Computing: Key Stage 3 and 4

Computer Science and IT Curriculum Rationale 

The KS3 curriculum is designed around some of the core principles of the Computer Science A Level and GCSE: Computer Systems, Data Representation, Basics of Code, Project completion, and Cyber Security.   

Early on we use the rationale that for students to access all the curriculum and to benefit the school, we teach beyond the curriculum for the majority of the time in Year 7 to give students the wider IT skills they require to be good digital citizens. We establish student accounts on the school network, and we introduce them to several key systems used within the school.  We also teach a unit of work on using Microsoft Word for an appropriate audience and a unit of work on the basics of Microsoft Excel.  We also introduce students to using HTML to create a web page based upon E-Safety concepts.  Little of the Year 7 content is related immediately to the GCSE syllabus, but the work done enables students to transition successfully to secondary school, where digital platforms are used across all departments in school. The most important part that we link to GCSE is beginning to build the programming skills of the students and we do this through the use of Turtle inside the Python programming language.  However, everything we do is all in line with guidance from the National Curriculum for computing at KS3, and it opens further possibilities that allow students to make rapid progress in Year 8.  

Computer Systems and Data Representation form a key part of the curriculum.  They are introduced in Year 8, revisited in Year 9 and then taught in Year 10 for the GCSE.  The spiral design allows us to build on concepts in order to give students a thorough grasp of how computers function and how the design of hardware underpins how we represent data through binary.  The programming concepts that were introduced in Year 7 and re-visited in Year 8 and in Year 9, the emphasis is because half of the GCSE is based upon programming concepts and there is an absolute necessity that A Level students are capable at solving a computational problem through a coded solution.  This is something we must build over the five-year duration.  

In Year 8 and 9 we build on the skills established in Year 7, and we have the following priorities:  

• To be able to design, use and evaluate computational abstractions that model the state and behaviour of real-world problems and physical systems  

• To be able to program in a minimum of two programming languages to solve a variety of computational problems.  

• To have an understanding simple Boolean logic [AND, OR and NOT] and some of its uses in circuits and programming. To understand how numbers can be represented in binary and be able to carry out simple operations on binary numbers.  

• To understand the hardware and software components that make up computer systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems  

• Understanding how instructions are stored and executed within a computer system.  To have an understanding how data of various types (including text, sounds and pictures) can be represented and manipulated digitally, in the form of binary digits.  

• To complete projects using and combining multiple applications to achieve challenging goals.  

• To be able to create, reuse, revise and repurpose digital artefacts for a given audience, with attention to trustworthiness, design and usability  

• To be able to understand a range of ways to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly and securely, including protecting their online identity and privacy; recognise inappropriate content, contact and conduct, and know how to report concerns.  

During Year 9 students are given support with their decision making process around selecting Computer Science at GCSE level.  The first two phases of the year contain material that is intentionally chosen to act as a ‘taster’ for GCSE level content, allowing students to make informed choices.  

In KS4, to meet the needs of the GCSE curriculum content, we alter the priorities established in KS3 to:  

• To be able to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms, and data representation.  

• To be able analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including designing, writing and debugging programs  

• To be able to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically.  

• To understand the components that make up digital systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems.  

• To be able to understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual and to wider society   

• To have the ability to apply mathematical skills relevant to Computer Science.  Students must be able to calculate using multiplication to a good level without a calculator. All calculations are completed in lesson without a calculator so that students can understand how to answer exam style questions.  

These priorities get deepened as we go through KS5, and we expand and develop the concepts learnt at GCSE as well as adding the additional requirements for A Level study.   

The curriculum is relatively new. At GCSE a new specification was introduced again two years ago, and the adjustments and changes introduced in the school only finally took shape over the course of last year, however the Units that have not proved to be as effective or rewarding for students last year are being reworked / replaced in order to bring maximum benefit to the progress of students.

Curriculum 

Students have opportunities to develop knowledge of theoretical concepts as well as practical-based problem solving skills in a variety of ‘real-life’ situations. 
Every pupil has access to a PC throughout their taught curriculum time. 

Resources 

The department consists of two ICT Suites, each containing 32 ‘Thin Client’ Pcs.  Students also have access to other ICT facilities in other locations around the school. Each student is also encouraged to purchase a portable device in order to ensure network access as and when required. 

Enrichment 

Students have access to the ICT Suites before school, during lunchtime and after school. They are encouraged to work independently to solve problems and develop the skills that are required to be a successful ICT practitioner in the business world. 

Students can join our Coding Club which meets each lunchtime to collaboratively solve programming problems, create games etc. They can work towards achieving bronze, silver and gold level merit badges in each coding language, including Python, Scratch, C# and HTML.