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Finding Us

Davenant Foundation School, Chester Road, Loughton, Essex, IG10 2LD
Telephone: 020 8508 0404
Fax: 020 8508 9301

We are in easy reach from various methods of transport.

Buses: 20, 677
Underground: Debden, Theydon Bois or Loughton. All on the Central Line.
SATNAV users: IG10 2LW. Parking at Davenant is available for visitors.
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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

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

Computing

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

Computing

  1. 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.
  2. Computational thinking skills with BEBRAS
    Developing problem-solving skills and participating in the BEBRAS international challenge.
  3. Mobile App Development Students learn to use App Lab to develop an app.
  4. Python Lists and Strings
    Students learn about string manipulation with Python and the list data structure.
  5. Boolean Logic 
    Students learn to create logic circuits and truth tables.
  6. Cybersecurity
    Learning about risks to data and how to prevent them.
  7. 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

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

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