Curriculum Intent

The Intent of the Computing department is to inspire our students’ interest in the digital world. The skills, knowledge and understanding linked with positive habits of mind support their aspirations across the curriculum and into the career choices they will make. Online safety and intelligent use of the internet and social media is paramount as students develop a digital footprint which will stay with them for life. We have a responsibility to produce digitally literate and well prepared students for careers which may not exist yet.

Open Evening Flyer

Aims

To promote an interest in all things digital, programming, design and manufacture, digital literacy, e-safety, electronics.

Learning Journey

Our learning journeys give a visual overview of the curriculum content covered in each subject. They will help you understand how students make progress in different topics over the years they are with us.

Computing Learning Journey

Key Stage Three Overview

In Year 7 we introduce students to key IT and Computer Science skills. Initially they work on the Smarties project which is a fun introduction to spreadsheets with the reward of eating the Smarties once they have been counted! Keeping the sweets theme, we then investigate databases using stock control for a sweetshop. During the spring term students will learn how to keep themselves safe online, this topic is revisited each year as we feel it is a vital life skill. During the summer term students will program BBC microbits to give them hands on experience of microcontrollers. With these microbits they can use their imagination to develop fun games such as rock, paper, scissors and to develop step-o-meters, data loggers, etc.

In Year 8 students continue to develop the IT and Computing skills. We investigate how computers operate and delve into Binary and other bases. Students will also consider the laws that will affect them when using computers and will continue to develop their spreadsheet and E-Safety skills. Finally, we continue to develop their coding skills using Minecraft Education and computer games development.

In Year 9 students develop their IT skills by planning a music festival. They will use a combination of software solutions to plan the event and will make use of a database and word documents to eventually mail merge letters to prospective employees. Carrying on with the music festival theme, students will design and develop a website for their festival using a professional website development tool. Students will then be introduced to Computer Aided Design (CAD) software to develop their own 3-dimensional parts, a selection of which will be printed out on a 3D printer. Students will then have the opportunity to improve their programming skills using the Python programming language to develop simple text-based computer programs of their own. We will then finish year 9 with further internet safety work.

Key Stage Four Overview

Depending on which course is most appropriate for the students we deliver a range of qualifications:

• OCR Computing GCSE
• NCFE Interactive Media

Key Words

We aim to support students in their literacy across all curriculum subjects. We provide key word lists as a teaching and learning tool to support student understanding of the technical vocabulary needed to articulate their learning about a particular subject.

ICT and Computing key words coming soon.

Trips and Extra-Curricular Activities

STEM club operates every Thursday and allows students access to a range of projects including The electric Car, which takes part in various races run by the GreenPower charity. We are also involved in “Race for the line” and delivery of the national Microbit programming initiative. Solidworks is our our 3D design software which allows students to develop their 3D printing skills through Technology and students have access through STEM club to do their own projects

Staff

Mr D Ellis BA (Hons) – Curriculum Leader (ICTAC) and teacher of ICT
Mr M Carter BEng – Leader of Year and Teacher of ICT / Business studies

Links to Useful Revision and Additional Study

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/computer-science-j277-from-2020/