programme is made up of two components, ensuring apprentices have a rounded, in-depth understanding of fundamental principles, techniques and technologies.

Knowledge units introduce apprentices to IT theory, in a local QA learning centre. Each instructor-led unit is completed at a time convenient to your business, maximising the time apprentices spend developing practical skills at work.

Competency units are delivered in the workplace, providing a direct link between theory and practice. A qualified QA assessor visits apprentices on site to verify that they are progressing with their studies, and that they are gaining confidence and experience using their knowledge in the world of work. They also support apprentices throughout the programme providing them with a single point of contact for any questions or help they need — including help developing their portfolio, adjusting to the world of work, and expert pastoral care including advice around the government’s Prevent agenda and safeguarding.

What return on investment can I expect from the programme?

The sheer depth and breadth of high-quality training units included in our programme ensures that QA apprentices provide a great return on investment. With a QA apprentice you have the opportunity to grow your own talent — taking bright, enthusiastic young people from your local area and training them in the specific skills your business needs — whilst they become loyal, valuable employees.

Designed to meet the needs of employers and school leavers, our Software and Web Development Advanced to Technical Modern Apprenticeship fully prepares apprentices for a career in IT. On completion they will be a skilled developer ready to take on higher-level responsibility.

What does the programme cover?

JAVA, C# AND OPEN SOURCE TRACKS

You’ll choose whether your apprentice specialises in Java, C# or Open Source, depending on the needs of your business.

Programme units cover a number of fundamental programming languages and systems including:

• C# • The .NET framework • SQL • Java • Javascript • Open Source

What apprenticeship qualifications are included?

• SQA SCQF 6 Diploma in ICT and Telecommunication Professional (equivalent to working at Advanced Higher/HNC level) • SQA SCQF 8 Diploma in ICT and Telecommunication Professional (equivalent to second year of degree study)

What vendor qualifications are included? C# TRACK

• MTA Software Development Fundamentals (Exam optional cost)

JAVA TRACK

• Oracle Certified Associate (OCA), Java SE 7 Programmer (Exam optional cost)

OPEN SOURCE TRACK

• Open Source Web Development (No exam) • PHP Fundamentals and SQL (No exam) • Advanced PHP, WordPress and Magento (No exam)

To ensure your apprentices develop relevant skills for the modern IT workplace, the Software and Web Development Advanced to Technical Modern Apprenticeship from QA teaches them to master the technologies you use. We develop our programmes based on the needs of the IT industry and training units can be tailored to suit your needs — so your apprentices have the specific skills required by your business.

“QA designs and delivers a model of excellence in apprenticeship training that has brought significant

benefits to the United Kingdom economy”

Latest QA Ofsted Findings

Introducing the Individual Learning Plan

Your business has a vested interest in tracking your apprentice’s progress. QA Apprenticeships will support you in maintaining an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) tailored to the specific needs and career goals of your apprentice.

The ILP is a handy way for you to collate and track information on your apprentice’s progress. It includes details of all their training – both completed and yet to complete – and will help you plan your apprentice’s workload to provide the necessary opportunities to complete practical tasks in line with training goals.

In addition to the ILP, your apprentice will also have an e-portfolio, where they can collect evidence of the skills and experience they have acquired as they complete each unit. They’ll work with an assessor from QA Apprenticeships to build their portfolio as the programme progresses.

Proposed timeline

The timeline below is simply a guide – units can be arranged whenever best suits the needs of the business and the apprentice.

QA aims for apprentices to complete most of their classroom training for the SCQF 6 portion of the apprenticeship within the first 9-12 months, to help them start contributing to the business straight away.

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Workplace induction

Workplace units and activity

Workplace units and activity

Workplace units and activity

Workplace units and activity

Workplace units and activity

Workplace units and activity

Workplace units and activity

Workplace units and activity(C#) MTA software development |

(Java) OCA Java SE 7END OF PART 1

SCQF 6 apprenticeship

END OF PART 2SCQF 8 apprenticeship

Complete all remaining part 1 workplace units

Software Design | Customer Requirements |(Open Source) Web Development

Event Driven and Object Oriented Programming | Testing Systems | (Open Source) PHP Fundamentals and SQL

Web Development | Website Software |(Open Source) Advanced PHP, WordPress and Magento

Database Software | Data modelling

Workplace units and activity

Workplace units and activity

Workplace units and activity

Workplace units and activity

Workplace units and activity

Workplace units and activity

Complete all remaining part 2 workplace units

Initial assessment

All of our apprentices are assessed by a qualified QA assessor prior to starting on programme, to decide which level of study is appropriate. They may need a stronger base of foundation knowledge and skills, so would start at SCQF 6; or they may be more than capable of SCQF 6 study and would benefit from progressing straight to SCQF 8. The assessment ensures the right apprentices are on the right programmes – and in turn helps to ensure successful completions.

