COMPUTER SCIENCE

CURRICULUM:

COMPUTER SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT STAFF

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT:

MR D STAPLETON

Teaching Staff: Miss H Burt, Miss S Coldwell

Network Manager: Mr G Barton

IT Technicians: Mr S Rudd, Mr S Collier

KEY STAGE 3

Students will complete a series of units within KS3 to provide a breadth of knowledge of computer systems and various applications. The units are designed to give an insight into further qualification after KS3, and provide vital knowledge/skills of computer systems outside of the classroom.

The units are split into one per term.

Year 7

Unit 7.1: Introduction to Computer Science and Understand Hardware & Software
(Summative Assessment)
Unit 7.2: Algorithms and Flowcharts
Unit 7.3: Networks and Cryptography
(Summative Assessment)

Year 8

Unit 8.1: Data Representation
Summative Assessment
Unit 8.2: Interactive Multimedia Project
Unit 8.3: Programming with Python and Turtle
Summative Assessment

Year 9

Unit 9.1: Python Programming and Searching & Sorting Algorithms
Summative Assessment
Unit 9.2: Creating a Digital Graphic
Unit 9.3: Python Quiz Project
Summative Assessment

E-Safety lessons are delivered periodically throughout KS3.

KEY STAGE 4

OCR GCSE Computer Science (9-1):

The GCSE in Computer Science with OCR consists of three units as follows:

Component 01: Computer systems (Written Paper: 50%)

Introduces students to the central processing unit (CPU), computer memory and storage, wired and wireless networks, network topologies, system security and system software. It also looks at ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns associated with computer science.

Component 02: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (Written Paper: 50%)

Students apply knowledge and understanding gained in component 01. They develop skills and understanding in computational thinking: algorithms, programming techniques, producing robust programs, computational logic, translators and data representation. The skills and knowledge developed within this component will support the learner when completing the Programming Project.

Programming Projects

Students will complete a series of programming projects throughout the two years. This will involve designing, creating, testing and evaluating python projects for a variety of scenarios and will help prepare students for their GCSE exams. It will also allow the students to develop problem solving skills by teaching them decomposition and computational thinking strategies. These projects are marked internally and do not directly form part of students final GCSE grade.

OCR Cambridge Nationals Creative iMedia Level 1/2 Certificate:

The Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia will equip learners with a range of creative media skills and provide opportunities to develop, in context, desirable, transferable skills such as research, planning, and review, working with others and communicating creative concepts effectively. Using these skills, learners will ultimately be creating fit-for-purpose creative media products.

This course is comprised of three modules:

Unit R093 - Creative iMedia in Media Industry (Written paper, sat in May of Year 11 - 48 GLH)
Unit R094 - Visual identity and digital graphics (Internal assessment - 30GHL)
Unit R097 - Interactive digital media (Internal assessment - 42 GHL)

KEY STAGE 5

A-Level Computer Science:

This qualification consists of three components as follows:

Component 01: Computer Systems (Written Paper, 40%)

The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices
Software and software development
Exchanging data
Data types, data structures and algorithms
Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues

Component 02: Algorithms & Programming (Written Paper, 40%)

Elements of computational thinking
Problem solving and programming
Algorithms

Component 03: Programming Task (Non Examined Assessment, 20%)

Analysis of the problem (10 marks)
Design of the solution (15 marks)
Developing the solution (25 marks)
Evaluation (20 marks)

Cambridge Technicals in Digital Media

Our Cambridge Technicals in Digital Media helps students develop the knowledge and practical skills required in the digital media industry. Students gain hands-on experience of the production process, developing their ideas from planning, through editing and post-production, to final presentation.

Unit 1 – Media products and audiences

Students will develop an understanding of how different media institutions operate to create products that will appeal to specific target audiences.

It covers:

- The ownership models of media institutions.

- How media products are advertised and distributed.

- How meaning is created in media products.

- Target audiences of media products.

- How to evaluate research data used by media institutions.

- How to evaluate legal, ethical and regulatory issues associated with media products.

Unit 2 - Pre-production and planning

Students will gain an understanding into the pre-production process that the creative media industry follows when creating a product.

It covers:

- That factors that need to be considered during the planning of a media product.

- Able to interpret client requirements and target audience considerations.

- How to plan the pre-production of a media product.

Unit 3 - Create a media product

Students will develop an understanding of the production processes for producing either a print-based , audio-visual or audio media product. They will learn skills on professional software such as Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Illustrator.

Unit 6 – Social media and globalisation

Students will gain an understanding into the ways in which online technologies and social media products have created a globalised, connected society and how such tools are used by media producers.

Unit 20 – Advertising Media

Advertising media is all around us and in this unit, students will understand advertising campaigns and how audio-visual, print-based or audio advertising media are used within them. Students will plan and create an advertising campaign by selecting appropriate media components.