Foundation year

The Foundation Year (Digital & Creative Pathway) is Ada’s implementation of the National Foundation Year, designed to help you build the skills, confidence and knowledge needed to succeed in one of Ada’s advanced digital programmes.

Start your digital future at Ada

Whether you’re passionate about software development, digital design, user experience, games development, or cyber security, this one-year course is your launchpad. You’ll gain technical and creative skills, strengthen your English and Maths, complete real-world projects, and benefit from employer input throughout.

Ada’s Foundation Year is ideal for students who aspire to:

• Join the T Level in Digital Software Development, or
• Progress to one of Ada’s Level 3 Creative or Technical Pathways, which combine Applied Academic Qualifications (AAQs) with A-level subjects and industry-standard digital skills.

What is the national T Level Foundation Year?

The National TLFY is a one-year post-GCSE programme designed to prepare you for T Level study. It develops the academic readiness, technical confidence, and personal skills needed for Level 3 success.

At Ada, the Digital & Creative TLFY has been carefully designed to meet the demands of the tech sector and Ada’s specialist pathways. You’ll:

• Build digital and creative technical skills
• Improve your English, maths, and digital fluency
• Complete employer-informed projects and work experience
• Gain confidence, structure, and academic habits

Your foundation programme at Ada

You will complete the BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Information and Creative Technology, a 360 Guided Learning Hours (GLH) qualification, enhanced with Ada’s digital skills curriculum and employer-linked projects.

Core Certificate Units (240 GLH)

Additional Units (Required for Extended Certificate)

Beyond the qualification: Ada’s broader TLFY offer

Ada Skills & Study Programme

• Build confidence, resilience and reflective practice
• Learn how to plan, revise, and manage academic work
• Prepare for the structure and assessment style of Level 3

Workplace Readiness

• Develop professional skills: teamwork, communication, self-management
• Take part in employer projects, CV preparation, and mock interviews

English, Maths and Digital Literacy

• Continue studying English and/or Maths if not yet at Grade 4
• Use numeracy and communication in real tech scenarios

Enrichment & Career Preparation

• Explore digital career paths through workshops and visits
• Develop your personal brand and digital portfolio

Where this programme can lead

On successful completion of the TLFY (including the Extended Certificate), students will be eligible for progression to one of Ada’s Level 3 digital pathways.

Final decisions on which pathway a student progresses to will depend on:

• The final grades achieved on the Foundation Year
• Performance in GCSE English and Maths
• The student’s individual career aspirations, strengths, and development focus

Developer Pathway

• T Level in Digital Software Development
• A full-time, industry-informed programme equivalent to 3 A Levels
• Features 1,200 GLH of study and a 45-day industry placement
• Ideal for future full-stack developers, software engineers, DevOps professionals

Innovator Pathway

• A-level in Business or Psychology
• OCR AAQ in Application Development
• Pearson AAQ in IT
• Ideal for future digital consultants, cyber strategists, business analysts, or data professionals

Creator Pathway

• A-level in Graphics
• OCR AAQ in Application Development
• Pearson AAQ in IT
• Perfect for aspiring UI/UX designers, creative coders, and games developers

Why choose Ada’s TLFY – Digital & Creative Pathway?

• Specialist digital-only sixth form and tech-focused environment
• Strong partnerships with leading tech employers
• Track record of progression into university, apprenticeships and industry
• An inclusive and diverse community committed to digital opportunity