*Exact timings vary from apprentice to apprentice but most complete the first part of the programme in 8-12 months

92% of QA apprentice graduates

go on to full-time jobs

PART 1SCQF 6

(EQUIVALENT TO WORKING AT ADVANCED HIGHER/HNC LEVEL)

The first half of our Software and Web Development Advanced to Technical Modern Apprenticeship introduces the fundamental development skills your IT department needs.

Classroom units teach apprentices foundation technical knowledge and then the learning is applied in an assessment. The assessment is a practical exercise relevant to the track they are on – C#, Java, or Open Source. Although studying the same classroom units, apprentices will complete the assessment in the relevant software dependent on their track.

Apprentices will complete the following units in the classroom:

Investigating and Defining Customer Requirements 2

This unit teaches apprentices how to understand and define customer requirements:

• Understand how to investigate and define system requirements. • Contribute to the investigation and definition of system requirements.

Software Design Fundamentals A unit teaching apprentices to understand and apply the fundamentals of software design:

• Understand the principles of software design such as coding, and object oriented and event driven programming. • Be able to apply the techniques of software design including algorithms, and program structures.

Object Oriented Computer Programming 2

This unit introduces the concept of object-oriented programming:

• Implement a software design using object oriented programming. • Refine an object oriented program to improve quality. • Test the operation of an object oriented driven program. • Document an object oriented driven program.

Event Driven Computer Programming 2

A unit providing basic knowledge of event-driven programming and its applications in IT:

• Implement a software design using event driven programming. • Refine an event driven program to improve quality. • Test the operation of an event driven program. • Document an event driven program.

Testing IT and Telecoms Systems 2

This unit introduces the basics of systems testing:

• Understand the principles of IT and Telecoms testing. • Plan for the testing of system components. • Carry out the testing of system components. • Interpret test results.

Data Modelling 2

A unit offering an introduction to the theory of data modelling:

• Understand the concepts of logical data modelling. • Use logical data modelling techniques. • Use data modelling techniques to create and refine logical data models.

Web Development 2 A unit introducing the apprentice to web development concepts:

• Understand web architecture and components. • Understand the technologies that can be used to build and operate a website. • Produce a website design for a given brief. • Implement a website from a design specification.

Website Software 3 A unit teaching the apprentice how to create a website using appropriate software:

• Create structures and styles and use them to produce websites. • Select and use advanced tools and features of website software to develop multiple page websites with multimedia and interactive features. • Publish multiple page websites with multimedia and interactive features. • Create structures and styles and use them to produce websites. • Publish multiple page websites with multimedia and interactive features.

CLASSROOM UNITS

Database Software 3

A unit teaching the apprentice how to create, modify and utilise databases using the appropriate software:

• Plan, create and modify relational database tables to meet requirements. • Enter, edit and organise structured information in a database. • Use database software tools to extract information and produce reports. • Plan, create and modify relational database tables to meet requirements.

MANDATORY UNITS

Apprentices are required to complete three mandatory units in the workplace during part 1 of the Software and Web Development Advanced to Technical Modern Apprenticeship:

Personal Effectiveness 2

A unit helping apprentices gain the skills and confidence required to be a valued member of your IT team:

• Develop own personal and professional skills. • Work as a member of a team to achieve defined goals. • Understand what is meant by professional practice. • Understand the ethical and legislative environment relating to IT activities.

Health and Safety in IT and Telecoms

On completion of this unit the apprentice will be able to comply with relevant Health and Safety procedures:

• Identify relevant organisational Health and Safety procedures. • Identify available sources of Health and Safety information. • Demonstrate how relevant Health and Safety procedures have been followed.

One additional mandatory unit must also be chosen from the list below:

Interpersonal and Written Communications 2

A unit helping apprentices develop confidence in their communication skills:

• Understand interpersonal communication techniques. • Be able to communicate interpersonally. • Understand techniques for communicating in writing. • Be able to communicate and extract complex information in writing.

