Course ID | Course Name | Instructor | Room Number | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
Co | Computing | Mr D. Jacob | Durrant Building |
Is this the right course for me?
We want our pupils to understand and play an active role in the digital world that surrounds them, not to be passive consumers of an opaque and mysterious technology. A sound understanding of computing concepts will help them see how to get the best from the systems they use, and how to solve problems when things go wrong. Moreover, they will be citizens equipped to think in computational terms who will be able to understand and rationally engage with issues presented by the pervasive role digital technology plays in our world.
Computer Science is at the centre of a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) education. Studying this subject will give you a real advantage in today’s technology driven world. You will make the leap from using other people’s software to being able to design and create your own. Maybe you could invent the next Facebook or Snap Chat? GCSE Computer Science will give you the skills to become a Technology Entrepreneur…but even more than this, it will give you the skills you need for any career because Computer Science teaches you how to think.
Year 7
• Computer systems
• Low level programming
• High level programming
Skills that you will acquire:
Introduction to Binary, understanding what binary represents, converting numbers into binary, how binary can be used to store letters and binary addition. Students will also learn to recognise pieces of computer hardware and their uses. Students will use their knowledge to make a game to build a computer from a mother board.
Students will learn programming skills including sequencing, variables and decision making to produce a fully automated programme
Year 8
• High level programming
• binary
• Networks
• Hardware and software
Skills that you will acquire:
Students will use a text based programming language. They will use sequencing, if statements and different data types to create a program that will ask questions and keep score. They will build on what was learnt in Year 7. In this project students go in to more detail on how binary including binary subtraction, storing text in binary (ASCII) and how binary can be used to store graphics.
Students learn how computers communicate with each other including how we all connect and communicate across the internet including the illegal access of people’s computers. Students will learn about network topologies and the hardware they require. This project will be the basis of an extended piece of writing at the end.
Further Study | Useful Links
• Programming
• Computer Hardware
• Binary Representation
• E-Safety
• Logic Gates
• Networking
• Internet communication
Year 9
• System Architecture
• Memory
• Storage
• Algorithms
• Data representation
Year 10
• System security
• System software
• Programming techniques
• Producing robust programs
• Computational logic
• Translators and facilities of languages
Year 11
• Wired and wireless networks
• Network topologies, protocols and layers
• Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns.
Further Study | Useful Links
• Programming
• Computer Hardware
• Binary Representation
• E-Safety
• Logic Gates
• Networking
• Internet communication
Computer Science Specification – VIEW HERE
Exam board – OCR
Linear – needs to be studies over two years. At the end of year 13 you will take 2 exams and submitted one piece of coursework.
Units include:
• Computer systems – External exam worth 40%
• Algorithms and programming – External exam worth 40%
• Programming project – coursework worth 20%
Course overview:
• The characteristics of contemporary processors,
• input, output and storage devices
• Software and software development
• Exchanging data
• Data types, data structures and
• algorithms
• Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues
• Elements of computational thinking
• Problem solving and programming
• Algorithms to solve problems and standard algorithms
The learner will choose a computing problem to work through according to the guidance in the specification.
• Analysis of the problem
• Design of the solution
• Developing the solution
• Evaluation
• Application analyst
• Applications developer
• CAD technician
• Cyber security analyst
• Data analyst
• Database administrator
• Forensic computer analyst
• Game designer
• Games developer
• Information systems manager
• IT consultant
• Machine learning engineer
• Multimedia programmer
• Penetration tester
• SEO specialist
• Software engineer
• Systems analyst
• UX designer
• Web designer
• Web developer
• Digital copywriter
• IT sales professional
• IT trainer
• Nanotechnologist
• Network engineer
• PPC specialist
• Social media manager
• Supply chain manager
• Technical author
• Web content manager
How to support your child
Students in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 can often practise many of the computational skills away from the classroom. Students can access much of the software used in school for free from the internet (links provided above) and students will be able to access their resources used in lessons from home via Microsoft Sharepoint from the school website.
Student following GCSE ICT should be encouraged to take their ICT products home, showcase them and obtain feedback to make amendments. This is best practice and will help students access the higher mark bands. GSCE Computer Science students should be continually practising their Python programming skills to be best prepared for the practical programming task and examination. Students can use many free online resources such as Code Academy to do this: http://www.codecademy.com/en/tracks/python