"Our students will become work ready and have the skills to navigate the digital world and decrease the digital divide"
In Key Stage 3 we aim to cover all areas of Computer Science and ICT, from digital literacy through to computational thinking. Many of the skills the pupils will encounter are key to learning in general, like problem solving and resilience and will help them to develop independence and employ logical enquiry to every area they encounter.
With computing and technology now being so central to so many areas of our lives, and the increasing emphasis on IT in the primary curriculum, we hope to build on their knowledge to enable them to tackle the complexities of programming and the basics of systems architecture. They will approach this through projects involving spreadsheets and desktop publishing in year 7 as well as learning binary and how the computer stores and processes data using this simple number system. Later, we will extend their experience of programming, using HTML to produce simple webpages as well as a unit dealing with cyber security to enable them to stay safe online.
Assessment will be through the development of an e-portfolio, with regular opportunities to apply their skills and knowledge. A summative assessment will be carried out four times per year that will test learning acquired through the most recent project as well as topics from previous terms in order to retain earlier learning so it can be built on and extended as the pupils progress through the school.
At the end of year 8, pupils will have the option to choose either Computer Science or ICT at Key Stage 4…
The UK is experiencing a lack of well qualified computing professionals; businesses today require an ever-increasing number of technologically-aware individuals. This is even more so in the gaming, mobile and web related industries and this specification has been designed with this in mind.
The content of the course will provide pupils will the knowledge and understanding of:
Computer systems
Computational thinking, algorithms and programming
Students will be assessed over 2 units:
This course will provide excellent progression to A Level Computer Science and into Vocational ICT courses. These provide progression to degree level courses in the areas of computing, engineering and science. The course provides the knowledge, skills and understanding that a growing number of employers are demanding, including the transferable skill of computational thinking which helps problem solving.
