Welcome to the ICT Department

 

ICT & Computing offers an exciting curriculum designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary in all jobs as well as more specific ICT sectors. We strongly believe in being able to equip our young people for the increasingly technological world of work and to provide them with thorough routes into the ICT & Computing industry.

We have a proud history of excellent pupil progress and attainment.  Students consistently demonstrate a positive enthusiasm for the subject and we continue to evolve our ICT provision to ensure they are equipped with the latest leading education to meet the ever changing needs of the technological age.  

We offer a wide curriculum where ALL pupils can succeed and have a strong support network to ensure that everyone gets the help and support they need. 

Our departmental aims are:

  1. To provide pupils with a broad ICT Curriculum.
  2. To stimulate curiosity, interest and enjoy the study of ICT.
  3. To promote the interest in the use of ICT to produce work for other curriculum areas.
  4. To allow pupils to use modern technology and topics appropriate to their study needs.
  5. To raise pupil awareness of the works in which ICT tools and information sources can help their work.
  6. To provide pupils with a rich ICT experience in preparation for modern society.

The school has invested heavily in ICT and the department has 4 fully equipped suites of networked PCs to ensure that the needs of students’ are catered for. Microsoft Office 2013 (which will shortly be updated to Office 2019) is installed on all PCs as well as other industry recognised software, such as Serif Draw Plus, allowing graphics and animation skills to be developed by the pupils. Pupils also have access to the Office 365 online suite of software.

Key Stage 3

ICT is taught via discrete ICT lessons in years 7 and 8, following National Curriculum guidelines. Pupils are taught to become increasingly independent users of ICT, aware of the way in which ICT tools and information sources can help them in their work.  Pupils are encouraged to communicate their experiences, compare the use of ICT with other methods and discuss the wider impact of ICT on society. ICT is used to analyse and interpret data and produce new information on which to draw conclusions.  

The department concentrates on skill development in the areas of word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheets and databases as well as graphics and animation sessions to develop their more creative side. We also cover safe use of the Internet and how to search for information, developing a growing awareness of the relevance and plausibility of information and begin to identify and question bias in sources.  

Throughout Year 8 pupils build upon previous knowledge and learn other software packages including Serif Draw Plus, Moviemaker, and Audacity.  All learners are enthused by the range of packages and topic areas undertaken which prepare them well for progression into KS4.

 

Key Stage 4

Computer Science gives pupils the opportunity to gain an understanding of the way computers work, and to create and review computer programs for real-life purposes based on their own interests. It encourages them to create their own games, applications and other systems, rather than simply use those designed by others.  There are three units:-

1.  A written exam (50%) - Unit 1: Understanding Computer Science

2.  An on-screen exam (30%) - Unit 2: Computational Thinking & Programming

3.  A controlled assessment (20%) - Unit 3: Software Development

The ICT course combines essential theory with practical skills to equip learners for further study or to enter employment.  There are two examinations, each worth 20% - Unit 1: Understanding ICT and Unit 3: ICT in Organisations.  There are two controlled assessments, each worth 30%, Unit 2 – Solving Problems with ICT, where pupils experience a scenario based project requiring them to produce a portfolio of work showing their attainment in obtaining and interpreting different types of information; using, developing and communicating information to meet the purpose of their studies and presenting the results.  In year 11 pupils develop a Multimedia ICT Solution, using a wide range of software applications including animation, movie and sound.

Key Stage 5

The popular ICT specification encourages candidates to become discerning users of ICT, developing a broad range of skills and understanding which can lead to further learning or employment.  There are 2 written examination papers (60%) and 2 coursework units (40%).

The Computer Science specification provides a framework for exploration of how computers are used in the solution of a variety of problems.  Learners develop their knowledge of computing theory and put this into practical use in demonstrating their skills in programming.

There are five units:-

  • 3 written exams (65%)
  • 1 on-screen exam (15%)
  • 1 coursework project (20%)