Computing
Head of Department
Ms L Comer |
Subject Teachers
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Mr M Dunt Teacher of IT and Vocational IT Co-Ordinator |
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Ms M Borges Teacher of Computing |
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Mr J Snyder Teacher of Computing and IT |
Our Curriculum Intent
KS3
Our KS3 curriculum, year 7 to 9, intents to provide students with the key skills and knowledge of computing disciplines. The scheme of work has been designed to ensure that it is relevant to the modern, ever changing digital world and designed to boost computing skills essential for the 21st century. Students will not only learn how computers work, but how to program them. The topics covered will adequately prepare them for progression into GCSE courses offered by the department.
KS4
Our GCSE in Computer Science builds on our KS3 curriculum. Relevant to the modern, changing world of computing, it’s designed to boost computing skills essential for the 21st century.
The Computer Science specification focuses on:
- Computational thinking as its core, helping students to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand human and machine intelligence
- Applying the academic principles they learn in the classroom to real-world systems in an exciting and engaging way
- Giving students a clear progression into higher education, as the course was designed after consultation with members of BCS, CAS and top universities.
Creative Technology (iMedia) new from Sept 2022 and focusses on:
- Understanding and applying the fundamental principles and concepts of digital media including factors that influence product design,
- Developing learning and practical skills that can be applied to real-life contexts and work situations think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically
- Students will gain an excellent combination of skills and knowledge which form a solid foundation for students who wish to pursue a career in Media and Advertising workplace or progression onto A levels.
KS5
The content of the qualifications offered have been developed in consultation with academics to ensure that they incorporate the most up-to-date knowledge and skills to enable progression to higher education.
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Computing
This course allows students to gain fundamental knowledge and skills in Computer Science, computer systems, IT security and App Development. This will enable students to progress to broader or more specialist study such as a BTEC Higher National in a computing discipline, a degree in a Computing or where computing-related skills and knowledge may be advantageous, such as Business Studies.
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Information Technology
This course is designed for students who are interested in an introduction to the study of creating IT systems to manage and share information alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in IT. Students will develop a common core of IT knowledge and study areas such as the relationship between hardware and software that form an IT system, managing and processing data to support business and using IT to communicate and share information.
What Will Students Learn In Each Year?
What will my child learn in Year 7?
Students begin the year with improving basic digital skills and knowledge of Understanding how to use computers Safely and Securely, before moving onto Scratch Programming. Following on from this they will learn about the parts of a computer and finally develop their presentation skills through the production of a Media product.
Term 1 and 2 Using Computers Safely and Responsibly
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Term 3 and 4 Scratch Programming |
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Term 5 and 6 Parts of the Computer |
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What will my child learn in Year 8?
Students begin the year with improving basic digital skills and knowledge of Understanding how to use computers Safely and Securely, before moving onto Scratch Programming. Following on from this they will learn about the parts of a computer and finally develop their presentation skills through the production of a Media product.
Term 1 Using Computers Safely and Responsibly
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Term 2 HTML Programming |
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Term 3 Flowol Algorithms |
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Term 4 Python Programming |
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Term 5 Spreadsheet Modelling |
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Term 6 Parts of the Computer
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What will my child learn in Year 9?
Students begin the year with improving basic digital skills and knowledge of Understanding how to use computers Safely and Securely, before moving onto Scratch Programming. Following on from this they will learn about the parts of a computer and finally develop their presentation skills through the production of a Media product.
Term 1 Understanding Computers |
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Term 2 Spreadsheet Modelling
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Term 3 Flowol Algorithms |
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Term 4 Python Programming |
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Term 5 App Development |
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Term 2 HTML Programming |
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What will my child learn in Year 10?
OCR GCSE Computer Science
Term 1/2
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Component 1: Computer Systems Systems Architecture:
Memory and Storage:
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Component 2: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming Programming Techniques:
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Term 3/4
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Component 1: Computer Systems Data Storage:
Networks and Topologies:
Wired and wireless networks:
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Component 2: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming Principles of computational thinking:
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Term 5/6
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Component 3: Programming Project The Programming Project provides an opportunity for learners to demonstrate their practical ability and skills they have acquired so far. The Programming Project requires learners to create a solution to a set problem. |
Creative IMedia (new from 2022)
Term 1/2
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R093: Creative iMedia in the media industry Topic Area 2: Factors influencing product design 2.1 How style, content and layout are linked to the purpose 2.2 Client requirements and how they are defined 2.3 Audience demographics and segmentation 2.4 Research methods, sources and types of data |
R094: Visual identity and digital graphics 1.1 Purpose, elements and design of visual identity 2.1 Graphic design and conventions 2.2 Properties of digital graphics and use of assets 2.3 Techniques to plan visual identity and digital graphics |
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Term 3/4
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R093: Creative iMedia in the media industry Topic Area 2: Factors influencing product design 2.5 Media codes used to convey meaning, create impact and/or engage audiences Topic Area 3: Pre-production planning 3.1 Work planning 3.2 Documents used to support ideas generation 3.3 Documents used to design and plan media products |
R094: Visual identity and digital graphics 3.1 Tools and techniques of imaging editing software used to create digital graphics 3.2 Technical skills to source, create and prepare assets for use within digital graphics 3.3 Techniques to save and export visual identity and digital graphics |
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Term 5/6
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R093: Creative iMedia in the media industry Topic Area 1: The media industry 1.1 Media industry sectors and products Learning about the Sectors of the media industry Learning about Products in the media industry 1.2 Job roles in the media industry |
Unit R097: Interactive digital media Topic Area 1: Plan interactive digital media 1.1 Types of interactive digital media, content and associated hardware 1.2 Features and conventions of interactive digital media |
What will my child learn in Year 11?
