Computer Science
Our aim is to develop students’ computational thinking and problem-solving skills for future career success. We foster resilience, creativity, and critical thinking, enabling students to tackle challenges. Our curriculum equips students to thrive in a technological world, using various ICT and coding tools. We are inclusive of all students, adapting our teaching to ensure everyone makes good progress.
KS3 Curriculum
- Year 7: Students are introduced to the school computer systems and build up fundamental skills needed for their school and working life.
- Year 8: Students begin to access a more advanced curriculum developing more advanced programming skills.
- Year 9: Students will be encouraged to have an appreciation of how much computers contribute to our society and wider world. This year will also fully prepare students for taking GCSE Computer Science in Year 10 if they wish to continue in the subject post-KS3.
| Units covered in Key Stage 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|
|
|
KS4 Computer Science
Exam board: OCR
Course Content
This course gives students a real, in depth understanding of how computer technology works. It offers an insight into what goes on ‘behind the scenes’, including computer programming, which many students find absorbing.
The course develops critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills through the study of computer programming, giving students a fun and interesting way to develop these skills, which can be transferred to other subjects and even applied in day-to-day life. In this respect, the course provides excellent preparation for students who want to study or work in areas that rely on these skills, especially where they are applied to technical problems. These areas include engineering, financial and resource management, science, technology and medicine.
Below is a summary of the course details for GCSE Computer Science:
Component 1: Computer systems
- Exam Based
- 1hr 30mins
- 50% of the GCSE
In this unit, students will cover topics such as: Systems architecture, Memory, Storage, Wired and wireless networks, Network topologies, protocols and layers, Network security, System software , Moral, social, legal, cultural and environmental concerns
Component 2: Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming
- Exam Based
- 1hr 30mins
- 50% of the GCSE
In this unit, students will cover topics such as: Translators and facilities of languages, Algorithms, High- and low-level programming, Computational logic, Data representation
Component 3: Programming project
- Approx 20 hr project – completed in class time
Students will be expected to demonstrate their ability to use the following criteria effectively:
- Programming techniques
- Design
- Development
- Effectiveness and efficiency
- Technical understanding
- Testing, evaluation and conclusions
Skills required for success
- Organising time – students must ensure that they are up to date with any work. This may mean completing their class work during break and lunch times!
- Organising work – students must ensure their folder is organised and well presented so that it can be assessed and graded.
- Work independently – students will be expected to work hard and work through problems by themselves.
- Be creative but flexible – students will be expected to plan their work in detail for their client. However, they must be prepared to change their plans to ensure it meets the needs of their client (even if they think they know best!).
- Have a genuine interest – students should have a genuine interest in programming and the use of technology to solve and programme solutions to problems. This makes up the majority of the course.