Computer Science
We believe that our students should have the opportunity to follow a computer science curriculum that prepares them for life in modern Britain and the wider world.
Good quality IT skills enable students to engage positively within the modern workplace, while Computer Science skills enable students to take an active part in the design, development and creation of new technologies to be used in the world in which they live.
The core of the subject is understanding digital technology and how it can be developed and utilised. We draw and extend understanding from a range of other subjects outside of Computer Science including DT, Graphics, Maths, Science and PHSE and embed literacy and numeracy skills through software use and development, problem solving and evaluation skills.
We provide a broad range of skills and experiences at KS3 which are then further developed as students enter KS4.
Key Stage 3
Computer Science will give our students the opportunity to:
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding and application of the key concepts and principles of Computer Science:
- Understand and fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science
- Be able to apply key algorithms and data representation and mathematical skills through practical and theoretical work.
- Understand the key components that make up digital systems and how they communicate
- Understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual, wider society, the ethical changes and cultural impacts as well as the positive and negative impacts digital technology has had on the environment
- To equip learners with a range of creative media skills and provide opportunities to develop, in context, desirable, transferable skills in areas such as research, planning and evaluation
Analyse problems in computational terms:
- To make reasoned judgements
- To design, program, evaluate and refine solutions.
- Plan and develop software using the software design life cycle
- Use a range of software design techniques such as flowcharts, pseudocode and visualisation diagrams
- Develop key problem solving skills of Abstraction, Decomposition and Algorithmic thinking
- Develop key skills and practical experience in script based programming languages and be able to design, write and debug programs to solve non simplistic problems.
- To be able to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically when solving problems.
- Be able to make informed decisions on appropriate and efficient coding techniques such as sequence, selection, iteration and the use of functions
- To be able to design, Program, evaluate and refine solutions to problems
Intent
Year 7
- HT1 – E-Safety and File & Folder Management
- HT2 –Logic and problem solving, Flowcharts & Programming
- HT3- DeltaFest project (productivity and graphics)
- HT4- DeltaFest project (productivity and graphics)
- HT5- Computer hardware and introduction to binary
- HT6- Physical computing using microbits
Year 7 Curriculum Intent
- Ensure students are safe users of computers in terms of online and e-safety and in their general use of IT
- Introduce file management skills that they can use for all subjects
- Introduce key numeracy topics
- Introduce problem solving skills using flow charts
- Introduce/extend block programming skills
- Introduce the concept of physical computing
- Introduce the basic constructs of script-based programming
Year 8
- HT1 – E-Safety, Internet & WWW History and Networks
- HT2 – Logic and problem solving, bitmap and pixel images
- HT3- EduBlocks & Python Programming
- HT4- Key figures of computing
- HT5- HTML web unit
- HT6- Physical computing- microbits and robots
Year 8 Curriculum Intent
- Develop their appreciation of Media and Computer Science and how ideas inspired the technologies of today
- Develop students’ awareness of the impact of IT on society (good and bad)
- Further develop and extend key computing topics
- Develop problem solving skills and understanding of key algorithms
- Develop a deeper understanding of script-based programming languages and be able to use these to solve problems
- Introduce and basic HTML web development skills
- Develop basic and extended graphic design skills
Year 9
- HT1 – Online reputation and Prevent. Binary, Hex and character sets.
- HT2 – Searching and sorting algorithms
- HT3- Python Programming
- HT4- History of Computing
- HT5- Cybersecurity
- HT6- Minecraft EDU
Year 9 Curriculum Intent
- To be safe and confident users of IT and Computing resources
- Extend key computing topics
- Develop problem solving skills and understanding of key algorithms
- Develop a deeper understanding of script-based programming languages and be able to use these to solve exam styled problems
- Develop a deeper understanding of product development.
Key Stage 4
Computer Science will give our students the opportunity to:
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding and application of the key concepts and principles of Computer Science
- Understand fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science
- Be able to apply key algorithms and data representation and mathematical skills through practical and theoretical work.
- Understand the key components that make up digital systems and how they communicate
- Understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual, wider society, the ethical changes and cultural impacts as well as the positive and negative impacts digital technology has had on the environment
- To equip learners with a range of creative media skills and provide opportunities to develop, in context, desirable, transferable skills in areas such as research, planning and evaluation
Analyse problems in computational terms:
To make reasoned judgements
To design, program, evaluate and refine solutions.
- Plan and develop software using the software design life cycle
- Use a range of software design techniques such as flowcharts, pseudocode and visualisation diagrams
- Develop key problem solving skills of Abstraction, Decomposition and Algorithmic thinking
- Develop key skills and practical experience in script based programming languages and be able to design, write and debug programs to solve non simplistic problems.
- To be able to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically when solving problems.
- Be able to make informed decisions on appropriate and efficient coding techniques such as sequence, selection, iteration and the use of functions
- To be able to design, Program, evaluate and refine solutions to problems
Year 10 Curriculum Intent
• 1.1 Systems architecture
• 1.2 Memory and storage
• 1.3 Computer networks, connections and protocols
• 2.1 Algorithms
• 2.2 Programming fundamentals
• 2.3 Producing robust programs
Year 11 Curriculum Intent
• 1.4 Network security
• 1.5 Systems software
• 1.6 Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology
• 2.4 Boolean logic
• 2.5 Programming languages and Integrated Development Environments