Teaching Staff

• J Franklin (Director of Learning)
• K Talbot
• T Murgatroyd

Department Information

ICT and Computer Science are one of the most important subjects for today’s society; this can be evidenced through work skill requirements and the importance that has been placed on Computer Science.  To meet these challenges the department has created a variety of courses with the appropriate content to ensure students develop the necessary skills for their future employment.

Curriculum Intent in ICT

Powerful knowledge in Computing/IT:

• Requirement to think creatively and innovatively to solve problems.
• Provides students with new ways of thinking about the world using ‘big ideas’ such as Automation, Computerisation and the future of technology.
• Provides students with powerful ways of analysing, explaining and understanding the world through modelling complex situations.
• Gives students power over their own knowledge.
• Gives students both theoretical and practical knowledge in order to develop products or solutions in an efficient way.
• Developing problem solving skills and the ability to think logically.

Key Stage 4 BTEC DIT (Digital Information Technology)

The Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Digital Information Technology, is for learners who wish to acquire knowledge and technical skills through vocational contexts by studying the knowledge, understanding and skills related to data management, data interpretation, data presentation and data protection as part of their Key Stage 4 learning. This builds on the learning that has already taken place at Key Stage 3. The qualification recognises the value of learning skills, knowledge and vocational attributes to complement GCSEs. The qualification will broaden learners’ experience and understanding of the varied progression options available to them.

The Award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific knowledge and skills in a practical learning environment, including:

• Development of key skills that prove their aptitude in digital information technology, such as project planning, designing and creating user interfaces, creating dashboards to present and interpret data

• Processes that underpin effective ways of working, such as project planning, the iterative design process, cyber security, virtual teams, legal and ethical codes of conduct

• Knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, processes and attitudes in the sector, such as how different user interfaces meet user needs, how organisations collect and use data to make decisions, virtual workplaces, cyber security and legal and ethical issues.

The course is made up of

Component 01 - Exploring User Interface Design Principles and Project Planning Techniques – internal assessment

Component 02 - Collecting, Presenting and Interpreting Data – internal assessment

Component 03 - Effective Digital Working Practices – external assessment (External assessment set and marked by Pearson, completed under supervised conditions, the assessment must be completed in 1 hour 30 minutes and is out of 60 with two chances to complete the exam.)

Year 10

Students will complete Component 1 and Component 2

Learning aim for component 1:

A Investigate user interface design for individuals and organisations

B Use project planning techniques to plan and design a user interface

C Develop and review a user interface.

Topics include for component 1:

• What is a user interface?
• Audience needs
• Design principles
• Designing an efficient user interface
• Project planning techniques
• Create a project plan
• Create an initial design
• Developing a user interface
• Refining the user interface
• Review

Learning aims for component 2:

A Investigate the role and impact of using data on individuals and organisations

B Create a dashboard using data manipulation tools

C Draw conclusions and review data presentation methods.

Topics include for component 2:

• Characteristics of data and information
• Representing information
• Ensuring data is suitable for processing
• Data collection
• Quality of information and its impact on decision making
• Sectors that use data modelling
• Threats to individuals
• Data processing methods
• Produce a dashboard
• Drawing conclusions based on the data
• How presentation affects understanding

Year 11

Component 3:

Assessment objectives for component 3:

AO1 Demonstrate knowledge of facts, terms, processes and issues in relation to digital information technology

AO2 Apply an understanding of facts, terms, processes and issues in relation to digital information technology

AO3 Analyse, evaluate and make reasoned judgements about the use, factors and implications influencing digital information technology

AO4 Make connections with the concepts, issues, terms and processes in digital information technology

Topics include for component 3:

• Modern technologies
• Impact of modern technologies
• Threats to data
• Prevention and management of threats to data
• Policy
• Responsible use
• Legal and ethical
• Forms of notation

Key Stage 4 OCR GCSE Computer Science

This OCR GCSE Computer Science course is made up of two examined units: Computer Systems (Comp 01) and Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (Comp 02). Both exams are worth 50% each and both exams are 1 hour 30 minutes each. These are single tier papers that include a mixture of short and long answer questions, some of which will require students to write program code. Students also complete a 20 hour programming project which must be covered as part of their skills developed for the second exam.

Computer Systems (Comp 01) Topics:

• Systems architecture
• Memory and storage
• Wired and wireless networks
• System security and software
• Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns

Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (Comp 02) Topics:

• Algorithms
• Programming techniques
• Producing robust programs
• Computational logic
• Translators and facilities of languages
• Data representation

Year 10

This year is focussing on exam techniques for both exams, where topics include: Systems architecture, Memory and storage, Wired and wireless networks, System security and software and Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns from the first exam. The second exam includes: Algorithms, Programming techniques, Producing robust programs, Computational logic, Translators and facilities of languages and Data representation.

Year 11

Revision of key topics for exam and key exam preparation is carried out in year 11.

Learning Journeys

BTEC IT

GCSE Computer Science

GCSE Core IT