Computer science
Curriculum narrative
For more information on the curriculum narrative, please click here.
Exam board: GCSE: OCR J277 Computing GCSE
A level: OCR H446 Computer Science A level
Highlands School recognises the importance of students to develop their love of computer science, regardless of if they chose to study the subject as a GCSE. As a result, all students will have the opportunity of achieving the nationally recognised bronze award on the iDEA platform. In so doing, students will:
- Develop their capability, creativity and knowledge in computer science, digital media and information technology.
- Develop and apply their analytic, problem-solving, design, and computational thinking skills.
- Understand how changes in technology affect safety, including new ways to protect their online privacy and identity, and how to identify and report a range of concerns.
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Key Stage 3 |
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Autumn Term 1 |
Autumn Term 2 |
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Year 7 |
Use of computers |
Fundamentals of computing |
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Year 8 |
Python programming |
Python programming Online safety |
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Year 9 |
Ethics and computing laws |
Ethics and computing Laws Early sorting/searching and algorithms |
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Key Stage 3 |
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Spring Term 1 |
Spring Term 2 |
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Year 7 |
Spreadsheets |
FLOWOL |
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Year 8 |
Online safety HTML and fake news websites |
HTML and fake news websites Hardware and software |
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Year 9 |
Early sorting/searching and algorithms Further Python |
Further Python Data representation (including HEX and compression) |
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Key Stage 3 |
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Summer Term 1 |
Summer Term 2 |
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Year 7 |
Turtle graphics |
Animation |
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Year 8 |
Hardware and software Early data representation (binary) |
Early data representation (binary) |
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Year 9 |
Data representation (including HEX and compression) Logic gates introduction |
Logic gates introduction |
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Key Stage 4 |
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Autumn Term 1 |
Autumn Term 2 |
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Year 10 |
Computational thinking
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Data representation System software |
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Year 11 |
Complete systems Architecture Networks and network security |
Networks and network security Open source v proprietary software Ethics |
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Key Stage 4 |
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Spring Term 1 |
Spring Term 2 |
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Year 10 |
Mid-year assessment Python programming |
Python programming Non-examined assessment |
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Year 11 |
Revision |
Revision |
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Key Stage 4 |
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Summer Term 1 |
Summer Term 2 |
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Year 10 |
Non-examined assessment |
Systems architecture |
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Year 11 |
Revision |
Revision |
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Key Stage 5 |
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Autumn Term 1 |
Autumn Term 2 |
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Year 12 |
Components of a computer |
Components of a computer Systems architecture |
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Year 13 |
Software development |
Further programming techniques Algorithms |
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Key Stage 5 |
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Spring Term 1 |
Spring Term 2 |
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Year 12 |
Data types Data structures |
Data structures Boolean algebra |
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Year 13 |
Revision Non-examined assessment |
Revision Non-examined assessment |
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Key Stage 5 |
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Summer Term 1 |
Summer Term 2 |
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Year 12 |
Python programming |
Legal and ethical Issues |
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Year 13 |
Revision Non-examined assessment |
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Homework
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Subject: |
KS3 Computer science |
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Homework task: |
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Resources: |
YouTube and Google Classroom. |
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Frequency: |
Fortnightly Y7 & Y8. Weekly Y9. |
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Support: |
Google Classroom:
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Additional information: |
Homework is always published (with a due date) in Google Classroom. This means it is visible via the students' “To do” list. Subtitles are always available on the videos if needed. |
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Subject: |
KS4 and KS5 Computer science |
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Homework task: |
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Resources: |
Smart Revise. |
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Frequency: |
Weekly. |
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Support: |
Google Classroom:
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Additional information: |
For around 6-9 months during the latter stages of Year 12, an ADDITIONAL 60 minute weekly homework is set for completion of set tasks towards the students' Component 3 - a Non-Examined design and programming task that must be completed and is awarded at 20% of the students' final A level grade. |