Computer Science

In Year 7 students study:

• Introduction to IT (File Management, Social Networking, Keeping Data Safe, Using Email, Searching the Web)
• Introduction to coding through Kodu (How Programs Work, Creating Landscapes, Navigation and Pathing, Clones and Creatables, Pages and Selection, Game Depth and Complexity)
• Control Systems with Flowol (Flowcharts, Sequences, Sensors, Subroutines, Actuators, Variables)
• First Steps in Small Basic (Graphics, Drawing Shapes, Using Variables, Conditioning and Branching, Using Random Numbers)
• Spreadsheets (Computer Models, Creating Financial Model, What If Scenario's, Conditional Formatting and Validation, Macros and Charts)

In Year 8 students study:

• Understanding Computers (Elements of a computer, The CPU, Understanding Binary, Binary Addition, Storage Devices, Convergence and New Technologies)
• Creating a Video (Introduction to Digital Video, Planning, Scripting and Story boarding, Shooting Scenes, Final Shoot, Editing your Movie, Final Cut)
• Introduction To Python (Introducing Python, Numbers and Arithmetic, Selection, Writing Algorithms, While Loops, Searching)
• HTML and Website Development (HTML, CSS, Design, Development, Creating a web form)
• Animation in Flash (Frame by Frame Animation, Motion Tweening, Text, Button and Action Script, Planning an animation, Adding Sound effects, Publishing an animation)
• Game Programming using Scratch (Movement, Lives and Scoring, Adding a new level, Randomizing the behaviour of sprites, shooting and jumping, adding sounds, testing and assessment)

For greater detail about what students study during IT KS3 please click here

In Year 9 students study:

Understand the tools and techniques that can be used to initiate and plan solutions

• The phases of the project life cycle and the tasks carried out in each phase
• The interaction and iteration between the phases of the project life cycle
• The interaction and iteration between the phases of the project life cycle
• Initial project considerations
• Planning tools and the software types used to develop project plans

Learning Outcome 2: To be able to initiate and plan a solution to meet an identified need

• How to initiate a project by analysing the requirements to a given context
• How to mitigate risks through the planning process
• Creating planning documentation using appropriate technology and planning tools
• How to undertake iterative testing

Understand the factors to be considered when collecting and processing data and storing data/information

• Types of threats
• The vulnerabilities which can be exploited in a cyber security attack
• Impacts of cyber-security attack, consequence of a cyber security attack
• Prevention measures for cyber security
• Current relevant IT legislation, at time of delivery, its implications and applications
• The importance of validity, reliability and bias when collecting and using data and information

To be able to iteratively review and evaluate the development of the solution

• How to carry out and document an iterative review.

In Year 10  Programming project (using Python language)

• Programming techniques
• Analysis
• Design
• Development
• Testing and evaluation and conclusions

Component 01: Computer systems (80 marks / 1 hour 30 minutes exam)

• Wired and wireless networks
• Network topologies, protocols and layers
• Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns

Component 02: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (80 marks / 1 hour 30 minutes exam)

• Algorithms
• Programming techniques
• Producing robust programs
• Computational logic

Year 11 students study:

Component 01: Computer systems (80 marks / 1 hour 30 minutes exam)

• Systems Architecture
• Memory
• Storage
• Wired and wireless networks
• Network topologies, protocols and layers
• System security - NEW
• System software - NEW
• Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns

Component 02: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (80 marks / 1 hour 30 minutes exam)

• Algorithms
• Programming techniques
• Producing robust programs
• Computational logic
• Translators and facilities of languages - NEW
•  Data representation

OCR GCSE

In Year 12 students  Component 01: Computer Systems

• Structure and Function of Processor
• Types of Processor
• Input, Output and storage
• Systems Software
• Compression, Encryption and Hashing
• Databases
• Networks
• Data Structures
• 1.5.1 Computing Related Legislation
• 1.5.2 Ethic, moral and cultural issues

Component 02: Algorithms and Problem Solving

• Thinking Abstractly
• Thinking Ahead
• Thinking Procedurally
• Thinking Logically
• Thinking Concurrently

Component 03: Programming Project (Students will choose their own project)

• Analysis of the problem (10 marks)
• Problem identification
• Stakeholders
• Research the problem
• Specify the proposed solution
• Design of the solution (15 marks)
• Decompose the problem
• Describe the solution
• Describe the approach to testing
• Developing the solution (25 marks)
• Iterative development process
• Testing to inform development
• Evaluation (20 marks)
• Testing to inform evaluation
• Success of the solution
• Describe the final product
• Maintenance and development

In Year 13 

Component 01: Computer Systems

• Applications Generation
• Software Development
• Types of Programming Language
• Web Technologies
• Data Types
• Boolean Algebra

Component 02: Algorithms and Problem Solving

• Programming Techniques
• Computation Methods
• Algorithms

Component 03: Programming Project (continue)

• Developing the solution (25 marks)
• Iterative development process
• Testing to inform development
• Evaluation (20 marks)
• Testing to inform evaluation
• Success of the solution
• Describe the final product
• Maintenance and development

OCR A-level: