Computing

Computers are widely used in all aspects of business, industry, government, education, leisure and the home.

We aim to give students the skills to facilitate their learning across the curriculum and develop a broad understanding of the fundamentals of computer science and the careers available in this ever-changing discipline.

“I have really enjoyed Computing. I have learnt so much about how computers work. Learning how to plan programs and write code was fun.”

^{Year 10 Computer Science student}

KEY STAGE 3

During Years 7-9 the following topics are taught:

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
Computing Key Skills Students learn to access and use school computer systems effectively. This includes the Google Workplace suite. Computational thinking skills with BEBRAS Developing problem-solving skills and participating in the BEBRAS international challenge. Introduction to Python Introduction to programming with python, which is a text-based language. Edublocks Extending programming knowledge through block-based Python. Spreadsheets Modelling data in spreadsheet software.	Computing Edublocks Extending programming knowledge through block-based Python. Computational thinking skills with BEBRAS Developing problem-solving skills and participating in the BEBRAS international challenge. Programming and problem-solving using BBC Microbits. HTML and CSS Students learn the fundamentals of website technologies. They build a website using HTML and CSS. Python selection Building additional skills in Python with the selection construct. AI - Artificial Intelligence Learning about artificial intelligence with Raspberry Pi.	Computing Python Programming with iteration. Students further develop their problem-solving skills during a series of challenges. This will revisit and build on skills from previous years. Computational thinking skills with BEBRAS Developing problem-solving skills and participating in the BEBRAS international challenge. Mobile App Development Students learn to use App Lab to develop an app. Python Lists and Strings Students learn about string manipulation with Python and the list data structure. Boolean Logic Students learn to create logic circuits and truth tables. Cybersecurity Learning about risks to data and how to prevent them. Photoshop Learning to use Photoshop for image manipulation.

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Computing

Key Skills
Students learn to access and use school computer systems effectively. This includes the Google Workplace suite.
Computational thinking skills with BEBRAS
Developing problem-solving skills and participating in the BEBRAS international challenge.
Introduction to Python
Introduction to programming with python, which is a text-based language.
Edublocks
Extending programming knowledge through block-based Python.
Spreadsheets
Modelling data in spreadsheet software.

Computing

Edublocks
Extending programming knowledge through block-based Python.
Computational thinking skills with BEBRAS
Developing problem-solving skills and participating in the BEBRAS international challenge.
Programming and problem-solving using BBC Microbits.
HTML and CSS
Students learn the fundamentals of website technologies. They build a website using HTML and CSS.
Python selection
Building additional skills in Python with the selection construct.
AI - Artificial Intelligence
Learning about artificial intelligence with Raspberry Pi.

Computing

Python Programming with iteration. Students further develop their problem-solving skills during a series of challenges. This will revisit and build on skills from previous years.
Computational thinking skills with BEBRAS
Developing problem-solving skills and participating in the BEBRAS international challenge.
Mobile App Development Students learn to use App Lab to develop an app.
Python Lists and Strings
Students learn about string manipulation with Python and the list data structure.
Boolean Logic
Students learn to create logic circuits and truth tables.
Cybersecurity
Learning about risks to data and how to prevent them.
Photoshop
Learning to use Photoshop for image manipulation.

KEY STAGE 4

Two courses are offered at key stage 4: GCSE Computer Science and Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia (equivalent to one GCSE).

Students studying GCSE Computer Science follow the OCR specification. During the course, the following topics are covered:

Year 10	Year 11
1. Programming (throughout the year) 2. Systems Architecture 3. Primary and Secondary Storage 4. Data Representation and compression 5. Boolean logic 6. Algorithms and programming fundamentals 7. Programming Languages and IDE's	1. Programming (throughout the year) 2. Computer networks 3. Network security 4. Operating Systems 5. Ethical, cultural and environmental impacts

Year 10

Year 11

1. Programming (throughout the year)

2. Systems Architecture

3. Primary and Secondary Storage

4. Data Representation and compression

5. Boolean logic

6. Algorithms and programming fundamentals

7. Programming Languages and IDE's

1. Programming (throughout the year)

2. Computer networks

3. Network security

4. Operating Systems

5. Ethical, cultural and environmental impacts

For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website: OCR GCSE Computer Science J277

A LEVEL

Students studying the subject at A Level follow the OCR specification. During the course the following topics are covered.

Year 12	Year 13
Computer Systems: 1. The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices 2. Software and software development 3. Data types and data structures 4. Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues Algorithms and programming: 5. Introduction to programming 6. Assembly language programming 7. Standard algorithms Programming project: 8. Analysis 9. Design	Computer Systems: 1. Exchanging data with networks, databases, web technologies, encryption and compression. 2. Efficiency of algorithms 3. Advanced data structures Algorithms and programming: 4. Elements of computational thinking 5. Problem solving and computational methods Programming project: 6. Development 7. Testing 8. Evaluation

Year 12

Year 13

Computer Systems:

1. The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices

2. Software and software development

3. Data types and data structures

4. Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues

Algorithms and programming:

5. Introduction to programming

6. Assembly language programming

7. Standard algorithms

Programming project:

8. Analysis

9. Design

Computer Systems:

1. Exchanging data with networks, databases, web technologies, encryption and compression.

2. Efficiency of algorithms

3. Advanced data structures

Algorithms and programming:

4. Elements of computational thinking

5. Problem solving and computational methods

Programming project:

6. Development

7. Testing

8. Evaluation

For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website: OCR A Level Computer Science