Computer Science & ICT

About Computer Science and ICT

The ICT and Computing department has four well-equipped ICT suites. There are enough computers in each room to allow every student to access their own learning during the discrete ICT and computing lessons and there is a large emphasis on computing in all lessons with the aim of supporting students in their development.

Year 7 and 8

At At KS3 the ICT and Computing department aims to embed skills and knowledge in a wide range of ICT and computing capabilities including digital literacy. We start in year 7 with enhancing skills in the office suite, using word processing, presentation, publisher, spreadsheet, and database packages to allow students to demonstrate their understanding of audience and purpose through a wide range of project based learning. We quickly move on to looking at programming and computing to ensure that knowledge, skills and understanding are embedded from an early age.

ICT and Computing is fast developing in school and our aim is to offer students the opportunity to be involved in this by experiencing some elements of programming at KS3 so that they have a strong foundation for KS4 if they wish to study it.

We endeavour to make the curriculum as fun and interesting as possible with a high level of challenge. Our aim is to ensure that they develop ICT capability that is directly transferable, not only to other subjects but also to the KS4 curriculum and beyond.

Curriculum Content for Y7 and Y8

Year 9, 10 and 11

Curriculum Intent for Computer Science

We study Computer Science to help us think in a more logical way and become better at making decisions and solve problems. We learn about how the different parts of a computer work together and why they work like that. In addition, we develop skills in programming systems and start to understand how computers communicate via networks. We then look at how important Technology is in today’s society and the impact and issues that can arise from using computer systems and how to improve them.

Content of Course:

Computer Systems (01) – Introduces students to the parts of a computer and looks at how they work together. Investigations into how computers communicate with each other via networks. What security issues are there surrounding computer systems and technology and what is the impact?

Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (02) – Logic and problem solving is key to this section. Students look at different problems that can be solved using ‘computational thinking’ and apply this to everyday problems. This will help them with their programming and designing programs.

Programming (03) – Students will learn about programming and different programming techniques.

Computer systems (01) – 80 marks – 1hour 30 minutes – 50%

Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (02) – 80 marks – 1 hour 30 minutes – 50%

Programming exam – The content and weighting of this exam is currently under review.

Course link: OCR Level 1 / 2 GCSE (9-1) in Computer Science

Student Voice

Curriculum Intent for ICT

We study ICT to help us to develop the skills to use software to create solutions to different problems. We learn about how different types of software work and the solutions that can be given for a range of different people’s needs. We think about the audience for different products and look at how to design them using the most appropriate type of software from digital presentations to web development, spreadsheets to databases. We then look at how important technology is in today’s society and the impact and issues that can arise from using computer systems and how to improve them.

Content of Course:

Students will study a range of units that cover:

Software Skills

Audience and Purpose

Hardware and Software

Health and Safety when using Computer Systems

Files and File Management

Computers and the Law

Assessment:

The assessment will depend on the courses that are available to the year group at the year of entry. This is determined by the JQC during the academic year and the best decision will be made for the students who are on the course.

Course link: OCR Level 1 / 2 Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia

Student Voice

Home Learning Policy

Home Learning Intent:

We set home learning in ICT and Computer Science to help students remember the learning that they have done in lessons.

We want students to develop their understanding of the subject and develop their skills in the use of technology.

Students who complete homework have a better chance of getting a higher grade in this subject because they are more likely to remember the content needed for GCSE.

Home Learning Expectations:

In Computer Science and ICT we will set a minimum of one homework a half term; we expect every student to attempt all homework to the expected standard that they have been set. This may be a research task or a task to support some learning that has taken place in class.

On occasion this may be set on online and students who do not have access to this at home will be given time to inform their teacher and the opportunity to access this in school.

Students are provided with a list of topics to revise for assessments and students are expected to revise as homework. There is an assessment at the end of most topics, although some topics are assessed through an ongoing piece of classwork.

Students can support their in class learning by reading around topics we are doing in class at home and by researching further on the internet and in the library