Computing & ICT
Curriculum Intent
The curriculum will be broad and balanced with key knowledge and skills embedded over time. The curriculum with provide students with the breadth and depth that will support them to be strong digital experts and provide them with strong foundations whichever pathway they choose at GCSE and beyond.
In Years 7-9, all students will achieve the expected minimum level of skills in common software packages and establish key subject specific vocabulary. They will receive exposure to key topics in Computer Science including Hardware and Programming, develop their understanding and use of ICT including communication and software use and build their Digital Literacy skills, helping them to stay safe and how technology impacts of society both positively and negatively. Teaching and learning will focus on solving (scalable) real-life problems, and we will ensure strong links to other curriculum subjects including Maths, Science, Design Technology and Media.
Students will develop their problem-solving skills through computational thinking and algorithm development. This helps to develop confident, creative and resilient problem solvers with an understanding for how technology works. We will use programming tools to bridge the gap between models and computer systems. Our primary programming language will be Python throughout all key stages, but we will use alternative appropriate programming tools and languages where the challenge will benefit from doing so, enabling us to teach key programming concepts in a variety of ways.
Computer Science and the Digital Industry offer a vast landscape, and with little escape from technology, our aim is to develop adaptive individuals who are equipped for the ever-changing technology landscape, with a wealth of knowledge, flexible skills and a clear understanding in the subject and ready for the future.
Curriculum Map
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Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
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Year 7
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School systems Logging on/Office 365/iDEA sign-up Hardware and Software Inputs and outputs Internal and external devices |
Data representation Introduction to Binary including character sets and images |
Online Safety including privacy and social media Linked to International Safer Internet Day |
Computational Thinking Problem solving including Flowcharts and Algorithms Programming Basics - Theory |
Programming skills Microbit Block coding |
Interactive PowerPoint project – Networks and the Internet |
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Year 8 |
School systems Logging on/ Office 365 Networks and the Internet including HTML |
Application development project (AWS) |
Application development project cont’d (AWS)
Online Safety ICT in Society/Laws and Ethics Communication themes Linked to International Safer Internet Day |
Computational Thinking Problem solving including Flowcharts and Algorithms Programming Basics – Theory Python Microbit coding |
Hardware and Software Internal devices Logic Gates And Databases |
Data representation Binary, character sets, image, sound and compression |
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Year 9 |
School systems Logging on/ Office 365 Media project |
Computational Thinking Problem solving including Flowcharts and Algorithms Programming Basics – Theory Python coding |
Online Safety including Gaming, Censorship, Surveillance and security Linked to International Safer Internet Day |
Hardware and Software Linked to coding knowledge and including common algorithms for Searching and Sorting |
Data representation Including Encryption |
Web development Digital Portfolio and online presence
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Year 10 CS |
Component 2 Algorithms and Design, Testing and IDE’s |
Component 2 Programming |
Component 1 Hardware and Software |
Component 2 Data Representation |
Component 1 Networks and Cyber Security
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Component 1 Issues (Ethical/ Environmental/Legal) |
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Year 11 CS |
Component 1 Revision |
Component 2 Revision |
Non-examined assessment Programming project |
Component 1 Revision |
Component 2 Revision |
Exams |
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Year 10 CiM |
RO93 EXAM Topic 1 The Media Industry Topic 2 Factors Influencing Product Design |
RO93 EXAM Topic 3 Pre-production planning Topic 4 Distribution Considerations |
R094 COURSEWORK 1 The Assignment Topic 1 Develop Visual Identity Topic 2 Planning Digital Graphics for Products |
R094 COURSEWORK 1 Topic 3 Create a Visual Identity and Digital Graphics for Products |
R094 COURSEWORK 1 Completion and submission
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R097 COURSEWORK 2 The Assignment |
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Year 11 CiM |
R097 COURSEWORK 2 The Assignment Topic 1 Developing an interactive multimedia product including practical skills |
R097 COURSEWORK 2 Topic 2 Planning an Interactive Multimedia Product |
R097 COURSEWORK 2 Topic 3 Creating an Interactive Multimedia Product Topic 4 Evaluating a product |
RO93 EXAM Revision |
RO93 EXAM Revision |
Exams |
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Year 12 |
Component 2: Computational Thinking and Algorithms
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Component 2: Programming techniques Software development |
Component 2: Algorithms
Component 3: Non-Examined Assessment |
Component 1: Computer Systems
Component 3: Non-Examined Assessment |
Component 1: Software
Component 3: Non-Examined Assessment |
Component 1: Computing Related Legislation Ethic, moral and cultural issues Component 3: Non-Examined Assessment |
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Year 13 |
Component 1: Networks and security Component 3: Non-Examined Assessment |
Component 1: Data Revision |
Revision Component 3: Non-Examined Assessment - Submission |
Revision
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Revision |
Exams |
Texts and Exam Boards
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Year 7- 9 |
Year 10-11 |
Year 12-13 |
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Core texts CGP KS3 Computing Complete Revision and Practice (ISBN: 978-1789082791) |
Exam board Computer Science OCR GCSE Computer Science (J277) (exam spec here)
Core texts CGP OCR GCSE Computer Science Complete Revision and Practice (ISBN 978 178294 860 5)
Creative iMedia OCR Level 1/2 Creative iMedia (J384) (exam spec here)
Core texts CGP OCR Cambridge National Creative iMedia Revision Guide (ISBN 978 1 83774 083 3)
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A Level Computer Science Exam board OCR A Level Computer Science (H446) (exam spec here) Core texts PG Online OCR AS A Level Computer Science (ISBN 978 1 910523 05 6) |
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Useful resources |
Computer Science Full play list to cover all areas of the qualification
Creative iMedia Full play list to cover all areas of the qualification
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OCR A Level Computer Science (H446) PG Online Clear Revise Exam Tutor Practice Papers (ISBN 978 1 910 523 40 7)
Full play list to cover all areas of the qualification |
