!
Your Pathway to Success in the Digital World
Who?
A programme combining academic study with workplace experience
Why?
It's an excellent pathway to the IT industry, college or university
What?
Gives real-world experience and vocational skills that can prepare your for further education or the workplace
There are several reasons to pick this course, but here are just a few:
It's not just for people who have their National 5 in Computing, throughout the years of running the course we've had pupils who have managed to complete the course without having done National 5.
So, if you're interested in doing it, don't let that put you off (we do want you to be enthusiastic about learning though!).
Gain an insight into how applications are developed in the real world
Gain an understanding of modular programming
Gain an understanding of software development principles
Work individually and as a team on projects
Gain an understanding of real-world web design and development
Gain an understanding of the factors influencing good website design
Gain an understanding of key trends within website design
Build a professional-grade website
Gain an understanding of planning an application
Gain an understanding of the development process
Gain an understanding of public demand for applications
Build a professional app or game that meets certain requirements
the Foundation Apprenticeship is an interesting and well-formatted course. I like how it focuses on the practical side and lets me be creative with my assignments.
– Matthew
(former FA pupil 2023-24)
I like that the course is more practical with some theory that lets you focus on skills rather than preparing you for an exam.
– Ruaridh
(former FA pupil 2023-24)
my favourite thing is there's no pressure to pass the exam, allowing us to get a deeper understanding of the course
– Cameron
(former FA pupil 2023-24)
I thought the course was very interesting and I really liked the assignments in the course as they were fun to work on compared with the National 5 ones.
– Lucas
(former FA pupil 2023-24)
it was a difficult course but made easier by the fact there's no exam but it's entirely coursework
– Emilis
(former FA pupil 2023-24)
the course feels more up to date than Higher Computing Science and you get to explore more of the field of computer science for example project and app development, and you explore things like web development in more detail
– Cammy
(former FA pupil 2024-25)
the course is so much more creative and far more useful than both National 5 and Higher Computing. The National 5 and Higher coursework is so basic and so much easier than this but the creativity is what makes it that bit better. I'd choose the FA over Higher any day.
– Terry
(former FA pupil 2024-25)
there's really no point in Higher existing when this course is available. It does everything Higher does and more. It also does everything better. Why do they even offer both?!
– Fraser
(former FA pupil 2024-25)
This is a list of universities which accept the FA as a Higher A.
Abertay University
Edinburgh Napier University
Glasgow Caledonian University
Heriot-Watt University
Queen Margaret University
Robert Gordon University
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
University of Aberdeen
University of Dundee
University of Edinburgh
University of Glasgow
University of St Andrews
University of Stirling
University of Strathclyde
University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)
University of the West of Scotland (UWS)
If you want to go in to the industry, this course will prepare you with real-world skills and invaluable work experience. You'll delve into the world of software and IT and you'll get the chance to showcase your skills with a chance to be incredibly creative with you own projects.
If you're after quantity of courses, Higher is for you.
If you're after a quality course, this is for you.
If you're more practical, this is for you.
If you're going into computer science, this is for you.
- paraphrased from Iain (computing teacher)
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