Computer Science
Purpose of study
A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
Aims
The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:
- can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
- are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
| Year 7 | Networks – from semaphores to the Internet |
| Year 7 | Programming essentials in Scratch – part I |
| Year 7 | Programming essentials in Scratch – part II |
| Year 7 | Using media – Gaining support for a cause |
| Year 7 | Digital Literacy & E-safety |
| Year 7 | Modelling Data |
| Year 8 | Computing systems |
| Year 8 | Developing for the web |
| Year 8 | Intro to Python programming |
| Year 8 | Vector graphics |
| Year 8 | Mobile app development |
| Year 8 | Representations – from clay to silicon |
| Year 9 | Animations |
| Year 9 | Cyber security |
| Year 9 | Data science |
| Year 9 | Physical computing |
| Year 9 | Python programming with sequences of data |
| Year 9 | Representations – going audiovisual |
Year 10 GCSE Computer Science (OCR) 6 lessons a fortnight
Paper 1 and Paper 2
| Half-Term | Topic | Summary |
| Autumn term | Primary and Secondary Storage
Networks
Software and System Software
Legal, Ethical, Cultural and environmental issues
Computer Architecture
|
Pupils develop an understanding of:
Primary storage: RAM and ROM Virtual memory Secondary storage: Magnetic, Solid-state and optical Secondary storage considerations End of topic test: Memory and storage
Introduction to Networks Topologies and Protocols Layering The Internet End of Topic Test: Network topologies protocols and Layers Connections End of Topic test: Network Connectivity Security End of Topic Test: System security & vulnerabilities
Proprietary v Open-Source Off-the-shelf v Custom made Operating Systems Drivers End of topic test: System Software
Pupils understand the Legal, Ethical, Cultural and environmental issues associated with Computing Copyright, Designs and Patents Act Data Protection Act Freedom of Information Act Computer Misuse Act End of topic test: Legal, Ethical, Cultural and environmental concerns
Pupils cover: CPU and its functions Cache Memory CPU performance factors End of topic test: Computer architecture
|
| Spring Term | Computational thinking and algorithms
Programming techniques
Robustness of coding, Design Considerations and Testing
Data Representation
Computational logic, translation & Editors
Data structures, Types and searching using SQL
|
Pupils develop an understanding of:
Project Life Cycle; Analysis, Design, Implementation, Testing Flowcharts Pseudo code Abstraction Decomposition Searching End of topic test: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming
Pupils will put their Python programming practical skills into theory based activities: Sequence Selection Iteration
Pupils will cover: Testing programs for faults Validation Syntax and Logic errors End of Topic Test: Robustness of coding, Design Considerations and Testing
Pupils will cover: Binary Hexadecimal Denary conversion Sound sampling Compression Storing images Assembly language End of topic test: Data Representation
Pupils understand: The need for translators and the different types IDE features Binary/Hexadecimal/Denary number systems Logic Gates: AND, OR, NOT Truth tables End of topic test: Computational logic, translation & Editors
Pupils will cover: Data types SQL searches Program outcomes End of topic test: Data structures, Types and searching using SQL
|
| Summer Term | Python Programming | Pupils develop the skills required for the Programming Project
Variables Data types (integer/string/float/boolean) Functions (print/input) Loops (For and While) Selection (If and Else) Functions and Procedures Libraries (Math/Random) Assessment: Python challenges and algorithms
|
Year 11 GCSE Computer Science (OCR)
| Half-Term | Topic | Summary |
| Autumn Term | Python Programming NEA project
Revision for both papers |
Pupils will commence their CA (20 hours)
Controlled Assessment conditions: No talking No use of the internet Use of specialised user account Own work only/No plagiarism
December mock examinations (Paper 1 and Paper 2) |
| Spring Term | Revision for Exam 1
Revision for Exam 2 |
|
| Summer Term | Revision for Exam 1
Revision for Exam 2 |
OCR GCSE examinations (Paper 1 and Paper 2) |
Last updated: November 25, 2021 at 7:45 am