Vision:

Computers are now part of our everyday lives from entertainment to banking to the workplace.  The new professional environments in the 21st century expect skills such as basic troubleshooting, system design and excellent IT skills and knowledge.  In addition, workplaces are now seeking professionals in computer technology, who can design and program computers and fix complicated problems – this is important to many organisations that now rely so heavily on computers. The Computing and IT department aims to provide our pupils with the necessary skills, enthusiasm and experience to develop into competent and creative computer scientists.

We aim to enhance and develop our student’s IT and computer science skills, encouraging them to become independent learners who are e-confident and capable of researching, processing, storing, analysing and presenting information. The department aims to motivate and inspire pupils thus raising standards within the subject.

The department has enhanced the curriculum offered to pupils allowing for different pathways to be available at KS4 and KS5 to ensure career choice. The courses we currently offer will allow pupils to create and move along a personalised pathway suited to their own individual aptitude and interest.

In response to recent changes to the curriculum in all key stages, the Computer Science and Information Technology department at SFX aims to provide pupils with the necessary skills to allow them to engage themselves fully in today’s society.  There is now a greater emphasis on ‘computational thinking’ and independent learning to ensure that our pupils develop their skills to solve problems and to be empowered from the earliest stage in their educational journey to university and beyond.
Staff :

  • Mrs J. Holmes – Head of Department
  • Mr L. Atkinson
  • Mrs L. Cavanagh

 

 

 
Courses: 

Key Stage 3 :

Year 7

Term 1 Topics & Content:

  • Systems Architecture, Memory and Storage
  • The 4 Phases of the Systems Lifecycle – Understand the tools and techniques that can be used to initiate and plan solutions

Term 2 Topics & Content:

  • Wired and Wireless Networks, Protocols and Layers
  • Understand how data and information can be collected, stored and used

Term 3 Topics & Content:

  • Systems software and security: Network threats, vulnerabilities, operating system software and utility software.
  • Understand the factors to be considered when collecting, processing and storing data.
 Year 8

Term 1 Topics & Content:

  • PG Online: Understanding Computers: A theoretical unit covering the basic principles of computer architecture and use of binary.  Pupils will learn about the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle and will look in depth at storage and the history and development of communication and technology.

Term 2 Topics & Content:

  • PG Online: Computer crime and Cyber Security:  Pupils will look at how crime affects the use of computers and the laws that govern computing.  They will learn about phishing, hacking and computer viruses and prevention methods that can be put in place against these modern-day threats.

Term 3 Topics & Content:

  • PG Online: Introduction to Python – Pupils will use Python, a high level programming language to understand the process of developing programs and the importance of writing correct syntax to formulate algorithms

OR

  • PG Online: Database Development – In this unit, pupils will cover the theory of databases and they will create a flat-file or relational database using suitable field types and validations.  They will create forms, queries and reports.
 Year 9

Term 1 Topics & Content:

  • Systems Architecture, Memory and Storage
  • The 4 Phases of the Systems Lifecycle – Understand the tools and techniques that can be used to initiate and plan solutions

Term 2 Topics & Content:

  • Wired and Wireless Networks, Protocols and Layers
  • Understand how data and information can be collected, stored and used

Term 3 Topics & Content:

  • Systems software and security: Network threats, vulnerabilities, operating system software and utility software.
  • Understand the factors to be considered when collecting, processing and storing data.

Key Stage 4 – what course are you following with exam board and spec title:

OCR GCSE Computer Science 9-1 (J276)

Year 10 

Term 1 Topics & Content: 

Practical: Programming with Python

Theory Topics:  Algorithms, Systems Architecture, CPU, Memory, ROM, RAM, Factors affecting CPU performance

 Term 2 Topics & Content:

Practical: Programming with Python

Theory Topics: Wired and Wireless networks, topologies, Client-server and peer-to-peer networks, The Internet

 Term 3 Topics & Content:

Practical: Programming with Python

Theory Topics: Network hardware, Wi-Fi, Cloud Storage, Protocols and Layers, Packet switching.

 OCR Cambridge National Level 2 in Information Technologies

Year 10

Term 1 Topics & Content: 

Understand the tools and techniques that can be used to initiate and plan solutions

Term 2 Topics & Content: 

Understand how data and information can be collected, stored and used

Term 3 Topics & Content: 

Understand the factors to be considered when collecting, processing and storing data and the different methods of presenting data. Course Revision and Exam Preparation

 

 OCR GCSE Computer Science 9-1 (J276)

Year 11

Term 1 Topics & Content: 

Programming Project using programming techniques and analysis (controlled assessment).  

Theory: Network threats and prevention of threats, Operating Systems, Utility Software

Term 2 Topics & Content: 

Programming Project using programming techniques and analysis (controlled assessment). 

Theory: Computer systems in the modern world, Ethics, cultural and environmental issues, Legislation and privacy.

Term 3 Topics & Content: 

Course Revision and Exam Preparation

OCR Cambridge National Level 2 in Information Technologies

Year 11

Term 1 Topics & Content: 

Theory revision. Practical Unit:  To be able to select and present information in the development of a solution to meet an identified client need and to be able to iteratively review and evaluate that solution.

Term 2 Topics & Content: 

Practical Unit continues.

Term 3 Topics & Content: 

Practical Unit continues to examination.

Key Stage 5 :

Edexcel Level 3 BTEC National in Information Technology

Year  12 

Term 1, 2 and 3 concurrently:

Information Technology Systems: Demonstrate knowledge of information technology terms, standards, concepts and processes

Creating Systems to Manage Information: Database development terminology, concepts and processes

Using Social Media in Business: Explore the impact of social media on the ways businesses promote their products and services

A LEVEL Computer Science

Year 12

Programming Techniques

Components of a computer

Systems Software

Software Development

Exchanging Data

Networks and Web Technologies

Data Types

 Edexcel Level 3 BTEC National in Information Technology

Year 13

Terms 1 and 2

Information Technology Systems: Select and Use information and technologies and procedures to find solutions to problems in context

Creating Systems to Manage Information: Develop a database solution

Website Development

Examination preparation and revision

A LEVEL Computer Science

Year 13

Computational Thinking

Algorithms

Data Structures

Boolean Algebra

Legal, Moral, Ethical and Cultural Issues

Coursework (On-going throughout course)
Out of Hours Activities (what, when,where):

After School sessions

Tuesday – Computer Science Nightowl

 

Revision Sessions:

School Holidays

Lunchtime Sessions:

Weekly
Department Website Links (including exam boards, revision sites etc):

Key Stage 3:

Schemes of work in line with the National Curriculum

www.pgonline.co.uk

Key Stage 4:

GCSE Computer Science 9-1 (OCR J276)

Cambridge National Level 2 in Information Technologies (OCR)

www.ocr.org.uk

Key Stage 5:

A Level Computer Science (OCR H446)

BTEC L3 National in Information Technology (Edexcel)

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/home.html

Revision:

www.teach-ict.com