Computer Science

Department vision 

Our vision is for pupils and students to develop a love of technology and acquire the knowledge and skills they need to access the ever-changing world of technology. Critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills are at the heart of the Computer science vision, and they can empower students and pupils to choose a future path within any field but specifically the field of technology and Computer science.   

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Intent

  Computer Science is the fastest developing subject on the planet, and the applications of it permeate the society to a very large extent.  The aim of the Computer Science department is to develop pupil’s concepts and skills so that they may choose Computer Science as an option or have sufficient skill to support their examination subjects and make a start to their working life.  We have a varied curriculum that allows us to develop and build on pupil’s skills and concepts learned through education and their everyday use of Computers. 

At Key Stage 3, we begin year 7 with the foundations navigating a network, data being represented by numbers and the making things happen in office applications. Pupils learn to navigate network security and different ‘drives’, as well as learning user skills such as keyboard shortcuts; skills which are re-enforced throughout the curriculum. Pupils also study online safety and how to keep themselves and others safe while using Computers and the Internet. In Year 8 we explore the topics of Networks, an introduction to web development using HTML and CSS, and how to design and build simple apps. In Year 9 pupils build on their use of different programs and look at technical topics such as Artificial Intelligence and cyber security. Students will also learn computational thinking principles and how they can be implemented into the Python programming which comprises the main learning point in Year 9. 

​A dual theme runs throughout the GCSE course – understanding / doing the work, and how to write it down. Pupils are taken through the course’s technical topics and given phrases which shows exactly how they should be writing down the answers to the questions. Programming techniques are taught using the Python language. Pupils are given examination standard questions throughout their GCSE course in order to give the maximum possible practice. We aim to finish teaching the course content within the early part of Spring term of year 11 and to dedicate the Spring and start of the summer term for revision. 

In A Level students start the course with advanced data representation and a programming as suits the needs of the group. They are taught Algorithms, Data Structures, Boolean logic and networking, all underpinned by the development of ‘Computational thinking’ and problem solving. We start doing examination questions from the first term with the aim to develop the students’ writing skills. In year 13 pupils undertake a practical project to design and build a computer system which fits into a context of their choice – this is worth 20% of their final grade. 

Implementation

 With an experienced part time and an experienced full-time teacher, collaborative curriculum planning is undertaken on an ongoing basis to ensure that, within the parameters of the available technical provision, the curriculum is adapted to both a class’s needs / ability level. 

Our curriculum is designed to teach our pupils essential skills, for these skills to be re-enforced and for the pupils to be able to make independent progress and facilitate projects which they may engage with outside school.  In Key Stage 3, we have worked hard to ensure that a wide range of software, concepts and skills are explored through each year. We aim to provide a foundation of software skills which pupils can use in their GCSE subjects. 

Our GCSE pupils and A Level students are given a clear understanding of the standards required by the exam board in their technical and written work.  We aim for our pupils and students to understand exactly why they are doing what they are doing, and how to maximise the marks they attain. 

 Impact

Pupils and students leave the school having gained understanding of Computer Science and having developed technical and problem-solving skills which will support further study and their first steps in the world of work.  Successful GCSE Computer Scientists are able to continue the subject at A Level if they so choose, whilst making a positive contribution to the school’s Progress 8 score. Computer Science ‘A Level’ students should be well placed to study for a degree in the subject, or to study logical / technical subjects in higher education.  

Computer science and the Christian Vision of our School 

Our Christian-oriented Computer science curriculum would emphasise the ethical use of technology. This involves teaching the students about the moral and ethical implications of their work in fields like artificial intelligence, data privacy, cybersecurity, and social media. Christian values such as honesty, integrity, respect for human dignity, and stewardship of God's creation can guide discussions on how technology should be used responsibly to serve humanity and honour God's purposes. 

Christianity often teaches that creativity reflects God’s own creativity. Our curriculum highlights how students can use their skills in Computer science and programming to create new technologies and platforms that serve the community, humanity and God’s purposes. These new technologies can include applications for different fields such as health and wellbeing, education and accessibility, all of which aim to improve lives and reflect Christian love and care. 

The curriculum would emphasise the importance of respecting human dignity and the rights of others in the digital world. This includes safeguarding user data, preventing exploitation or manipulation, and protecting vulnerable individuals from online harm. 

 

Overview of the Computer science curriculum: 

Keystage 3 

Year 7 

• Online safety 

• Networks – the Internet 

• Data representation in binary 

• Spreadsheet – including formulas 

Year 8 

• Networking, including hardware and Internet of things 

• Web development – designing and building web sites using HTML and CSS 

• Apps - designing and building simple apps 

Year 9 

• Cyber security 

• Representing images and sound in binary 

• Machine learning and AI 

• Computational thinking 

• Python programming 

 

OCR GCSE Computer science 

Paper 1: Computer systems 

• Systems architecture  

• Memory and storage  

• Computer networks, connections and protocols  

• Network security  

• Systems software  

• Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology 

Paper 2: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming 

• Algorithms  

• Programming fundamentals  

• Producing robust programs  

• Boolean logic  

• Programming languages and Integrated Development Environments 

 

OCR A Level Computer science 

Subject content 

• Components of a computer, the characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices 

• System software 

• Software development 

• Exchanging data 

• Boolean algebra 

• Data types and conversions  

• Data structures  

• Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues  

• Elements of computational thinking  

• Problem solving and programming  

• Algorithms to solve problems and standard algorithms 

• Networks 

These topics are taught across both Year 12 and 13, and are examined in two papers, paper 1: Computer systems and paper 2: Algorithms and programming. 

Non-exam assessment: Programming project 

The student will choose a computing/programming problem to work through and produce a write-up: 

• Analysis of the problem  

• Design of the solution  

• Developing the solution (programming)  

• Evaluation  

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