Computer Science
Department Vision
Our vision is that all students experience a challenging and engaging curriculum in Computer Science and IT where rapid and sustained progress is made. Our aim is to provide all students with the knowledge to confidently master technical skills, techniques and be able to use devices safely. This will provide them with the ability to cope with the future demands for a higher level of technological knowledge and awareness in everyday life and future employment.
Year 7
Year 7
|
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Term 1 |
Impact of Technology |
|
Term 2 |
Using Media |
|
Term 3 |
Modelling Data |
|
Term 4 |
Networks |
components that make up computer systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems.
capacity for connected devices (‘internet of things’) to collect and share information about me with or without my knowledge (including microphones, cameras and geolocation).
can affect me.
|
Term 5 |
Data Representation |
(including text, sounds and pictures) can be represented and manipulated digitally, in the form of binary digits |
Term 6 |
Programming in Scratch |
|
Year 8
Year 8
|
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Term 1 |
Computer Systems |
|
Term 2 |
Developing for the Web |
improve the appearance of web pages
results when searches are made |
Term 3 |
Media |
|
Term 4 |
Data Science |
patterns and trends in order to help us gain insights
relation to data trends
and report findings |
Term 5 |
Mobile App Development |
|
Term 6 |
Intro to Python |
messages, assign values to variables, and receive keyboard input
assignment statements to calculate values
flow of program execution |
Year 9
Year 9
|
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Term 1 |
Computer Systems |
Open Source and Proprietary
system software
|
Term 2 |
Computational Thinking |
|
Term 3 |
Animations |
|
Term 4 |
Programming Techniques |
|
Term 5 |
Programming Project |
|
Term 6 |
Representations – Sound and Images |
|
Years 10 & 11
Year 10
|
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Term 1 |
1.2 Memory and Storage
|
- To understand why computers have primary storage - To understand why computers have secondary storage - To be familiar with data units and moving between each - To be able to convert from Binary and Denary - To be able to use hexadecimal - Understand how characters are represented in binary - Understand how an image is represented - Know how sound can be sampled and stored in digital form - To know the types of compression
|
Term 1 |
2.1 Algorithms |
- Understand the principles of computational thinking and how they are used to define and refine problems - Write or refine an algorithm using pseudocode and flowcharts - Create and use trace tables to follow an algorithm |
Term 2 |
1.5 System Software |
- To know what each function of an operating system does - Features of a user interface - To understand memory management - To know the user management functions - Be able to use file management features - To know the purpose and functionality of utility software |
Term 2 |
2.1.3 Searching and sorting algorithms |
- To understand standard searching algorithms and how to follow them - To understand standard sorting algorithms and how to follow them |
Term 3 |
1.1.1 Systems Architecture |
- To understand the purpose of the CPU and its components - To know how common characteristics of CPUs affect their performance - To know what the purpose and characteristics of embedded systems are |
Term 3 |
2.2 Programming Fundamentals |
- Be able to use variables, constants, operators, inputs, outputs and assignments - To use the three basic programming constructs: Sequence, Selection and Iteration - To use common arithmetic operators - To use the Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT - Have the ability to choose suitable data types for data in a given scenario |
Term 4 |
1.3 Computer networks, connections and protocols |
- To know the characteristics of LANs and WANs - The tasks performed by each piece of hardware - The concept of the Internet - Concept of servers - Understand the use of the Cloud - To know Star and Mesh network topologies |
Term 4 |
2.4 Boolean Logic |
- To know the truth tables for each logic gate - Recognition of each gate symbol - Ability to work with more than one gate in a diagram |
Term 5 |
1.3.2 Wired and Wireless networks |
- To understand the difference between Wired and Wireless connections - To understand the principle of encryption - Knowledge of the standard hardware needed to interact - To know the different types of protocols for different purposes - Know how layers are used in protocols |
Term 6 |
Programming Practice |
- To combine the skills learnt throughout the year and complete a series of programming tasks |
Year 11
|
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Term 1 |
1.3 Computer networks, connections and protocols |
- To know the characteristics of LANs and WANs - The tasks performed by each piece of hardware - The concept of the Internet - Concept of servers - Understand the use of the Cloud - To know Star and Mesh network topologies |
Term 1 |
2.2 Programming Fundamentals |
- Have the ability to choose suitable data types for data in a given scenario - Have the ability to manipulate strings - To use arrays, functions and procedures - To use basic file handling operations - To use SQL to search for data in databases |
Term 2 |
1.3.2 Wired and Wireless networks |
- To understand the difference between Wired and Wireless connections - To understand the principle of encryption - Knowledge of the standard hardware needed to interact - To know the different types of protocols for different purposes - Know how layers are used in protocols |
Term 2 |
2.3 Producing robust programs |
- To understand defensive design - Understand how to deal with invalid data - Use authentication to confirm identity |
Term 3 |
1.4 Network Security |
- To know the different threats posed to devices/systems - Have knowledge of how the attack is used and the purpose of the attack - To know how to limit the threats posed |
Term 3 |
2.3.2 Testing |
- To know the purpose of testing - To know the types of testing - To be able to identify syntax and logic errors - Selecting and using suitable test data |
Term 4 |
1.5 System Software |
- To know what each function of an operating system does - Features of a user interface - To understand memory management - To know the user management functions - Be able to use file management features - To know the purpose and functionality of utility software |
Term 4 |
2.5 Programming Languages and Integrated Development Environments |
- To know the characteristics of different programming languages - The purpose of translators - The characteristics of a compiler and an interpreter - Know the common tools and facilities available in an IDE |
Term 5 |
Revision and Final examination preparation |
Revision covering individual topics and past papers |
Term 6 |
Pre-enrolment tasks for WG6 |
Preparing students for the rigors of WG6 |
Related Careers
Related careers:
The skills and knowledge developed in Computer Science at GCSE and A Level are relevant to almost all jobs and workplaces. Here are a few examples of what you could become:
Software engineer
Electrical engineer
Artificial Intelligence engineer
User interface designer
Web developer
Network architect
Information security analyst
Data scientist
Mobile application designer
Computer Science teacher