Computing

‘Fit for Life’ through Computing

Computing is everywhere in our everyday lives. It’s important that students that ‘Fit for Life’ is not just something that happens in the physical world, but also in the digital world. Our aim in Computing is to provide students with the skills and knowledge to enable them to successfully navigate the ever-changing digital world in which we live. This enables students to know how to be responsible, respectful and resilient citizens of the digital world.

Skills and knowledge

 The ICT curriculum now called ‘Computing’, has been reformed, it includes the following three pillars:

• Computer science. This is the scientific and practical study of computation: what can be computed, how to compute it, and how computation may be applied to the solution of problems.
• Information technology is concerned with how computers work, and how they may be applied to the storage, retrieval, transmission and manipulation of data.
• Digital literacy is the ability to effectively, responsibly, safely and critically navigate, evaluate and create digital artefacts using a range of digital technologies. The creation of digital artefacts will be integral to much of the learning of computing. Digital artefacts can take many forms, including digital images, computer programs, spreadsheets and 3D animations.

All three pillars are of equal importance. There are areas where they overlap. Students will be given the opportunity to study topics from all three pillars in every year group at key stage three.

At Key stage four all students will continue with the Core Computing curriculum. As part of this students will:

• develop their capability, creativity and knowledge in computer science, digital media and information technology
• develop and apply their analytic, problem-solving, design, and computational thinking skills
• understand how changes in technology affect safety, including new ways to protect their online privacy and identity, and how to report a range of concerns

Students may decide to opt for Creative iMedia. This equips students with the wide range of knowledge and skills needed to work in the creative digital media sector. They start at pre-production and develop their skills through practical assignments as they create final multimedia products.

Communication and Community 

In the digital literacy pillar students are taught about respectful digital communications, as well as their digital footprint and the impact these digital communications can have on the rest of their lives. Students also learn about online digital communities and how if accessed responsibly they can aid students in finding their ‘tribe’.

Assessment

Destinations

Students may progress onto Level Three vocational subjects or A Levels in related subjects by doing this qualification. This skills learnt in this unit would also be beneficial for those going onto employment in a variety of sectors.

• KS4 Computing