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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. 

Key Stage 3

 

Autumn Term 1

Autumn Term 2

Year 7

Use of computers

Fundamentals of computing

Year 8

Python programming

Python programming

Online safety

Year 9

Ethics and computing laws

Ethics and computing Laws

Early sorting/searching and algorithms

Key Stage 3

 

Spring Term 1

Spring Term 2

Year 7

Spreadsheets

FLOWOL

Year 8

Online safety

HTML and fake news websites

HTML and fake news websites

Hardware and software

Year 9

Early sorting/searching and algorithms

Further Python

Further Python

Data representation (including HEX and compression)

Key Stage 3

 

Summer Term 1

Summer Term 2

Year 7

Turtle graphics

Animation

Year 8

Hardware and software

Early data representation (binary)

Early data representation (binary)

Year 9

Data representation (including HEX and compression)

Logic gates introduction

Logic gates introduction

 

Key Stage 4

 

Autumn Term 1

Autumn Term 2

Year 10

Computational thinking

 

Data representation

System software

Year 11

Complete systems

Architecture

Networks and network security

Networks and network security

Open source v proprietary software

Ethics

Key Stage 4

 

Spring Term 1

Spring Term 2

Year 10

Mid-year assessment

Python programming

Python programming

Non-examined assessment

Year 11

Revision

Revision

Key Stage 4

 

Summer Term 1

Summer Term 2

Year 10

Non-examined assessment

Systems architecture

Year 11

Revision

Revision

 

Key Stage 5

 

Autumn Term 1

Autumn Term 2

Year 12

Components of a computer

Components of a computer

Systems architecture

Year 13

Software development

Further programming techniques

Algorithms 

Key Stage 5

 

Spring Term 1

Spring Term 2

Year 12

Data types

Data structures

Data structures

Boolean algebra

Year 13

Revision 

Non-examined assessment

Revision 

Non-examined assessment

Key Stage 5

 

Summer Term 1

Summer Term 2

Year 12

Python programming

Legal and ethical Issues 

Year 13

Revision 

Non-examined assessment

 

Homework 

Subject:

KS3 Computer science

Homework task:

  • KS3: Comprehension exercise from a YouTube video.

Resources:

YouTube and Google Classroom.

Frequency:

Fortnightly Y7 & Y8.

Weekly Y9.

Support:

Google Classroom:

  • Topic booklets.

  • Lesson presentations.

  • Pre-reading guides.

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.

 

Subject:

KS4 and KS5 Computer science

Homework task:

Resources:

Smart Revise.

Frequency:

Weekly.

Support:

Google Classroom:

  • Topic booklets.

  • Lesson presentations.

  • Pre-reading guides.

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.