Our Curriculum Intent

As a department our aims are to inspire, motivate and encourage young people into the Computer Science industry, due to the growing demands and emerging new technologies. We push our students to use a variety of key skills such as computational thinking, analytical as well as problem solving in their every-day life.

Our curriculum aims are to:-

  • Allow opportunities for the students to be creative and use a number of programming skills to excel in the different areas
  • Allow students to  be able to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically
  • Allow a continuous movement from one key to another allowing progression to be made as you go through each key stage
  • To be a clear progression round to KS5 from KS4
  • Enjoyment of the subject
  • To ensure students have an opportunity of extra curricular activities 
  • Provide them with skills to be able to use in a working environment

There are a number of ways we have implemented this into our curriculum as well as assessment enabling our students to gain maximum impact.

As a department we have looked through our curriculum and ensured there is a smooth transition from each key stage to another building foundations from the previous. There is clear retrieval practice throughout our curriculum.  A result of this, it has lead to a strong impact on our students outcomes and this can be seen through our KS4 and KS5 final exam grades.

 

KS3

At KS3 we offer a wider variety of topics to stimulate our students Our prime goal is to enthuse, passion and create new emerging programmers from the younger generation. In order to do this as a team, we have created an exciting, rich and challenging computing SOW.

In KeyStage 3 students will study the following topics:- 

  • Components of a computer systems
  • How computer systems process information
  • Creating a game in KODU
  • Using python and creating a number of projects
  • Using Micro-bits
  • Databases
  • Networking
  • Internet
  • Operating systems
  • Building a website using HTML

Curriculum Map

 

TERM 1.1 TERM 1.2 TERM 2.1 TERM 2.2 TERM 3.1 TERM 3.2
 

Year 7 

Components of a computer systems

Computational Thinking

Computational thinking 

Programming with BBC Microbit

Programming with BBC Microbit

Representing digital images

Kodu Programming games using Kodu game Lab

How the web works

Building a website using HTML
 

Year 8 

Operating Systems 

Sorting Algorithms 

Sorting Algorithms

Programming with python 

Programming with python 

 

Understanding Binary

 

Databases

Networking 

Internet 

Online security 

Programming  using JavaScript
 

Year 9 

Code cracking and Ciphers

Algorithms and Flowcharts 

Algorithms and Flowcharts 

Programming with python 

Systems architecture

 

Searching 

 Binary 

Data representation  Programming  using App Shed

KS4

Pupils follow the OCR GCSE 9-1 Computer Science qualification

KS4 Assessment Structure.

Component 01 – Computer Systems Component 02 – Computational thinking, algorithms and programming
50% Total GCSE

Written Exam

50% Total GCSE

Written Exam

KS4 Curriculum Map

TERM 1.1 TERM 1.2 TERM 2.1 TERM 2.2 TERM 3.1 TERM 3.2
Year 10  Algorithms 

 

 

Programming skills NEA NEA

Logic and Languages

Data representation Systems architecture, Memory and storage
Year 11 Systems software and security  Wired and wireless network Ethical, Legal, cultural and environmental concerns Revision  Revision Revision

KS5 Sixth Form

The department offer Pupils the opportunity to either opt for

  • A-Level Computing
  • Cambridge Technicals in IT (Equivalent to one A-level)

A Level Computer Science H446:- 

Computer Science is a practical subject where students can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real-world systems. It’s an intensely creative subject that combines invention and excitement and can look at the natural world through a digital prism.

The aims of this qualification are to enable learners to develop:

  • An understanding and ability to apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms and data representation
  • The ability to analyze problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including writing programs to do so
  • The capacity to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically
  • The capacity to see relationships between different aspects of computer science
  • Mathematical skills.

Learners must take three Units (1,2 and 3 ) to be awarded the OCR A Level in Computer Science.

Curriculum Map Overview
TERM 1.1 TERM 1.2 TERM 2.1 TERM 2.2 TERM 3.1 TERM 3.2
Year 12  Components of a computer

Computational Thinking

Project

System Development

Programming Techniques

Project

System Software

 

Project

Exchanging Data

Project

Networks and Web Technologies

Project

 

Datatypes

Year 13 
Finalised Project

Algorithms 

Data structures

Boolean Algebra

Data structures

Revision of computational thinking

Ethical and Legal

Revision

Revision Revision Revision

Cambridge Technicals in IT Level 3 (Equivalent to one A-level):-

Cambridge Technicals provide learners with the opportunity through applied learning to develop the core specialist knowledge, skills and understanding required in the IT sector. Students are required to take 5 units. Three out of the 5 units are exam based with the following 2 coursework based.

Curriculum Map Overview

 

TERM 1.1 TERM 1.2 TERM 2.1 TERM 2.2 TERM 3.1 TERM 3.2

Year 12 

Unit 1 – Fundamentals of IT

Computer Hardware

Types of computer systems

Connectivity

Networking Characteristics

Types of software 

Application software

 Utilities

Operating systems

Protocols

Types of servers

Virtualization

Connectivity Methods

Coursework Project – Unit 9 Designing a database Communication Technology

Ready to work and personal attributes

 

Year 12 

Unit 2 – Global information 

Holders of information 

Types of information 

The internet 

Information classification 

Quality of information

Information management 

Uk Legislation and regulation of IT 

Coursework Project – Unit 17 The internet of everything Coursework Project – Unit 17 The internet of everything Data flow diagrams Understanding the global information and benefits to organisations and individual

 

TERM 1.1 TERM 1.2 TERM 2.1 TERM 2.2 TERM 3.1 TERM 3.2
Year 13 

Unit 3 – Cyber security 

Cyber security aims to protect information 

Types of Cyber security incidents

The importance of cyber security  Types of attackers and motivations  Uk Legislation and regulation of IT  Revision  Revision 

 

 

 

Possible careers association with Computer Science.

  • Software application developer
  • Computer System analyst
  • Computer systems engineer
  • Network systems administrator
  • Database Administrator
  • Business Intelligence administrator
  • Computer programmer
  • Software system developer
  • Software Quality assurance tester
  • Games design,
  • Web and animation development,
  • Network management,
  • Network security,
  • Digital forensics.