OCR GCSE Computer Science
Term 1/2
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Component 1: Computer Systems Systems Architecture:
Memory and Storage:
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Component 2: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming Programming Techniques:
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Term 3/4
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Component 1: Computer Systems Data Storage:
Networks and Topologies:
Wired and wireless networks:
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Component 2: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming
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Term 5 |
REVISION |
Creative IMedia (new from 2022)
Term 1/2
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R093: Creative iMedia in the media industry Topic Area 3: Pre-production planning 3.4.1 Legal considerations to protect individuals 3.4.2 Intellectual property rights 3.4.3 Regulation, certification, and classification
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Unit R097: Interactive digital media 1.3 Resources required to create interactive digital media products 1.4 Pre-production and planning documentation and techniques for interactive digital media Topic Area 2: Create interactive digital media 2.1 Technical skills to create and/or edit and manage assets for use within interactive digital media products 2.3 Technical skills to create interactive digital media |
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Term 3/4
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R093: Creative iMedia in the media industry Topic Area 3: Pre-production planning 3.4.4 Health and safety Topic Area 4: Distribution considerations 4.1 Distribution platforms and media to reach audiences 4.2 Properties and formats of media files REVISION |
Unit R097: Interactive digital media Topic Area 2: Create interactive digital media 2.4 Techniques to save and export/publish interactive digital media Topic Area 3: Review interactive digital media 3.1 Techniques to test/check and review interactive digital media 3.2 Improvements and further developments |
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Term 5 |
REVISION/IMPROVEMENTS |
What will my child learn in Year 12?
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Computing
Term 1/2
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Unit 2: Fundamentals of Computer Systems
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Unit 7: IT Systems Security and Encryption
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Term 3/4
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Unit 2: Fundamentals of Computer Systems
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Unit 7: IT Systems Security and Encryption
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Term 5/6 |
REVISION/IMPROVEMENTS |
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Information Technology
Term 1/2
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Aim A: The purpose and structure of relational database management systems
Aim B: Standard methods and techniques to design relational database solutions
Aim C: Creating a relation database structure
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Aim A: Explore the impact of social media on the ways in which businesses promote their products and services
Aim B: Develop a plan to use social media in a business to meet requirements
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Term 3/4
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Aim C: Creating a relation database structure
Aim D: Evaluating a database development project
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Learning aim C: Implement the use of social media in a Business
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Term 5/6 |
Unit 1: Information Technology Systems Aim A: Digital devices in IT systems
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What will my child learn in Year 13?
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Computing
Term 1/2
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Unit 1: Principles of Computer Science
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Unit 17: App Development
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Term 3/4
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Unit 1: Principles of Computer Science
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Unit 17: App Development
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Term 5/6 |
IMPROVEMENTS/REVISION |
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Information Technology
Term 1/2
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Unit 1: Information Technology Systems Aim B: Transmitting data
Exam practise Aim C: Operating online
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Unit 6: Website Development Learning Aim A: Understand the principles of website development
Learning aim B: Design a website to meet client requirements
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Term 3/4
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Exam Practise for PPE Aim D: Protecting data and information
Aim E: Impact of IT systems
Aim F: Issues
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Unit 6: Website Development Learning aim C: Develop a website to meet client requirements
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Term 5/6 |
IMPROVEMENTS/REVISION |
Accommodation and Resources
The computing department has five dedicated purpose built rooms. The rooms are all very spacious and all have between 24 and 28 computers, printing facilities, teacher stations and interactive boards. The school also has an ethos of ensuring IT resources are based in other departments to allow IT to be taught across the curriculum as well as supporting the delivering of those subjects. To this end there are 11 Laptop Trolleys and a further 6 dedicated network rooms, in all there are approximately 850 computers in the school for students to use. The school has an extensive networked infrastructure which links the whole site back to the main IT office. The school is also fully covered by a managed wireless network. All teaching staff have laptops that are used for electronic registration and teaching.
Extra-Curricular Activities
In the Computing department we open the rooms up at lunchtimes and after school for students to continue with work or to develop new skills. In addition to this we offer a chance for students to develop their programming skills in the Space Club or take part in an exciting Esports competition.
Extended Opportunities For Learning
All computing courses are based on the schools Learning Platform. This is used to set and assess student work. Students can access this information from any computer that has internet access. The department also runs regular workshops to support KS4 and KS5 students. All students also have access to remote desktop from any internet connected devices giving them access to their work and many of the schools software packages.