Computing

In year 7 students will begin to learn the basics of hardware & software within computing and will begin to produce and debug basic programs using visual programming languages such as scratch to encourage problem-solving skills.  

As students move into year 8 they will begin to understand basic Computer Science concepts such as algorithms, flowcharts and Boolean logic which will help them develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills.   

In year 9 students will begin to develop theoretical knowledge through topics such as cyber security. They will also move onto developing and debugging basic programs in text-based languages such as Python to enhance their problem-solving and logical thinking skills.  

BTEC DIT – IT level 1/2

Students will study for the BTEC DIT qualification level 1/2 during this course students will: 

Develop the skills in digital information technology, such as project planning, including research skills, designing and creating user interfaces and dashboards to present and interpret data. 

Develop processes that underpin effective ways of working in digital information technology, such as project planning, the iterative design process, cyber security, virtual teams, legal and ethical codes of conduct 

Learning personal management and communication skills are essential attitudes in digital information technology. 

Understand that knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, process and attitudes in the sector such as how different user interfaces meet user needs, how organisations collect and use data to make decisions, virtual workplaces, cyber security and legal and ethical issues. 

There are three areas of qualification that students will need to be confident with: 

Component 1 – Exploring User Interface Design Principles and Project Planning Techniques – Internal assessment  

Component 2 – Collecting, Presenting and Interpreting Data – Internal assessment  

Component 3 – Effective Digital Working Practices – External assessment  

Computer Science- OCR J277  

Students will have a fundamental knowledge of what makes computers function.   

Students will be able to write more robust programs from scratch and be able to debug programs with any issues in them.  

Computer science is a logical thinking subject, requiring lots of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Computer science students will be able to look at problems logically and use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to come up with solutions to problems that they encounter.  

By the end of their computer science course, students should be able to think logically and critically like a computer scientist, have critical problem-solving skills, and have begun to develop their computer programming skills along with having a theoretical understanding of computing hardware.  

Paper 1– Computer Systems including: Systems Architecture, Memory & Storage, Networks, Network Security, Systems Software and Impacts.  

Paper 2– Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming including: Algorithms, programming Fundamentals, Producing Robust Programs, Boolean Logic, Languages & IDEs.

Media – OCR  

Creative I-media is offered at GCSE via the OCR creative I-media course. This option will incorporate 3 different areas including:  

R093 – Creative iMedia in the media industry  

R094 – Visual identity and digital graphics  

R097 – Interactive digital media  

The course is assessed through a combination of NEA and examined units.  

A link to the specification of the course content can be found here: OCR Creative Imedia Specification Level1/2  

By the end of year 11 students will be able to: 

Become digitally literate: students can use, express themselves and develop their ideas using technology. The curriculum has been designed to equip students to use problem solving skills by given real life scenarios, that they need to solve using the skills they have been taught throughout KS3.  This will equip them for post 16 and beyond in their future careers and in everyday life situations. 

Students will be well equipped to critically research existing technologies, implement design model ideas. Students will investigate and develop an understanding of user interfaces, applications and research. 

Students will use data analysing skills to research, create and solve problems they have been given this promotes good time management skills throughout the projects they are required to solve.