Curriculum

COMPUTER SCIENCE

| Education | Curriculum | Computer Science
The new computing curriculum teaches pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to solve problems. They will learn the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to create programs and systems of their own. As a result, our pupils will become responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
Computer Science at KS3
Year 7 Year 8
  • Folder Structures/File Types and E-Safety
  • Communication and Multimedia
  • Computer Systems
  • Computer Programming – Python
  • Spreadsheet Modelling
  • Computer Programming – Scratch (Game Design)
  • Understanding Computers
  • Computer Networks
  • Web Programming
  • Computer Programming – Python
  • Computer Programming – Scratch (Game Design)
  • Graphic Design
Assessment

Formal Assessment takes place at the end of each Half-Term.

Computer Science at KS4 (GCSE)
Year 9 Year 10 Year 11
  • Multimedia Systems
  • ICT for Business
  • Graphic Design
  • Introduction to Computer Science
  • Python Programming
  • Python Programming
  • Computer Systems
  • Networks
  • Systems Software and Security
  • Controlled Assessment
  • Python Programming
  • Computer Ethics and Law
  • Algorithms
  • Programming
  • Logic and Languages
  • Data Representation
Assessment

Examination Board: OCR

Component 1 – Computer Systems
Overview Focus
  • Written exam (1 hour 30 minutes)
  • 80 marks
  • 40% of GCSE
  • No calculators allowed
  • Systems architecture
  • Memory
  • Storage
  • Wired and wireless networks
  • Network topologies, protocols and layers
  • System security
  • Systems software
  • Moral, legal, cultural and environmental concerns
Component 2 – Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming
Overview Focus
  • Written exam (1 hour 30 minutes)
  • 80 marks
  • 40% of GCSE
  • No calculators allowed
  • Programming techniques
  • Producing robust programs
  • Computational logic
  • Translators and facilities of languages
  • Data representation
Component 3 – Programming Project
Overview Focus
  • Programming Project (20 hours)
  • 40 marks
  • 20% of GCSE
  • Non-exam assessment
  • Programming techniques
  • Analysis
  • Design
  • Development
  • Testing, evaluation and conclusions
Enrichment Offer

Pupils can use the IT facilities in the department or the library at both lunchtime and after school, as well as attend after school homework/support clubs. Intervention sessions to consolidate prior learning and ensure maximum progress are at the heart of our delivery model.

Useful Resources and Revision Support