ICT & Computing

Head of Department: Geetha Sundarajaran

The computing curriculum at Desborough College gives students the knowledge, skills and understanding to participate positively and successfully within the digital world. The broad scope of creative opportunities and challenges allows students to develop transferrable proficiencies that will benefit them across the curriculum and support them in the modern workplace.

Elements of the three strands of computing (computer science, information technology and digital literacy) are carefully weaved into curriculum opportunities. Students develop a scientific and practical knowledge of computation and of how technologies work, whilst learning to construct and critically evaluate digital artefacts. Crucially, students also learn how to use technology responsibly, safely and ethically.

Key Stage 3

KS3 Computing Long-term plan 2020 and 2021

Year 7 Topics

Online safety
App design (block coding)
App design (line and block coding)
Understanding computers
Databases

Year 8 Topics

Online safety and mental health (making animations)
Data representation and sorting and searching
HTML website design
Control systems
Line coding – Python

Year 9 Topics

Online safety and ethical, moral and legal issues of using technology
Media project (animation and video)
Further programming – Python
Databases
Understanding computer networks

Key Stage 4

We offer two KS4 courses:

GCSE Computer Science 9-1

The GCSE Computer Science 9-1 course consists of understanding and applying fundamental concepts of Computer Science. Concepts include decomposition, logic, algorithms, mathematical computation and data representation. Students will be given the opportunity to design, write and debug programs.

Students are encouraged throughout the course to think critically, analytically and logically. They will examine the impact of digital technology to the individual and wider society as a whole.

Computer Systems (O1).

The paper covers the central processing unit (CPU), computer memory and storage, wired and wireless networks, network topologies, system security and system software. It also looks at ethical, legal, cultural and environmental issues associated with computer science.

Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (02).

Students apply their knowledge of computer systems. Skills and understanding in computational thinking: algorithms, programming techniques, producing robust programs, computational logic, translators and data representation. The skills and knowledge developed within this component will support the learner when completing the Programming Project.

Programming Project (03)
Students develop their practical ability in the skills developed in components 01 and 02.

Cambridge National Levels 1 and 2 – Information Technologies

The Information Technologies course has one exam and three other controlled assessments (coursework units). It is also equivalent to a GCSE and students will gain essential skills for future development within IT through more practical work. In addition, it provides the basis for our A-level IT offer.

What will Information Technologies teach our students?
This qualification will teach pre-production techniques, data management, website development and data modelling (spreadsheets).
For further information on the course, please view this link: https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/371960-specification.pdf

ICT & Computing

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