Computer Science & IT
Departmental Aims
VISION
The Computing department at Bury Church aims to equip pupils with the skills to participate in a rapidly-changing world through challenging and engaging topics. Pupils will develop an understanding and application in the fundamental principles of Computer Science by having the opportunity to write programs, design webpages and produce professional digital products. Computing skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, creative and independent learners and it is our intention that children have every opportunity available to allow them to achieve this.
INTENT
The main features of the Computer Science curriculum are as follows:
- Within Computer Science, our curriculum has been constructed through an approach that draws together the National Curriculum, the knowledge of our curriculum lead and that of external experts using the latest pedagogical research. Our vision is to provide all students with the opportunities to learn computational thinking, ICT and Computer Science through a balanced curriculum which will support both pupils who are disadvantaged and those with SEND needs. Our curriculum is designed to enable our pupils to become digitally literate in a fast changing world and equip all of our pupils with the skills they will need in the future.
- The curriculum is aimed to develop a deeper understanding of skills which have been introduced throughout the KS2 National Curriculum. At Bury Church these skills are further developed and revisited, allowing for students to know and remember more. The curriculum has a clear endpoint for stakeholders which is outlined in our curriculum map. There is a focus on students ability to develop their skills in Computer Science so that these skills can be applied in other curriculum areas. This is in addition to skill application in future employment.
- The National Centre of Computing Educational National Curriculum was introduced for the first time in September 2021 to KS3 in order to ensure that the transition from KS2 into KS3 is smoother and that we are providing the full spectrum of the wider curriculum for Computer Science. In line with this, in Y7 pupils begin with safe and respectful online collaboration before tackling the essentials of programming. As pupils move through Y8 they undertake more challenge aspects of Computer Science. This includes Python Programming, which is then studied in greater detail as pupils move through Y9. By this point, this careful sequencing ensures pupils have covered the essentials of Computer Science before moving on to the demands of GCSE.
- As a result of the pandemic, curriculum planning is designed to address gaps in knowledge and skills and place significant emphasis on areas of weakness, with careful planning taking place to ensure appropriate topics are taught at the appropriate times. A key feature of this academic year is an emphasis upon the National Centre of Computing Educational National Curriculum to address knowledge and skills gaps.
- Within Computer Science we aim to deliver a broad curriculum where students will learn a wide range of skills from Digital Literacy, Computer Science and Information Technology. Computer Science is an option open to all pupils.
- All pupils including those with SEND have access to Computer Science at both KS3 and KS4 (Option). The curriculum is designed to be challenging for all, with high expectations and a significant emphasis placed on a subject that finds itself at the heart of modern life.
We want students to be able to navigate the world (and succeed at the GCSE…), students learn from this subject:
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Digital Literacy
Computer science is the core of the computing curriculum and covers principles such as data representation, algorithms, data structures and programming. This provides the foundation knowledge required to understand and interpret other areas of the curriculum.
Information technology provides a context for the use of computers within society. Within IT there is a focus on knowledge of how computers are used within different sectors and describes the methods to create digital artefacts such as videos, animations or 3D models.
Digital literacy is the knowledge and ability to use technology confidently, competently and in a safe way. It covers wide-ranging knowledge from how to operate devices at a mechanical level, searching and selecting information and how to use digital devices safely and responsibly
Curriculum Plan
Staff/Context
- Mr M Fearn, Head of Department
- Mr M Dwedari
Enrichment and Extra-Curricular
The CS&IT Department run regular lunchtime homework clubs, where pupils can make use of the computer facilities to enhance their homework or put in some extra time on their coursework.
There are also a number of after school and lunchtime programming clubs for different age groups where pupils who enjoy programming can come and create computer games, websites or other fun programming-based projects.
This year we had students develop games for entry to BAFTA’s Young Games Designer’s Award, and have a club for year 7 students to explore how to get the most out of their new BBC microbits.
Knowledge Organisers
Year 7
- 1 Collaborating Online Safely
- 2 Clear Messaging in Digital Media
- 3 Networks - From Semaphores to the Internet
- 4 Media - Gaining Support for a Cause
- 5 Modelling Spreadsheets
- 6 Scratch Programming I
Year 8
- 1 Scratch Programming II
- 2A Developing for the Web - HTML Elements Structure
- 2B Mobile App Design
- 3 Representations - From Clay to Silicon
- 4 Vector Graphics
- 5 Computer Systems
Year 9
- 1 Python Programming I and II
- 2 Cyber Security
- 3 Data Science
- 4 Representations - Going Audio Visual
- 5 Media Animation
- 6 Physical Computing
AQA GCSE Computing
Paper 1
- 1 Paper 1 - GCSE Algorithms Knowledge Organiser
- 2 Paper 1 - GCSE Programming Knowledge Organiser
- 3 Paper 1 - GCSE Search Algorithms Knowledge Organiser
- 4 Paper 1 - GCSE Sorting Algorithms Knowledge Organiser
Paper 2
- 1 Paper 2 - GCSE Computer Networks Knowledge Organiser
- 2 Paper 2 - GCSE Computer Security Protocols Knowledge Organiser
- 3 Paper 2 - GCSE Computer Systems Knowledge Organiser
- 4 Paper 2 - GCSE Cyber Security Knowledge Organiser
- 5 Paper 2 - GCSE Data Images Sound Compression Knowledge Organiser
- 6 Paper 2 - GCSE Data Representation Knowledge Organiser
- 7 Paper 2 - GCSE Databases Knowledge Organiser
- 8 Paper 2 - GCSE Ethical Knowledge Organiser
Educas GCSE ICT
iMedia
Enterprise Business
- R064 LO1 Knowledge Organiser
- R064 LO2 Knowledge Organiser
- R064 LO3 Knowledge Organiser
- R064 LO4 Knowledge Organiser
- R064 LO5 Knowledge Organiser
- R064 LO6 Knowledge Organiser
Further Resources
- AQA GCSE Computer Science
- OCR GCSE Vocational Enterprise Marketing
- OCR GCSE Vocational iMedia
- WJEC GCSE Vocational ICT