COMPUTER SCIENCE
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT:
MR D STAPLETON
STAFF:
Teaching Staff: Miss H Burt, Miss S Coldwell, Mr M Ashton-Thompson
Network Manager: Mr G Barton
IT Technicians: Mr S Rudd, Mr S Collier
KEY STAGE 3:
Students will complete a series of units within KS3 to provide a breadth of knowledge of computer systems and various applications. The units are designed to give an insight into further qualification after KS3, and provide vital knowledge/skills of computer systems outside of the classroom.
The units are split into one per term.
Year 7
Unit 7.1: Introduction to Computer Science and Understand Hardware & Software
(Summative Assessment)
Unit 7.2: Algorithms and Flowcharts
Unit 7.3: Networks and Cryptography
(Summative Assessment)
Year 8
Unit 8.1: Data Representation
Summative Assessment
Unit 8.2: Interactive Multimedia Project
Unit 8.3: Programming with Python and Turtle
Summative Assessment
Year 9
Unit 9.1: Python Programming and Searching & Sorting Algorithms
Summative Assessment
Unit 9.2: Creating a Digital Graphic
Unit 9.3: Python Quiz Project
Summative Assessment
E-Safety lessons are delivered periodically throughout KS3.
KEY STAGE 4:
OCR GCSE Computer Science (9-1):
The GCSE in Computer Science with OCR consists of three units as follows:
Component 01: Computer systems (Written Paper: 50%)
Introduces students to the central processing unit (CPU), computer memory and storage, wired and wireless networks, network topologies, system security and system software. It also looks at ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns associated with computer science.
Component 02: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (Written Paper: 50%)
Students apply knowledge and understanding gained in component 01. They develop skills and understanding in computational thinking: algorithms, programming techniques, producing robust programs, computational logic, translators and data representation. The skills and knowledge developed within this component will support the learner when completing the Programming Project.
Programming Projects
Students will complete a series of programming projects throughout the two years. This will involve designing, creating, testing and evaluating python projects for a variety of scenarios and will help prepare students for their GCSE exams. It will also allow the students to develop problem solving skills by teaching them decomposition and computational thinking strategies. These projects are marked internally and do not directly form part of students final GCSE grade.
OCR Cambridge Nationals Creative iMedia Level 1/2 Certificate:
The Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia will equip learners with a range of creative media skills and provide opportunities to develop, in context, desirable, transferable skills such as research, planning, and review, working with others and communicating creative concepts effectively. Using these skills, learners will ultimately be creating fit-for-purpose creative media products.
This course is comprised of three modules:
Unit R093 - Creative iMedia in Media Industry (Written paper, sat in May of Year 11 - 48 GLH)
Unit R094 - Visual identity and digital graphics (Internal assessment - 30GHL)
Unit R097 - Interactive digital media (Internal assessment - 42 GHL)
KEY STAGE 5:
A-Level Computer Science:
This qualification consists of three components as follows:
Component 01: Computer Systems (Written Paper, 40%)
The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices
Software and software development
Exchanging data
Data types, data structures and algorithms
Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues
Component 02: Algorithms & Programming (Written Paper, 40%)
Elements of computational thinking
Problem solving and programming
Algorithms
Component 03: Programming Task (Non Examined Assessment, 20%)
Analysis of the problem (10 marks)
Design of the solution (15 marks)
Developing the solution (25 marks)
Evaluation (20 marks)
