“Computers themselves, and software yet to be developed, will revolutionize the way we learn.”
 Steve Jobs

Subject Leader:                      Mr M Goodman

Computing Teacher:             Mrs J Wright               

 

Overview
In the rapidly changing world we live in, capability in Computer science and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is an essential life skill that will enable all learners to innovate and strive towards excellence in this field.

Computer science and ICT are fundamental components of teaching at St Wilfrid’s School. Computing and ICT is taught as a compulsory subject to all students in Years 7, 8 and 9. As such, it is intended that all students acquire a number of transferrable skills in a broad range of software, both in Computing lesson and across the curriculum. Our aim is also to equip students with the ability to use technological tools to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information creatively and responsibly.

By following a progressive and innovative Computer science and ICT curriculum, students will develop the expertise and confidence to use ICT across a broad range of activities. Outside of formal teaching, students have access to well-resourced, modern computer suites where they are encouraged to work independently, using facilities for presentation of work in a range of subjects and for research. All students have their own email address and access to the internet.

 

Key Stage 3
Throughout years 7, 8 and 9 students study a wide variety of topics and learn new computing skills through exposure to a range of innovative technologies.

Year 7:

• 7.1 E-safety and e-literacy
• 7.2 Computer Basics
• 7.3 Spreadsheets
• 7.4 Databases
• 7.5 Flowol
• 7.6 Scratch

Year 8:

• 8.1 Spreadsheets
• 8.2 Hardware and Networks
• 8.3 Scratch
• 8.4 Small Basic
• 8.5 Understanding computers
• 8.6 My Digital World

Year 9:

• 9.1 Physical Computing – BBC Micro:Bits
• 9.2 Python
• 9.3 Websites
• 9.4 Back to the Future
• 9.5 Pygame
• 9.6 Cybersecurity

 

 

Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4 we offer OCR GCSE Computer science and OCR Creative iMedia

Computer Science GCSE – OCR
The course consists of three components:

Component:	Marks	Duration	Weighting
Computer Systems (01)	80	1 hours 30 mins	50%
Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (02)	80	1 hours 30 mins	50%

Component 1 and 2 are assessed by written exams, each worth 50% of the GCSE. In addition, all students are given the opportunity to undertake a programming task(s), either to a specification or to solve a problem (or problems), during their course of study. Students may draw on some of the content in both components when engaged in Practical Programming.

Component 1 - Computer systems– Exam 50%

• 1.1 Systems architecture
• 1.2 Memory and storage
• 1.3 Computer networks, connections and protocols
• 1.4 Network security
• 1.5 System software
• 1.6 Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology Component 2

Component 2 - Computational thinking, algorithms and programming – Exam 50%

• 2.1 Algorithms
• 2.2 Programming fundamentals
• 2.3 Producing robust programs
• 2.4 Boolean logic
• 2.5 Programming languages and Integrated Development Environments

Creative iMedia – OCR

The course consists of four units, one written exam and three pieces of coursework, each worth 25% of the overall qualification.

Unit	Marks	Duration	Guided learning hours	Weighting
R081: Pre-production skills (written exam)	60	1 hour 15 mins	30	25%
R082: Creating digital graphics (coursework)	60	Approx. 10 hours	30	25%
R091: Designing a game concept (coursework)	60	Approx. 10 hours	30	25%
R092: Developing digital games (coursework)	60	Approx. 10 hours	30	25%

R081: Pre-production skills

Students are introduced to a range of essential pre-production techniques used in the creative and digital media, including client brief, time frames, deadlines and preparation techniques

R082: Creating digital graphics

Building on the skills and understanding that they have developed in the previous unit, students explore where and why digital graphics are used and the techniques that are involved in their creation. They apply their skills and knowledge in creating digital graphics against a specific brief.

R091: Designing a game concept

Students learn the basics of planning and designing digital games for the creative digital media sector. They investigate the capabilities and limitations of different platforms, and identify core features of digital games as they create a games design concept proposal for presentation to a client for critical review.

R092: Developing digital games

Students create and test a playable game from an existing design or brief to develop their knowledge and understanding of different types of digital games creation software, hardware and peripherals.

 

Key Stage 5
At Key Stage 5 we offer OCR A Level Computer Science

OCR A Level Computer Science consists of three components:

Component:	Marks	Duration	Weighting
Computer Systems (01)	140	2 hours 30 mins	40%
Algorithms and programming (02)	140	2 hours 30 mins	40%
Programming project (03)	70	-	20%

 

 

Component 1: Computer Systems The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices. Types of software and the different methodologies used to develop software. Data exchange between different systems Data types, data structures and algorithms Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues
Component 2: Algorithms and programming What is meant by computational thinking (thinking abstractly, thinking ahead, thinking procedurally etc.) Problem solving and programming - how computers and programs can be used to solve problems. Algorithms and how they can be used to describe and solve problems
Component 3: Programming project Students are expected to apply the principles of computational thinking to a practical coding programming project. They will analyse, design, develop, test, evaluate and document a program written in a suitable programming language. The project is designed to be independently chosen by the student and provides them with the flexibility to investigate projects within the diverse field of computer science.

Prior Knowledge

For A Level Computer Science, students should have completed the GCSE Computing course to a Grade 5 or above and have a Grade 5 or above in GCSE Maths