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Computing

Curriculum Intent Statement for Computing

Intent

The computing curriculum at GM school is designed to equip pupils with computational thinking, problem solving and digital literacy skills, to be able to navigate real life challenges and the wider world of work. This is done through:

  • Making students aware of the wide range of career options available to promote ambitious choices in the computing industry
  • Increasing students’ cultural capital by giving access to digital resources, in and outside of school, tackling the increasing digital divide, whilst also reducing the gender gap
  • Providing students with meaningful qualifications and opportunities which enable them to be successful and achieve within school, in their lives and in their work after leaving us
  • Enabling students to build an understanding of the wider ethical and legal issues with regard to computer use

Implementation

To deliver a range of topics that offer students the possibility for them to learn what makes up the digital world; data entry; building computers; graphic designs; programming; cryptography; etc.

From the start to end of a topic, students will work on an overarching project; lessons will focus on individual skills which will be used together for the summative assessment.

Knowledge is taught through modelling and scaffolding. Students are given examples of material where they then must work on by adding and modifying; this instils in them the type of skills required in the Computing industry, such as recognising design patterns, analysing, planning and developing projects, and debugging.

Key Stage 3

Helpful Resources

BBC Key Stage 3 Bitesize: Computing

Year 7

In year 7 we start to explore the world of computing. We learn about how to build computer programs through creating sequences of instructions to manipulate data. We also undertake creative projects with digital images and learn about how computers actually work.

Units include

Online safety, digital media skills, games programming, text based programming, computing theory

Year 8

In year 8 we start to write more complex and structured computer programs. We also apply our knowledge to creating mobile apps and look at the more complex data structures contained in databases.

Units include

Social networking, mobile apps, computing theory, programming ciphers, data and databases

Year 9

In year 9 we focus on preparing students for their GCSE studies in Key Stage 4. Firstly we enhance programming skills and computer science knowledge for those that will take GCSE Computer Science. Secondly we engage in design projects to help prepare for IT. Finally, we engage in skills building for effective office skills. This enables pupils to efficiently create effective documents for all their subjects.

Units include

Networks and the Internet, web design, programming and algorithms and IT skills for Key Stage 4

Key Stage 4

GCSE Computer Science

AQA GCSE Computer Science; graded 1-9

Course Content

GCSE Computer Science is a challenging course that covers the foundations of computer science and programming. Students learn logical thinking and problem solving skills which can be applied in a wide variety of work settings. Understanding the fundamentals of computer technology can help students to rapidly understand new application programs.

When studied further at college and university, computing can lead to a range of high-demand technology careers. Computing is a very young subject that is changing the world at an incredible pace. It is becoming vital to study computing in order to understand the modern world.

Helpful Resources

https://projecteuler.net – If you have a mathematical mind and think you can really code then try Project Euler

Enrichment Opportunities

Outside of the classroom, students have an opportunity to take part in a variety of enrichment activities to further develop their problem solving and computational thinking skills which include after school coding/robotics clubs, the annual Bebras competition for both primary and secondary pupils and much more!