At Key Stage 3, we aim to develop engagement and enthusiasm for computing whilst following the national curriculum. Pupils have the opportunity to acquire new and develop existing skills such as; logical thinking and problem-solving skills. They will use applications creatively to analyse data and design a variety of solutions to real-world problems. Lessons encourage pupils to make progress and develop confidence in the new skills they have acquired.
In Year 7 we introduce pupils to Google suite which is used heavily by both staff and pupils throughout the school to collaborate with peers and share work. In addition to exploring the benefits of technology, pupils investigate the potential dangers that are presented by a digital world and investigate steps which can be taken to avoid misuse and malpractice. Pupils develop their logical reasoning and computational thinking skills by learning block programming in Scratch and developing web pages using HTML. They are introduced to data handling and manipulation through spreadsheet software learning how to format data, write formulas and present results. Pupils improve their understanding of computer hardware by learning about the role of the different components inside a computer system.
The emphasis in Year 8 is to develop programming skills in python. Pupils are introduced to basic concepts and have the opportunity to put practice into reality by coding programs from scratch. They are shown how people in industry design programs starting with an initial idea to the finished application. Pupils are also taught how to query databases and explore how they are used in the real world including a project to solve crimes. This leads to computer networks and the importance of security. Pupils will appreciate the need for security and the devastation caused by information falling into the wrong hands. We also teach pupils about the language of computers ‘binary’ and how computers are able to process vast amounts of information. This gives pupils an appreciation of how computer systems developed over the decades into the supercomputers which are used by global companies like NASA. Pupils will also be introduced to Augmented Reality so they can develop a good understanding of this relatively new technology. They will have the opportunity to build on this understanding in Year 9.
In Year 9 pupils are able to choose IT or Computing to get a further feel for the subjects.
One of the skills they develop in IT is publishing skills which is essential in the world of digital marketing. They also are able to learn spreadsheet functions which they will use in a class-based project. Pupils further develop their understanding of Augmented Reality. They develop a deeper understanding of where AR is used in industry and everyday life. Creative thinking is developed where they come up with ways AR can be used in the future. We also provide them an opportunity to use AR software to create an AR program which needs to meet certain criteria.
In Computing pupils start off by developing a text adventure game using key skills and concepts introduced in class. Pupils develop their problem-solving skills further at this stage and are expected to interrogate their code when errors arise. Pupils develop more advanced programming skills, including reading/writing from files. Pupils also develop a deeper understanding of hardware and software. They will also expand their knowledge of number systems such as binary, denary and hexadecimal. At the end of the year, pupils will complete a programming project which encompasses all the programming skills they developed throughout the academic year.