Curriculum Intent for Computing

Welcome to Finham Park School ICT & Computing Department! We are an enthusiastic team of teachers who are excited about the world of Computer Science. We are also proud to be a G Suite for Education school and fully embrace this technology in our teaching. All of the school’s PCs run the latest Windows operating system and Microsoft Office. There is also a range of software available which allows students to express their creativity in different areas.
Students will embrace three aspects of technology; computing, information technology and digital literacy. The main strand will be computing as this will introduce computational techniques that can be applied to everyday problems and most importantly students will appreciate that there are different ways to achieve an outcome. The information technology strand is also achieved through a diverse Creative iMedia curriculum, allowing students to express their creativity.
We have a varied and exciting curriculum which encompasses both Computing and Creative iMedia in different ways. In KS3, students follow the national curriculum which includes the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science; abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. We continue this into KS4 and KS4 where we equip students with a broad range of units which enable them to program and become proficient, responsible, and creative users of information communication technology (digital literacy), and Computing.
We have an extremely popular A-level offering in Computer Science which enables students to further their learning into more advanced areas including problem-solving, algorithms, programming and abstraction. Our results are consistently good and our students praise our curriculum delivery through student voice and excellent outcomes after KS5. 

KS3: Year 7 - 9

Click here to download the Key Stage 3 Assessment Criteria in this subject (Years 7-9)

Students in Years 7, 8and 9 have two lessons a fortnight. Students follow a rigorous programme of study for Key Stage 3 and will undertake a diverse and challenging range of projects.

The following projects are covered in Year 7:

  • Impact of Technology – Collaborating Online Respectfully
  • Impact of Technology – Collaborating Online Respectfully
  • Gaining Support for a Cause
  • From semaphores to the Internet
  • Modelling Data – Spreadsheets
  • Programming essentials in Scratch: part I
  • Physical computing with the micro:bit

Year 7 enrichment includes pupils looking at coding using the Micro:bit, a development from the BBC to reintroduce programming into the curriculum. Pupils will look to code and create different programs through set tasks, and running them on the Micro:bit device.

The following projects are covered in Year 8 and 9:

  • Graphic design
  • Computing systems
  • Representations: from clay to silicon
  • Cybersecurity
  • Introduction to Python Programming
  • Data Science

KS4: Year 10 and 11

If students choose to continue with iMedia or Computing after Year 8, there are two options that can be chosen:

 

Option A: OCR Computer Science (9-1) – J277 (teaching from 2020)

This course has been designed to give students an in-depth understanding of how computer technology works. It’s excellent preparation for higher study and employment in the field of computer science. Students will develop their critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills, which can be transferred to other subjects.

The course content:

Component 01 – Computer Systems (J277/01) – (Exam – worth 50% – 80 marks)

  • 1 Systems architecture
  • 2 Memory and storage
  • 3 Computer networks, connections and protocols
  • 4 Network security
  • 5 Systems software
  • 6 Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology

Component 02 – Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming

(Exam – worth 50% – 80 marks)

  • 1 Algorithms
  • 2 Programming fundamentals
  • 3 Producing robust programs
  • 4 Boolean logic
  • 5 Programming languages and Integrated Development Environments

Practical Programming Project: all students must be given the chance to do practical programming. Although not assessed, confirmation of doing this must be sent to the exam board.

Further information can be found here:

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/computer-science-j277-from-2020/

 

Option B: OCR Cambridge Nationals: Creative iMedia Level 2 Award/Certificate (J807, J817) 

Creative iMedia enables students to gain knowledge in a number of key areas in the ICT and media field, from pre-production skills to website creation and sound editing.

The course content includes: :

  • RO81 Pre-Production Skills (Exam – worth 25%)
  • RO82 Digital Graphics (Controlled Assessment coursework – worth 25%)

Two further units also are covered out of the following:

  • RO87: Creating Interactive multimedia products (Controlled Assessment coursework – worth 25%)
  • RO88 Creating a Digital Sound Sequence (Controlled Assessment coursework – worth 25%)

Option B is suited to those:

-Students who enjoy a practical, “hands-on” approach to learning

-Students who enjoy using computer software to create  digital content (i.e. graphics, sound, websites)

-Students who are interested in computing and ICT but are not interested in learning to code

Further information can be found here:

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-nationals/creative-imedia-level-1-2-award-certificate-j807-j817/

KS5 (Year 12 & Year 13)

There are two courses offered in KS5:

1) OCR Cambridge Technical in ICT (Level 3) IT Level 3 (2016 – 05838–05842, 05877)

In Year 12, you will undertake 2 examined modules. The two examined units are core units. These are (worth 100% of the AS equivalent course and 50% of the A2 equivalent course): 

  • Fundamentals of IT (Multiple Choice and short written answer exam)
  • Global Information (Case Study exam)

In Year 13, there are no exams, just coursework. You will study the Application Designer pathway which will include the following three coursework modules:

  • Unit 6 Application Design
  • Unit 8 Project Management
  • Unit 13 Social Media and Digital Marking

More details can be found here:

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-technicals/information-technology/#level-3

 

2) OCR A-Level Computer Science (Computer Science – H446)

The course content consists of:

Computer systems (01) worth 40%

  • The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices
  • Types of software and the different methodologies used to develop software
  • Data exchange between different systems
  • Data types, data structures and algorithms
  • Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues.

Algorithms and programming (02) worth 40%

  • What is meant by computational thinking (thinking abstractly, thinking ahead, thinking procedurally etc.)
  • Problem solving and programming – how computers and programs can be used to solve problems
  • Algorithms and how they can be used to describe and solve problems.

Programming project (03) worth 20% 

Students are expected to apply the principles of computational thinking to a practical coding programming project. They will analyse, design, develop, test, evaluate and document a program written in a suitable programming language. The project is designed to be independently chosen by the student and provides them with the flexibility to investigate projects within the diverse field of computer science. We support a wide and diverse range of languages. The project will consist of:

  • Analysis of the problem
  • Design of the solution
  • Developing the solution
  • Evaluation

More details can be found here:

https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/170844-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-computer-science-h446.pdf

Department Staff

Head of Computing and ICT Mr Bridgeman (BEd, CTeach, Certified Google Educator) 
  Ms S Mahmood (BSc)
  Mr Downie (Assistant Headteacher) (BSc)
  Mr Parsons (BSc)

Computer Science Learning Journey

Creative iMedia Learning Journey