Introduction

It is the aim of the department to enable students to develop skills and knowledge in computer science and digital technologies to prepare them for a future in a world where the use of this technology is fully embodied.  We wish to enthuse students to have an understanding far deeper than the interface that they currently operate.  

We aim to enable students to develop a love of learning for the subject and an understanding that there are no limits to their own development in computing.  An important life skill for anyone is to problem solve. Developing computational thinking will aid learners with their Computer science studies and, as it is embedded within everyday life activities. Students will be given guidance on how to work safely on-line so that it will be second nature to carry out all the necessary steps for their own safety as well as those around them. 

At KS3 students will be given the opportunity to develop their computer coding and digital technology skills.  Learning text based programming languages. This will  allow them to take their studies onto KS4 and to Further and Higher education if they desire and ultimately secure a career within a large range of industries.

‘It’s not a faith in technology. It’s faith in people’ (Steve Jobs)

KS3

In year 7 students need to be confident in using both Microsoft/Google Office Suites and have a clear understanding of selecting the correct piece of software to complete a given task.  Students must grasp the basics of how a computer is made up of different components and how each component has a specific role to play, introducing Computational thinking. Students are introduced for the first time to text based programming through the use of the BBC MicroBit devices and Kodu Game Lab to ensure they have a clear understanding of the basic constructs of text based programming.

In Year 8 students are expected to be able to understand how numbers can be represented in binary, and be able to carry out simple operations on binary numbers.  Text based programming projects are used to introduce more detailed concepts of programming constructs in Python.

In Year 9 students need to be confident in their understanding of Logic Gates and how these are used to represent the electronics within a computer system.  

KS4

Specification code: J277

Exam Board: OCR

Content overview: 

Our GCSE in Computer Science is engaging and practical, encouraging creativity and problem solving. It encourages students to develop their understanding and application of the core concepts in computer science. Students also analyse problems in computational terms and devise creative solutions by designing, writing, testing and evaluating programs.

At key stage 4 Computer Science follows the OCR GCSE specification. The OCR specification is relevant to the modern, changing world of computing; it’s designed to boost essential computing skills for the 21st century. 

OCR specification focuses on: 

  • Computational thinking as its core, helping students to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand human and machine intelligence.
  • Applying the academic principles they learn in the classroom to real-world systems in an exciting and engaging way. 
  • Giving students a clear progression into A or AS level Computer Science and higher education, as the course was designed after consultation with members of BCS, CAS and top universities.

There are 2 exam papers which are separated into separate units of study. At the end of each unit students complete a short assessment test containing 10-20 exam type questions.

(Grades 9 to 1)

Paper 1 Marks  Duration 
J277/01 – Computer Systems  80 1 hour 30 minutes 

(Grades 9 to 1)

Paper 2 Marks  Duration 
J277/02 – Computational thinking, algorithms and programming 80 1 hour 30 minutes 

Careers

There are a wide variety of careers related to computer science, which are underpinned by a range of important employability skills that will support aspirations of having a successful career within this industry. These include; analysis and critical evaluation of information, team work, proficiency with programming languages, mathematical skills, problem-solving capability, communication and writing skills.

Career Role Outline 
Network Roles Performing network maintenance and system upgrades.
Web Design Developer Building applications and websites hosted on the internet.
Data Scientist Analyse and interpret complex data sets relating to the employer’s business. prepare reports for internal and external audiences using business analytics reporting tools. create data dashboards, graphs and visualisations. provide sector and competitor benchmarking.
Cyber Security Analyst/Consultant Monitor for attacks, intrusions and unusual, unauthorised or illegal activity.
Information Systems Managers An information systems manager is often responsible for: Managing IT department budgets and prioritising funds based on primary department goals. 
Database Administrator Managing access to systems that store company information.
Information Systems Managers They oversee the use of Hardware and software technology in a business.
Software Engineer and programmer A Software Developer creates, tests and maintains computer programs and websites for businesses.