KS3 Computing

Introduction

Units delivered throughout KS3 are correlated against the National Computing requirements set out by the Department of Education for aims and subject content. We aim to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum to open up student exposure to a range of Computing skills and concepts in order to prepare them for their use in subject lessons and where practicable, across the curriculum. All units are recommended and supported by the NCCE which is funded by Department for Education and supporting partners such as STEM, Raspberry PI Foundation and BSC.

Y7 overview

Through the completion of these units of work, students build on the key stage 2 IT curriculum and start to develop their skills in preparation for further units in KS3. Students gain fundamental skills through the use of a range of hardware, software and Learning platforms to enable them to experience a breadth of skills and knowledge coverage that will be used as a foundation for future development and progress. Each unit requires students to complete an assessment at the end of the unit which allows reflection for both the teacher and student. For example, the use of Office 365, email, google classroom, and internet safety are studied early in Y7 to allow students to establish a firm foundation and understanding of the capabilities of these IT facilities for future use and exploration.

Y8 overview

Through the completion of these units of work, students build on skills developed in KS3 and connections are made where applicable, for example, programming units (Web and Python) build on the fundamental skills of programming covered in Y7. Through the use of a range of hardware, software and learning platforms, students start to understand how computer systems function – look at binary and logic through computer systems. Again, connections and reflections are made to Y7 units continuously. Leading from block based programming, a range of text-based programming languages are introduced throughout Y8 – HTML, Python and App development. This allows students to explore a range of coding and programming techniques that will allow them to experiment and become more discerning users of computer programming. For example, students will develop HTML coding skills that will allow them to explore the use of these when creating web page(s) for a given context. They will learn to appreciate the importance of developing electronic products for specific purposes and target audiences and understand how they can test and gain feedback on such products in order to refine and improve them.

Y9 overview

In Year 9 we continue to meet the National Computing aims and subject content, while building on skills and knowledge developed in Y7 and 8. Students continue to develop their programming skills through Python, which is one of the leading programming languages used in society. They review Data Science and how large corporations use data to solve problems – connecting and leading onto cyber-security. In Year 9 students have the opportunity to look at physical computing, where they explore with a range of computing devices such as the Microbit. This allows students to see how different computer devices/systems function.

How is the course assessed?

Homework and learning beyond the classroom

Computing Club

CyberFirst Girls Competition