Year 7 – Digital Literacy and Programming:

Students learn to use technology safely and responsibly, understand online safety, and develop core programming skills through Scratch to explore software solutions and game creation.

Year 8 – Digital Creativity and Data Handling:

Students explore image types, manipulation, and digital ethics using Adobe Fireworks (as well as cloud based solutions), to build the skills needed to create movie posters. They also develop spreadsheet skills, using formulas, functions, and graphs to analyse and present data.

Year 9 – Programming and Web Design:

Students advance to Python programming, using flowcharts and algorithms to plan code. They design and build responsive websites in Google Sites, integrating multimedia and digital graphics.

Students will study the theory of hardware, logical operations and a large portion of networking and cybersecurity. Students will also learn the theory of the structure of the CPU including registers, internal and external hardware, different types of storage and embedded systems. Students will also learn about topologies, protocols and details of networks, how the internet works and cyber security threats. Students will also gain knowledge of data representation and storage. Students will learn about data types, representation of numbers, representation of characters, graphics and sound. Students will learn about storage requirements, compression, data structures & file design and the coding behind it as well as learning about algorithms and constructs using both flowcharts & pseudocode. Students will learn about linear searching using code and records in files, validation using code and an introduction to verification and the differences to validation. Students will learn about software development, whilst studying a GCSE that is taught by subject specialists and assessed using an on-screen exam for coding skills, which will be delivered with the use of python coding skills as students develop their understanding and build on prior knowledge. The GCSE is assessed after two years by a written theory paper (COMP1) worth 50% and an on-screen coding exam (COMP2) worth 50%.

In KS5 students study Computing across 4 units as part of the BTEC L3 Extended Certificate in Computing (Level 3 qualification). In year 12 learners study the fundamental principles of how computer systems work, including the role of hardware and software, the way components of a system work together and how data in a system is used. This is externally assessed as 50% of year 12. This is studied alongside a unit on  IT Systems Security and Encryption. Learners will study IT system security threats and the methods used to protect against them. Learners undertake activities to protect IT systems from security threats, including data encryption. This is 50% of year 12 and internally assessed via coursework. In year 13, students study the Principles of Computer Science, which is a unit that covers the principles that underpin all areas of computer science in terms of algorithms and programming paradigms. It develops computational-thinking skills and students will apply those skills to solve problems in an externally assessed via exam that is worth 66% of year 13. The final 33% of year 13 utilises subject specialist skills to complete an internally assessed unit that may be one of either Computer Games Development or Website Development. This qualification is designed to support learners who are interested in learning about the computing sector alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in the computing sector. It is designed to be taken as part of a programme of study that includes other appropriate BTEC Nationals or A Levels. 

EDUQAS GCSE Computer Science - (Level 2 qualification)

BTEC Nationals Extended Certificate L3 BTEC in Computing

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