Computer Science

Curriculum Vision

Intent

For Computer Science and IT, the Curriculum has been based around the expertise knowledge of various members and experience in the department. It aims to ensure students at all stages can access the curriculum and be supported through each transition between year groups and supply the students with various skill sets which will be needed for their next steps. The start in Year 7 allows students to build knowledge on key topics and knowledge to support them each year and if they decided to choose the subject for KS4, the embedded routines and structures will be consistent Classwork will be differentiated to support those who are disadvantaged/SEND. Due to ongoing disruptions with the pandemic, the curriculum has slightly been adapted to offer more support in KS4 with Examination/Assignment preparation to ensure students are not left behind. During each topic, teachers will use various assessment methods to inform of students’ knowledge and gaps to support them in later stages. Key concepts will be taught regularly to ensure students have long term memory of key facts and key skills

Year Group	Autumn Term Sept- Oct	Autumn Term Oct- December	Spring Term	Summer Term
Year 7	E-Safety & Digital Literacy Students will learn the fundamental skills of using Google Classroom and Show My Homework alongside E-Safety topics to prepare them for the terms ahead.	Computer Crime and Cyber Security Students will know what Cyber Crime is and how computer crime can cause damages to various aspects of life. Key legislations will be taught here.	HTML Students will create and plan there own webpages using HTML code. More advanced learners will learn the basics of CSS	Spreadsheets & Programming Introduction Students will learn about Spreadhseets using MS Excel and Google Sheets to pracitce calculations and key numeracy skills. Students will also explore charts and various formuals. Students will also prepare for programming using Python.
Year 8	E-Safety Recap and HCI Students will recap over key e-safety measures and digital literacy and move onto understanding what HCI is and evaluating key software and hardware.	Programming with Python Turtle Learning how to plan programs using Flowcharts and code from scenarios using Python Turtle	Lets Communicate/The Bigger Picture Impacts of Technology on the world and the advancements of technoogy such as AI and How tech is used in all indsutries	Introduction to Computer Science Supporting the students who have doing CS in Year 9 and BTEC IT students by fundamental topics broken down into small impact lessons. Topics such as Data Rep, networks, Computer Arc to get them thinking about next year
Year 9 Computer Science	Data Representation Binary Numbers and Calculations. Exploring Logic gates and formulas for Image and Sound Representation	Computer Architecture Exploring the key components of a Computer and the different uses for each. Understanding how memory is stored and How operating systems are used in Computers.	Programming 1/ Problem Solving Theory Introduction to problem solving and computational thinking. Learning how to program using Python and exploring the basics of Data Types, Varibales, Functions, Loops and If Statetments.	Networks and Programming 2 Understanding key networks theory including what networks are, toplogies and data transmission speeds. Programming will be done alognisde to ensure students are not forgetting the key terms they have learnt.
Year 9 BTEC IT	Component 1 - Exploring User Interface Design Principles and Project Planning Techniques Introduction to course with learning about how important UI are and planning designs on UI.	Introduction to spreadsheet Using key formulas for Assessments(IF, COUNT, AVERAGE formulas)	Component 1 - Exploring User Interface Design Principles and Project Planning Techniques contd. Prep work for Assignment and Assignment briefs	Continuation of spreadsheets (more advanced formulas i.e. conditional formatting, VLOOKUP, absoulte cell referencese Further complex formauls for students to work on assignment
Year 10 Computer Science	Data Rep Recap with Programming Re-visiting Data Representation with focus on calculations and twos compliment. Programming to be done weekly to ensure students grasp content with Paper 2.	Computational Thinking with Programming Paper 2 selection topics to recap over problem solving alongside programming.	Issues and Impacts Essay based questions on Issues with Tech and the Impact on the wider world	Networks Recap with Computer Artchtecture Recapping Networks with focus on Connections and Protocols – Comp Arc to be added as a filler for the 6 marker questions
Year 10 BTEC IT	Component 3 - Modern Technologies Looking at(Communication methods/cloud storage/Inclusivity and accessibility around the workplace)	Component 2 –Coursework, Collecting, Presenting and Interpreting Data Assignment on collecting data (using existing modules studied)	Component 2 –Coursework, Collecting, Presenting and Interpreting Data contd.	Component 3 - Cyber security Understanding Internal data threats, data level protection, policy backups
Year 11 Computer Science	Paper 2 Scenario Programming Practice Scenario based programming for the Paper 2 electornic exam	Paper 2 Scenario Programming Scenario based programming for Paper 2 Electronics exam	Exam Questions Specification Support/Revision on Topics Revision on topics which have been covered and spec check to ensure all topics covered with Exam Questions support	Assessments/Exam Prep Assessments and Exam prep
Year 11 BTEC IT	Component 3 - Planning and communcation Creating Flowcharts, data flow diagrams, system diagrams	Component 3 - Implication of digital systems Theory of Environmental issues, data protection, equal access	Exam Questions Specification Support/Revision on Topics Prep for Assignments and Exams	Assessments/Exam Prep Assessments and Exam prep

Year Group

Autumn Term Sept- Oct

Autumn Term Oct- December

Spring Term

Summer Term

Year 7

E-Safety & Digital Literacy

Students will learn the fundamental skills of using Google Classroom and Show My Homework alongside E-Safety topics to prepare them for the terms ahead.

