The aim of the Computing curriculum is to create resilient problem solvers who develop strong computational thinking skills and a sound understanding of digital literacy. Students will be taught how to apply key concepts to specific real-world problems and use computers to model these.

KS3 Overview

Our curriculum at KS3 is focused around 6 Core Proficiencies based off the National Curriculum and Computing at School Framework. They are

  • Computational Thinking
  • Security, Safety and Ethics
  • Computer Infrastructure
  • Programming
  • Application
  • Data Representation and Modelling

Using this we look at enabling all students to be able to articulate with expert knowledge how a computer works. By looking at 3 key “Big Questions”

  • Year 7 Big Question: How does a computer process data?
  • Year 8 Big Question: How does a computer represent and understand data?
  • Year 9 Big Question: How does a computer run a program?

Each Topic builds on each other in a progressive model through Challenge Questions (Composite Question that makes up each Theme).  These challenge questions guide the lessons and the sequence of learning for a particular topic.

We build concrete (the physical) to abstract by organising these strands:

  • Computer Infrastructure, Programming and Computational Thinking
  • Data Representation & Modelling, Application, Security, Safety and Ethics,

Computer Science

Computer Science GCSE is engaging and practical, requiring creativity and problem solving. It encourages students to develop their understanding and application of the core concepts in computer science. Students also analyse problems in computational terms and devise creative solutions by designing, writing, testing and evaluating programs.

Key topics studied  

Computer systems:

  • Students learn about how computer systems are made and operate, from the inner workings of the CPU and how a computer actually moves the electronic signals around inside the hardware; through to the make up of Wide Area Networks and the Internet.

Computational Thinking:

  • This unit looks at how to be a computer scientist. How we solve problems with computers; logic; programming techniques and how computers work with data to turn electronic pulses into pictures, video and sound. There is a high level of mathematical thinking in this paper.

Computer Programming:

  • Students will learn to analyse a problem; abstracting a solution into computing terms. They are taught programme design, development, user analysis and testing procedures to enable them to tackle the range of programming questions that may be set as part of the Paper 2 questions. At The Kibworth School we teach the Python 3 programming language – the language used by NASA, Google and YouTube among many others.

Pathway through the subject 

The Computer Science GCSE consists of two assessments:

  • Two written examinations, both 1 hour and 30 minutes in length.
  • Each paper is worth 50% of the overall qualification.
  • Programming module 0%

Additional information

All students will be given the opportunity to undertake a programming task or tasks during their course of study. The programming task(s) must allow them to develop skills within the following areas when programming:

  • Design
  • Write
  • Test
  • Refine

Computer Science is not just programming, it is the understanding and appreciation of how a set of components work together to create a solution to a problem or further knowledge and understanding of fundamental issues that surround our daily lives.

Qualification Details 

Qualification: GCSE Computer Science

Examination Board: OCR

Entry Code: J277

Possible Careers

  • Web Development
  • Games designer
  • Network manager
  • Software developer
  • App developer

Post Qualification Skills Attained

  • To understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms, and data representation.
  • To be able to analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including designing, writing and debugging programs.
  • To be able to build up the components that make up digital systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems.
  • To understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual and to wider society and to apply mathematical skills relevant to Computer Science

http://www.codingclub.co.uk
http://www.computingacademy.org.uk
http://www.raspberrypi.org
http://www.python.org
http://scratch.mit.edu (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
http://appinventor.mit.edu (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
https://www.codecademy.com/catalog/subject/all

KMA 5 Year Curriculum Plan Computer Science (awaiting link)
Computing Overview v3  (awaiting link)

Subject Leader

M Taib
[email protected]