Curriculum – Computing and Business
Vision
Computers are ubiquitous and fulfil an important role in everyday life. Being digitally literate is an essential skill for our students to participate fully in society.
Students follow the National Curriculum programme of study for Computing in KS3, which incorporates Computer Science, ICT and E-Safety.
Students learn best when they are engaged and enthused, this is achieved through innovative lesson activities.
Students currently receive 1 hour lesson per week in KS3 and are taught in mixed ability groups.
Department Virtue
Our department virtue is Knowledgeable. We believe that technologies like the World Wide Web and Internet enhance learning.
As teachers , we ensure that students appreciate this and respect the use of technology. In lessons, teachers use Catholic teaching where appropriate to enhance students spirituality.
Computer Curriculum Mapping Layer 2 – The Overview of KS3
| Year | Half Term 1 | Half Term 2 | Half Term 3 & 4 | Half Term 5 & 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | E-Safety and introduction to the college network. Folders, security, gmail, doddle, using search engines, cyberbullying, online grooming, phishing and malware. | Computer systems. Types of computer, input and output devices, internal components, RAM, ROM, virtual memory and secondary storage. | Data Representation and Computational Thinking. Analogue to digital conversions. Binary to denary ( vice versa ). Algorithms, decomposition, pattern recognition and problem solving. | Computer Programming Sequencing, variables, data types and selection. Debugging. Physical computing and robots. |
| Year 8 | Computer Security. Computer hacking. Threats to networks. Copyright. Designs & Patents Act and the Computer Misuse Act. | Computer Networks Difference between the www and the internet. Network hardware. Definition of a network. LAN and WAN, topologies, advantages and disadvantages. | Data Representation and Algorithms Binary conversion, binary addition. Searching algorithms, decomposition. Problem solving and flowcharts. | Computer programming Sequencing, variables, data types, selection and iteration. Debugging. Physical computing using robots. |
| Year 9 | E-Safety Sexting, selfies, pornography, trolling, online gambling and age rating. | Multimedia product Students evaluate existing Pixar trailers, learn about file types and their characteristics, compression. Creation of Pixar trailer for a specific purpose ad audience. | Computer Hardware Systems architecture (CPU) binary conversion and adding binary numbers, logic gates, hexadecimal, image of representation. | Computer programming Computational thinking, sorting algorithms, sequencing, string manipulation, selection, “for” and “while” loops. Debugging. Physical computing using robots. |
GCSE Subjects
We offer three subjects at GCSE, Computer Science which is part of the English Baccalaureate, along with Creative iMedia and Enterprise and Marketing.
Computer Science
Students learn how a computer works and how components like the CPU work with other parts of a computer system. Furthermore, the subject offers an opportunity for students to learn about the moral, ethical and legal issues surrounding computer use in society.
Students develop their understanding of the fundamentals of computer science: abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms and data representation. The subject is creative, with students designing , writing and debugging code to solve problems.
Creative iMedia
Creative iMedia is a media sector-focused qualification, equipping students with an understanding of how the digital media sector works. Students learn how to work to client briefs, designing multimedia products to meet the clients needs. The subject utilises ICT software to teach students how to create digital graphics, video, animation and sound, and how to edit them for a specific purpose and audience.
Enterprise & Marketing
Students develop their understanding of enterprise and marketing through practical and theoretical activities in the first topic, which can then be applied to topic two and three. In the second topic, students design a business proposal to meet a specific business challenge, currently hat or pizza business. In the third topic students create a brand identity, promotional plan, including presentation to pitch their idea to an external audience, in a “dragon den style “.
GCSE Assessment
Course: OCR Computer Science J277
The GCSE is assessed through two written examinations that equally weighted and account for 100%.
Paper 1 – Computer Systems
Paper 2 – Computational thinking, algorithims and programming
- Written paper: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- 50% of total GCSE 80 marks. This is a non-calculator paper.
- All questions are mandatory.
- This paper consists of multiple choice questions, short response questions and extended response questions.
- Written Paper: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- 50%of total GCSE 80 marks. This is a non-calculator paper.
- This paper has two sections: Section A and Section B. Stuednts must answer both sections. All questions are mandatory.
- In section B, questions assessing students’ ability to write or refine algorithims must be answered using either the OCR Exam Reference Language or the high-level programming language they are familiar with.
Course OCR Creative iMedia J817
Mandatory Units
Optional Units
R081: Pre-production skills
Written paper OCR-set and marked 1 hours and 15 mins – 60 marks. Worth 25% of the overall qualification.
R082:Creating digital graphics
Centre – assessed tasks that are then moderated by the examining board (OCR). Approximately 10 hours, worth 60 marks . This unit contributes to 25% of the overall qualification.
R087: creating Interactive multimedia products
Centre-assessed tasks that are then moderated by the examining board ( OCR) . Approximately 10 hours, worth 60 marks. This unit contributes to 25% of the verall qualification.
R088: Creating a digital sound sequence
Centre assessed tasks that are then moderated by examining board(OCR). Approximately 10 hours , worth 60 marks. This unit contributes to 255 of the overall qualification.
Course: OCR Enterprise and Marketing J819
Students gain either a Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction* in this subject. Students complete one written examination and two coursework units.
R064: Enterprise and Marketing Concepts
Written paper OCR-set and marked 1 hour 15 mins – 80 marks. Worth 50% of the overall qualification.
R065: Design a business proposal
Centre-assessed tasks that are then moderated by the examining board. Approximately 10 hours, worth 60 marks. This unit contributes to 25% of the overall qualification.
R066: Market and pitch a business proposal
Centre-assessed tasks that are then moderated by the examining board. Approximately 10 hours, worth 60 marks. This unit contributes to 25% of the overall qualification.
Higher education pathways
Studying Computer Science, Creative iMedia or Enterprise and Marketing provides a foundation for further learning in higher education. There are a number of courses available locally including:
A-Levels Vocational
- Accounting
- Business Studies
- Computer Science
- Graphic Design
Vocational
- Applied Business
- Applied IT
- Extended Diploma in Enterprise and Marketing
- Extended Diploma in Computing
Future Careers
Over 70% of adults use a computer every day. Despite ICT being ubiquitous, there is still a digital skills shortage in the UK, with lots of potential careers and too many to list them all:
- Administrator
- Advertising
- Animator
- Artificial Intelligence
- Banking
- Business Adviser
- Business Analyst
- Business Consultant
- Business Development Manager
- Commercial Manager
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Computer Hardware Engineer
- Computer Programmer
- Cyber Security
- Database Administrator
- Data Scientist
- Digital Media
- Economist
- Entrepreneur
- Film editor
- Financial Analyst
- Forensic Computer Analyst
- Games Designer
- Games Tester
- Graphic Design
- Information Security Analyst
- Internal Auditor
- IT Analyst
- IT Project Manager
- Television
- Management Consultant
- Marketing
- Network Administrator
- Network Manager
- Procurement Manager
- Recruitment
- Risk Manager
- Security Analyst
- Sound Engineer
- Supply Chain Manager
- Systems Integration Engineer
- Systems Software Developer
- Systems Manager
- Quantitative Analyst
- Teacher
- Video Producer
- Visual Effects Artist
- Website Designer