Customer Care for IT and Telecoms Professionals 2

This unit emphasises the importance of customer care techniques for providing great IT support:

• Understand the importance of customer care for IT and Telecoms professionals. • Develop professional customer relationships. • Contribute to improving the delivery of service.

WORKPLACE UNITS

Apprentices also study for industry-recognised qualifications from Microsoft, Oracle, PHP or SQL dependent on their track. The learning outcomes will be covered as part of their classroom training — and they will be prepared to take the exams if they wish.

FOR C# TRACK ONLY

MTA Software Development Fundamentals

(Exam optional cost)

Assessed by external exam, this unit trains the apprentice in Microsoft software development tools:

• Appreciating various software development disciplines including core programming, object-oriented programming, and databases. • Using ASP.NET to develop web applications. • Understanding various desktop applications including Windows Forms and Windows Services.

FOR JAVA TRACK ONLY

Oracle Certified Associate (OCA), Java SE 7 Programmer

(Exam optional cost)

Assessed by external exam, this unit teaches students with little or no experience to begin to learn programming using the Java language:

• Use various Java programming language constructs to create several Java technology applications. • Use decision and looping constructs and methods to dictate program flow. • Perform basic error handling for your Java technology programs. • Implement intermediate Java programming and object-oriented concepts in Java technology programs. • Demonstrate knowledge of Java technology and the Java programming language

VENDORQUALIFICATIONS

FOR OPEN SOURCE TRACK ONLY

Open Source Web Development

(No exam)

A unit introducing fundamental Open Source web development principles and tools to design websites:

• Understand underlying website technologies including URL’s, browser operation, HTTP and MIME. • Use HTML, XHTML and HTML 5 to create basic pages, including creating links, lists, basic formatting, inserting images and validating XHTML. • Understand the basics of CSS including; embedded, inline and linked style sheets; using CSS classes and ID’s; and CSS positioning. • Use scripting technologies to give an enhanced interface to the user and to deal with background mechanisms. • Understand XML including how to create well-formed and validated XML, the differences between HTML and XML, and how to create a stylesheet transformation. • Understand advanced forms development using HTML5 and jQuery.

PHP Fundamentals and SQL

(No exam)

A unit introducing the basics of PHP and SQL:

• Introduction to PHP, including how to setup different servers on your local machine and various PHP frameworks. • Understand the basics of PHP language. • Be able to use lists and arrays. • Use PHP in HTML. • Understand the basics of decision making, string handling and writing functions. • Understand the fundamentals of MySQL.

Advanced PHP, WordPress and Magento

(No exam)

A unit teaching apprentices how to use WordPress, Magento and PHP to an advanced level:

• Develop forms using PHP, and understand object oriented PHP and PHP5. • Understand file handling including security, advanced database techniques and stored procedures and functions. • Debug PHP code, and access a database using PHP – CURD.

• How to use WordPress, including setting up a WordPress site, publishing content, installing themes, installing plugins, search engine optimisation (SEO) and how to take advantage of the social web. • How to use Magento including installation and configuration, creating content, setting up attributes, installing themes, and check out and payment gateway configuration.

Once the first half of the programme is complete, apprentices and employers have the option to ‘step off’ if continuing study into the second half is not appropriate.

If they do step off, your apprentice will receive the SCQF 6 apprenticeship qualification – equivalent to working at Advanced Higher/HNC level) – and your business will have a competent, valuable employee trained in software and web development.

All grades and credits remain valid, allowing apprentices to resume training whenever they are ready, and gain further qualifications in the future should they choose to do so.

FLEXIBILITY FOR EMPLOYERS AND APPRENTICES

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Step o

90% of QA apprentices

are with their employers for a year or

longer

*Exact timings vary from apprentice to apprentice but most complete the second part of the programme in 8-12 months

PART 2SCQF 8

(EQUIVALENT TO SECOND YEAR OF DEGREE STUDY)

The second half of the programme builds upon the strong foundation of technical skills learnt in the first half. Apprentices are expected to take a step up when progressing to part 2 – refining their skills to a higher level.

The workplace units expand on the content learnt in part 1 to a higher level, and apprentices are required to be more analytical in their work. All learning towards their SCQF 8 Diploma takes place in the workplace to ensure their technical knowledge is being practically applied.