Computer Crime and Cyber Security

Students will know what Cyber Crime is and how computer crime can cause damages to various aspects of life. Key legislations will be taught here.

HTML

Students will create and plan there own webpages using HTML code. More advanced learners will learn the basics of CSS

Spreadsheets & Programming Introduction

Students will learn about Spreadhseets using MS Excel and Google Sheets to pracitce calculations and key numeracy skills. Students will also explore charts and various formuals. Students will also prepare for programming using Python.

Year 8

E-Safety Recap and HCI

Students will recap over key e-safety measures and digital literacy and move onto understanding what HCI is and evaluating key software and hardware.

Programming with Python Turtle

Learning how to plan programs using Flowcharts and code from scenarios using Python Turtle

Lets Communicate/The Bigger Picture

Impacts of Technology on the world and the advancements of technoogy such as AI and How tech is used in all indsutries

Introduction to Computer Science

Supporting the students who have doing CS in Year 9 and BTEC IT students by fundamental topics broken down into small impact lessons. Topics such as Data Rep, networks, Computer Arc to get them thinking about next year

Year 9 Computer Science

Data Representation

Binary Numbers and Calculations. Exploring Logic gates and formulas for Image and Sound

Representation

Computer Architecture

Exploring the key components of a Computer and the different uses for each. Understanding how memory is stored and How operating systems are used in Computers.

Programming 1/ Problem Solving Theory

Introduction to problem solving and computational thinking. Learning how to program using Python and exploring the basics of Data Types, Varibales, Functions, Loops and If Statetments.

Networks and Programming 2

Understanding key networks theory including what networks are, toplogies and data transmission speeds. Programming will be done alognisde to ensure students are not forgetting the key terms they have learnt.

Year 9 BTEC IT

Component 1 - Exploring User Interface Design Principles and Project Planning Techniques

Introduction to course with learning about how important UI are and planning designs on UI.

Introduction to spreadsheet

Using key formulas for Assessments(IF, COUNT, AVERAGE formulas)

Component 1 - Exploring User Interface Design Principles and Project Planning Techniques contd.

Prep work for Assignment and Assignment briefs

Continuation of spreadsheets (more advanced formulas i.e. conditional formatting, VLOOKUP, absoulte cell referencese

Further complex formauls for students to work on assignment

Year 10 Computer Science

Data Rep Recap with Programming

Re-visiting Data Representation with focus on calculations and twos compliment. Programming to be done weekly to ensure students grasp content with Paper 2.

Computational Thinking with Programming

Paper 2 selection topics to recap over problem solving alongside programming.

Issues and Impacts

Essay based questions on Issues with Tech and the Impact on the wider world

Networks Recap with Computer Artchtecture

Recapping Networks with focus on Connections and Protocols – Comp Arc to be added as a filler for the 6 marker questions

Year 10 BTEC IT

Component 3 - Modern Technologies

Looking at(Communication methods/cloud storage/Inclusivity and accessibility around the workplace)

Component 2 –Coursework, Collecting, Presenting and Interpreting Data

Assignment on collecting data (using existing modules studied)

Component 2 –Coursework, Collecting, Presenting and Interpreting Data contd.

Component 3 - Cyber security

Understanding Internal data threats, data level protection, policy backups

Year 11 Computer Science

Paper 2 Scenario Programming Practice

Scenario based programming for the Paper 2 electornic exam

Paper 2 Scenario Programming

Scenario based programming for Paper 2 Electronics exam

Exam Questions Specification Support/Revision on Topics

Revision on topics which have been covered and spec check to ensure all topics covered with Exam Questions support

Assessments/Exam Prep

Assessments and Exam prep

Year 11 BTEC IT

Component 3 - Planning and communcation

Creating Flowcharts, data flow diagrams, system diagrams

Component 3 - Implication of digital systems

Theory of Environmental issues, data protection, equal access

Exam Questions Specification Support/Revision on Topics

Prep for Assignments and Exams

Assessments/Exam Prep

Assessments and Exam prep

Impact

The impact of this curriculum will be that it leads to better assessments results due to reflecting what the students have learnt. Students who are also SEND or disadvantage will acquire skills from Year 7 to use throughout their school life, for example E-Safety and Digital Skills. Various links with other departments such as Mathematics will allow students to distinguish key skills learnt in other subjects and use these regularly. Where possible English Oracy will be promoted with students using communication skills and writing skills to debate, share and partake in discussion for various topics. Students will also learn skills which will help them on their educational journey up until they leave at Post-16 and use these skills for further education, training or employment.