Computing and ICT

Aims

We strive to plan and deliver a curriculum that is enriched and relevant to the technologically advanced world we live in today.

We aim to prepare all students to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Our key aim is to develop our students’ understanding of Computing theory and their ability to solve problems using computational tools. Students learn how computers and telecommunications equipment work, and how they may be applied to the storage, retrieval, transmission and manipulation of data. By the end of Key Stage 3, all students should effectively, responsibly, and safely use a range of digital technologies.

Teaching and Learning

Lessons contain a range of learning activities to encourage students to become independent learners. Students work collaboratively to solve problems and to develop their knowledge and understanding through the acquisition of key skills. All lessons consist of a mixture of teacher demonstrations, student exploration, questioning and discussion and reflection on what has been learned. Lessons are differentiated to cater for teaching and learning needs of all our students.

Assessment for learning

Assessment and student progress is at the centre of what we do in the classroom. Formal assessment takes place at the end of each unit through both a written test and assessment of class work. We believe students should be aware of how well they are doing and what they need to do in order to improve. Students’ work is marked regularly and our lessons incorporate directed improvement and reflection time for students to receive teacher’s written feedback and act on it to improve their work. Opportunities are also provided for students to assess their own and others’ work. We believe our students should be reflective and aware of how they can improve their own work.

Home Learning

The department sets homework regularly for all year groups. Homework will normally require the use of the computer and students will need to use IT rooms during lunch to complete work if access to a computer is not available at home. Homework tasks are designed to help students reinforce key concepts, process and solidify new information, provide time for extra practice of skills, and reflect on how much they've learned. Students select tasks from a “homework menu” with a variety of tasks with varying levels of difficulty.

Show my Homework – all home learning activities will be published by individual staff members on the Show My Homework website which can be found by following the link on the school’s homepage. Students and parents can access this through their accounts or by filtering the results.

Equipment

Students are issued with a folder where they file all their work including written feedback from the teacher. These are kept in school. Students are expected to have a USB memory stick for backing up all their work and transferring files between school and the home computer when necessary.

Key Stage 3

Computing

Programme of Study

Year	Autumn term	Spring term	Summer term
7	E-safety and Cybersecurity Computational thinking and Algorithms	Introduction to Spreadsheet Modelling Data representation: Binary	Programming the BBC Micro:bit Digital Creativity: Animation
Assessments	End of unit assessments.	End of unit assessments.	End of unit assessments. End of year examination
8	How computers work Digital creativity: Web development	Digital creativity: Sound manipulation using Audacity Data representation: Binary	Advanced Spreadsheets Introduction to databases Python Programming
Assessments	End of unit assessments	End of unit assessments	End of unit assessments End of year examination

Additional Information

Year 7 and 8 are encouraged to join the Coding club which runs every Thursday at lunch time.

As part of our enrichment program, all year 8 students take part in the annual Computational Thinking Challenge run by University of Oxford.

ICT rooms are open at lunch times for Years 7 to 11. Students are free to come in and use IT facilities.

How Parents/ Carers can help

Key websites

Encourage your daughter to use the following websites to read around the topics they cover in school.

WWW.TEACH-ICT.COM

HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/EDUCATION/SUBJECTS/ZVC9Q6F

WWW.CODECADEMY.COM

WWW.COMPUTINGATSCHOOL.ORG.UK

HTTP://WWW.PYTHONSCHOOL.NET/

Practical help

It is vital for parents to support their children in the use of ICT in a productive and safe manner. This helps to support their learning and achievement across the whole curriculum.

TV/Radio programmes

The gadget show – The gadget show is a Channel 5 series which focuses on consumer technology.

BBC Click – Click is the BBC’s flagship technology programme. And can be found across five BBC channels.

If you have any further questions about this course, to whom do I speak?

Mr Guchu (Head of Computing and ICT), Ms Naqavi or Ms Terrelonge

Key Stage 4

Level 1/2 Cambridge National Certificate in Information Technologies

Programme of Study
Students follow the Level 1/2 OCR Cambridge National Certificate n Information Technologies syllabus Specification number: J808 Link to the specification website : HTTPS://WWW.OCR.ORG.UK/IMAGES/371960-SPECIFICATION.PDF Module 1: Stages of the project life cycle Module 2: Mitigating the risks for a project Module 3: Planning and reviewing project phases Module 4: Creating, updating, deleting and using data Module 5: Presenting information in a meaningful way Module 6: Final evaluation for a project Module 7: Collecting and storing data Module 8: Cyber security – threats and preventions Module 9: Legislations and data reliability
Accreditation Structure

