This page is for post-16 students joining us in September 2023.

Scroll down for the online training links!

Get yourself Digital Ready!

BOA is a Digital Academy. You are going to use digital tools a great deal during your studies at BOA, even if you are not on a Digital or Creative Arts pathway. You will use computers for recording performances, writing assignments, completing research, lesson tasks and activities, tracking progress, building portfolios, online training, submitting assignments, sitting examinations, self-promotion, and communicating with your peers and your teachers.

We provide computer suites only for examinations and for students on digital and creative pathways who require cutting edge specialist equipment.

 

Therefore, we require that all our post-16 students bring their own portable device to BOA every day.

 

Your device must be capable of:

• Running Microsoft Office (we provide you with Microsoft Office for FREE! More on this later)
• Running Basic Video Editing Software such as Microsoft Photos (The Video Editor Free with Windows10) or Apple iMovie (Free with an Apple Computers)
• Taking Photos and Video (It needs a camera built in)
• Connecting to and browsing the internet via wifi

 

We recommend:

TYPE	A small laptop, netbook, or 2in1. Tablets and iPads are best avoided. Remember you will be carrying it around, storing it in your locker, and using it in studios, so do not choose anything too big!
OPERATING SYSTEM	Windows (Windows10) or Apple (MacosX)
PROCESSOR	Dual Core
RAM	4Gb or more
STORAGE	128Gb or more (if you go for something smaller you’ll probably run out of space and need to buy a portable hard drive at some point).
ACCESSORIES	Keyboard (if you choose a device that does have one built in), Protective Case, USB Memory Stick, Headphones.

 

If you already have a device but you are not sure if it will fully meet your needs, don’t buy a new one! Bring it in to the academy and we will look it over for you. The likelihood is that it will do just fine!

You can buy a device that meets the above specifications from well known high-street stores for less than £250 new. There are also some fantastic new, refurbished and used deals on the internet.

If you genuinely need assistance affording a device we can help. We have a limited pot of money, which can be accessed by students who most need it. You just need to apply for a bursary. You can download the form from our website.

If you are on a Digital or Music Technology pathway, and want to buy a specialist laptop for advanced movie editing, music production, digital design or programming, we recommend waiting before you make that decision. You will learn about equipment during the early weeks of your studies that will inform a decision like this. Don’t worry, if you are on these pathways you will have access to devices in the classroom so there is no immediate rush.

 

You’ve got the kit, but do you have the skills?

We require that our students join us with a basic level of digital literacy and a good understanding of online safety. This ensures no one is disadvantaged at the start of the course and gives us a foundation from which to build your digital skills over the next couple of years.

During the summer, before you start with us, we would like you to complete some online training:

 

Microsoft Office Training

We would like you to run through the Office365 Training Centre online tutorials to ensure you are familiar with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

In September you will be given an Office 365 account that will give you access to the full version of Microsoft Office completely FREE! However in the meantime you may wish to download a one month free trial from https://products.office.com/en-gb/try so that you can complete the tutorials over the summer.

Click here to visit the training website

 

E-Safety Training

We need you to complete our online training module before you are allowed to access the internet or use our computers at BOA.

Click here to take our esafety training module

Please bring certificates and evidence of the training modules you complete and give them to your tutor on the first day.