MANDATORY UNITS

The two mandatory units below must be completed in the workplace during part 2 of the programme:

Personal Effectiveness 3

This unit develops the skills apprentices need to perform effectively in a team and drive their skills forward:

• Develop own personal and professional skills. • Work as a member of a team to achieve defined goals and implement agreed plans. • Understand what is meant by professional practice. • Improve organisational effectiveness.

Customer Care for IT and Telecoms Professionals 3

This unit helps apprentices understand the importance of customer care at a higher level:

• Evaluate the importance of customer care for IT and Telecoms professionals. • Develop professional customer relationships. • Improve the delivery of service.

WORKPLACE UNITS

SUGGESTED UNITS This is a suggested list of units that can be completed towards the Software and Web Development Advanced to Technical Modern Apprenticeship in the second half of the programme, although others are available. Contact your QA Apprenticeships Account Manager to discuss the options and which best suit the needs of the business and your apprentice.

Investigating and Defining Customer Requirements for IT and Telecoms Systems 3 This unit teaches apprentices how to understand and define customer requirements at a higher level:

• Understand how to investigate and define system requirements. • Control the investigation and definition of system requirements. • Investigate customer requirements.

Technical Advice and Guidance 3

This unit further develops the apprentice’s ability to provide technical advice and guidance:

• Understand the context for providing technical advice and guidance. • Provide reactive technical advice and guidance to customers. • Provide proactive technical advice and guidance to customers. • Control the provision of technical advice and guidance.

IT and Telecoms Fault Diagnosis 3

This unit further develops the apprentice’s technical fault finding and troubleshooting skills:

• Understand the technical fault diagnosis process. • Maintain and develop the organisational fault diagnosis environment. • Manage the technical aspects of fault diagnosis and remedy.

Event Driven Computer Programming 3

A unit expanding the apprentice’s knowledge of event-driven programming:

• Design event driven programs to address loosely-defined problems. • Implement a software design using event driven programming. • Develop event driven programs to improve usability. • Develop test strategies and apply these to event driven programs. • Document an event driven computer program.

Managing Software Development 2

A unit teaching the apprentice to develop and manage software development projects:

• Understand the software development process. • Maintain and develop the organisation’s software development environment. • Manage the technical aspects of software development projects.

Testing IT and Telecoms Systems 3

A unit furthering the apprentice’s knowledge of systems testing:

• Understand the principles of IT and Telecoms testing. • Plan for testing an IT or Telecoms system. • Control the testing of system components. • Evaluate test results.

Web Development 3

This unit expands the apprentice’s knowledge of web development to a higher level:

• Design a website to address loosely-defined requirements. • Build websites to address well-defined specifications. • Understand the technology and tools needed to use multimedia in the context of a website. • Understand the technology and tools needed to store, retrieve and manipulate external data in the context of a website. • Plan and implement testing of a website. • Understand the need for web standards.

QA delivers 80% of all Microsoft partner

apprenticeship courses, and serves over

80% of the FTSE 250

PROGRAMMEADD-ONS

Something missing? No problem. Claim your free QA course.

Upon completion of the Software and Web Development Advanced to Technical Modern Apprenticeship, your apprentice can choose an additional course from QA Learning’s industry-leading selection. This additional, free course gives you the opportunity to further tailor your apprentice’s training to the specific needs of your business and its IT environment.

Examples of suitable complementary courses include:

• Java programming using the Eclipse IDE • Developing secure Java applications - mitigating the OWASP Top 10 Security Vulnerabilities • Developing Android applications • Developing responsive websites • Developing web applications using HTML5

QA is the UK’s largest provider of IT training and has dozens of courses to meet the specific technical requirements of your business. Contact your QA Apprenticeships Account Manager to discuss the options available to ensure you get maximum value from your investment.

*Terms and conditions apply. Speak to your QA Apprenticeships Account Manager for more information

What’s next?

Once they have completed the Software and Web Development Advanced to Technical Apprenticeship, your apprentice will be a highly competent and valuable member of your team.

With the skills and experience they’ve gained during the programme — both in training and in your business — they will have a strong technical grounding and become a skilled developer, ready to take on higher-level responsibility.

Take the next step in building the IT team your business needs by contacting your QA Apprenticeships Account Manager today on 0345 074 7825. Or email us at employanapprentice@qa.com.

or contact your QA Apprenticeships Account Manager

Find out more about our range of IT, Tech and Digital apprenticeships

0345 074 7825 apprenticeships.qa.com employanapprentice@qa.com

V 1.0 MARCH 2016

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