Understanding tools, techniques, methods and processes for technological solutions	1 hour 45 minutes written examination 80 marks OCR-set and marked	50% of total qualification
Developing technological solutions	Controlled assessment (20 hours) 80 marks An assignment set by OCR, marked by teachers and moderated by OCR	50% of total qualification
Additional Information
Revision: After school revision sessions. Breakfast revision leading up to the final examination. Clinics: Lunch time and after school support clinics arranged for written examinations and controlled assessments. Careers guidance: Discussion with ICT teachers and the careers advisor.
How Parents/ Carers can help
Key websites WWW.TEACH-ICT.COM HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/EDUCATION/LEVELS/Z98JMP3 Practical help Ensuring students have quiet space for revision and access to the internet so that students can access resources in school from home. Examination technique Revise using the following text books: Cambridge Nationals Level 1/2 Information Technologies, Sonia Stuart and Brian Gillinder. ISBN: 978-1-5104-2327 5 My revision notes, Cambridge Level 1/2 Information Technologies, Sonia Stuart. ISBN: 978-1-5104-2328-2
If you have any further questions about this course, to whom do I speak?
Mr Guchu, Ms Terrelonge

Key Stage 4

GCSE Computer Science

Programme of Study

Year 9 follow the OCR GCSE Computer Science syllabus.

Link to the specification website :

HTTP://WWW.OCR.ORG.UK/QUALIFICATIONS/GCSE-COMPUTER-SCIENCE-J276-FROM-2016/

Year 9

Introduction to Computer Systems

Systems Architecture
Memory
Storage
Systems software

Introduction to computational thinking, algorithms and programming

Algorithms
Programming techniques

Year 10

Computer systems

Wired and wireless networks
Network topologies, protocols and layers
System security
Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns

Computational thinking, algorithms and programming

Computational logic
Translators and facilities of languages
Data representation
Further programming

Year 11

Programming project

Programming techniques
Analysis
Design
Development
Testing and evaluation and conclusions

Exam revision and preparation

Accreditation Structure

Computer systems	Written examination lasting 1 hour 30 minutes and marked out of 80.	50% of total GCSE
Computational thinking, algorithms and programming	Written examination lasting 1 hour 30 minutes and marked out of 80.	50% of total GCSE
Programming project	Non-exam Assessment totalling 20 hours;	0% of total GCSE

Additional Information

Revision: After school revision sessions. Breakfast revision leading up to the final examination.

Clinics: Lunch time and after school support clinics arranged for written examinations.

Careers guidance: Discussion with ICT teachers and the careers advisor.

How Parents/ Carers can help

Key websites

HTTP://WWW.TEACH-ICT.COM/2016/GCSE_COMPUTING/OCR_J276/OCR_J276_HOME.HTML

WWW.CODECADEMY.COM

HTTP://WWW.PYTHONSCHOOL.NET/

Practical help

Ensuring students have quiet space for revision and access to the internet so that students can access resources in school from home.

If you have any further questions about this course, to whom do I speak?

Mr Guchu (Head of Computing and ICT), Ms Naqavi or Ms Terrelonge

Key Stage 5

BTEC National Extended Certificate in Information Technology

Programme of Study

Students follow the AQA A level ICT Syllabus. The last exams for this qualification will be written in summer 2018.

Specification number: 2520

Link to the specification website :

HTTPS://QUALIFICATIONS.PEARSON.COM/CONTENT/DAM/PDF/BTEC-NATIONALS/INFORMATION-TECHNOLOGY/2016/SPECIFICATION-AND-SAMPLE-ASSESSMENTS/9781446938041_BTEC_NAT_CERT_IT_SPEC_ISS2CUPD.PDF

Year 12

Unit 2: Creating Systems to Manage Information:

Students study the design, creation, testing and evaluation of a relational database system to manage information.

Unit 3: Using Social Media in Business

This unit explores how businesses use social media to promote their products and services. Students will learn how to implement social media activities in a business to meet requirements

Year 13

Unit 1: Information Technology Systems

This unit covers the role of computer systems and the implications of their use in personal and Professional situations

Unit 6: Website Development

Students investigate website development principles. They will learn to design and develop a website using scripting languages.

Accreditation Structure

Unit	Assessment	Length	Weighting
Unit 1	Written 2 hour examination set and marked by the examination board, out of a total of 90 marks.	2 hours	33%
Unit 2	Supervised assessment arranged over a number of sessions in a 1 week assessment period timetabled by the examination board. The task is completed using a computer and submitted electronically and is out of a total of 66 marks.	10 hours	25%
Unit 3	Assignment set and marked internally.		25%
Unit 4	Assignment set and marked internally.		17%

Additional Information

Revision: After school revision sessions. Weekend revision webinars to ensure full preparation for written examination.

Clinics: Lunch time and after school support clinics to support students with exam preparation and completion of coursework.

Careers guidance: Discussion with ICT teachers and careers advisor.

UCAS: Teachers will support students with personal statements and provide written references.

How Parents/ Carers can help

Key websites:

HTTPS://WWW.KNOWITALLNINJA.COM

Practical help: Ensuring students have quiet space for studying and access to the internet so that students can access resources in school from home.

Examination technique: Revise using past exam papers and mark schemes available on the school network.

If you have any further questions about this course, to whom do I speak?

Mr Guchu or Ms Naqavi

Computing and ICT

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