In the IT and Computer Science faculty we are passionate about technology. Students learn to decompose and model real life situations and design, build and create IT solutions.
At KS3 students study IT, computer science and digital literacy to give them a solid base for future life and study skills.
Our IT students study the design and development of software and social media used to solve problems in a variety of business and social contexts and they create data handling solutions. They learn how cloud technologies alter the way we work and play and how to protect using themselves cyber security.
Our computer science students develop knowledge and understanding of algorithms and computational thinking skills to solve problems. They understand how technology can be used proactively in current issues that impact on modern society.
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In the IT and Computer Science faculty we are passionate about technology. Students learn to decompose and model real life situations and as a result are able to design, build and create IT solutions to solve problems.
At KS3 students study IT, computer science and digital literacy to give them a solid base for future life and study skills.
At KS4 our students study the design and development of software used to solve problems in a variety of business, scientific and social contexts. Because computers solve problems to serve people, there is a significant human side to IT as well.
The most important aspect of computer science is developing knowledge and understanding of algorithms and computational thinking skills to solve problems as well as understanding how technology can be used to proactively help current issues that impact on modern society.
What is the difference between Information Technology and Computer Science? IT focuses on data handling, spreadsheets and databases and computer science is focused on programming and algorithms. Both IT and computer science include hardware, software, cybersecurity and legislation.
KS3 Subject: |
Y7 Content |
Y7 Key Assessment |
Y8 Content |
Y8 Key Assessment |
Y9 IT Content |
Y9 Key IT Assessment |
Y9 CS Content |
Y9 Key CS Assessment |
Autumn 1 |
Introduction to network and school systems |
School systems test |
Fake News |
Fake news test |
Desktop Top Publishing skills to create a well formatted document |
DTP skills |
Topic 2 Programming
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Programming Tasks Topic Tests |
Autumn 2 |
Esafety |
E safety topic test |
Spreadsheets |
Spreadsheet test |
Design/create a multi-media advent calendar. Project Management and interface design |
Independent task to create interface and evidence of IT project management |
Topic 2 Programming
|
Programming Tasks Topic Tests |
Spring 1 |
micro:bit |
Programming task |
Python 2 |
Programming test |
Designing and creating a game using a variety of formatting features and functions in a spreadsheet |
Independent task to create a multi sheet game which checks correct answer |
Topic 2 Programming
|
Programming Tasks Topic Tests |
Spring 2 |
Spreadsheets |
Spreadsheet test |
Inside a PC including binary |
Components networking & binary test |
Cyber security, viruses, threats, how to protect systems, data protection legislation |
Test of concepts |
Topic 2 Programming
|
Programming Tasks Topic Tests |
Summer 1 |
Python 1 |
Programming task |
Data representation |
Data representation test |
Spreadsheets, functions & pivot charts |
Create a dashboard of infographics |
Topic 1 Problem solving |
NEA Styled Practice Tasks |
Summer 2 |
Databases |
Database skills task |
Cybersecurity |
Cybersecurity test |
Interface design principles |
Independently create a user interface including design principles learnt |
Topic 1 Problem solving
|
NEA Styled Practice Tasks |
KS4 Course: Computing Science (2020) |
Y10 Content |
Y10 Key Assessment |
Y11 Content |
Y11 Key Assessment |
Autumn 1 |
Topic 1 Computational Thinking Topic 6 Programming |
Programming Tasks End of Topic Tests |
Topic 1 Computational Thinking Topic 6 Programming Topic 4 Networks |
Programming Tasks End of Topic Tests |
Autumn 2 |
Topic 1 Computational Thinking Topic 6 Programming |
Programming Tasks End of Topic Tests |
Topic 6 Programming Topic 5 Issues & Impacts |
Programming Tasks End of Topic Tests Mock Paper 1 – Principle of Computer Science Mock Paper 2 – Computational Thinking |
Spring 1 |
Topic 1 Computational Thinking Topic 6 Programming Topic 2 Data |
Programming Tasks End of Topic Tests |
Revision Topics 1-6
Exam programming prep |
Exam papers / questions |
Spring 2 |
Topic 1 Computational Thinking Topic 6 Programming Topic 2 Data |
Programming Tasks End of Topic Tests |
Combined Revision Topics 1-6 |
Exam papers / questions Mock Paper 1 – Principle of Computer Science Mock Paper 2 – Computational Thinking |
Summer 1 |
Topic 1 Computational Thinking Topic 6 Programming Topic 3 Computers |
Programming Tasks End of Topic Tests |
External exams – early May. |
|
Summer 2 |
Topic 1 Computational Thinking Topic 6 Programming Topic 4 Networks |
Programming Tasks End of Topic Tests Mock Paper 1: Principle of Computer Science
Mock paper 2: Application of Computational Thinking |
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KS4 Course: BTEC Tech Award in Digital Information Technology
|
Y10 Content
|
Y10 Key Assessment |
Y11 Content |
Y11 Key Assessment |
Autumn 1 |
Analysis of a user interface: audience needs, design principles, designing an efficient
|
Assignment C1 Task A – the user interface
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C3 Impact of modern technologies; technologies to manage teams, impact of |
Exam style questions on Impact of modern technologies |
Autumn 2 |
Project planning techniques, create project plan, design techniques for User interface |
Assignment C1 task B – use project planning techniques to plan and design a user interface
|
C3 Cyber security: Threats to data, internal and external, why systems are attacked, impacts of security breach, preventions of threats, disaster recovery, actions after an attack |
Exam style questions on Cyber security & Threats to data
|
Spring 1 |
Create, refine and review a user interface student has created |
Assignment C1 Task C Develop and review a user interface
|
C3 Wider implications of digital systems: responsible use, legal and ethical considerations |
Exam style questions on responsible use, legal and ethical |
Spring 2 |
Characteristics of data, representing information, ensuring data is suitable for processing, data collection, quality of information and its impact on decision making, big data, threats to individual’s data |
Assignment C2 Task A – Investigate the role and impact of using data on individuals and organisations |
C3 planning digital systems, forms of notation. Revision |
Exam style questions on notation Past papers |
Summer 1 |
Data processing skills using spreadsheet software, create a dashboard including a |
C2 Assignment Task B – Create a dashboard using data manipulation tools |
Revision |
Exam |
Summer 2 |
Draw conclusions from data, understand how presentation affects data, make recommendations |
C2 task C – Draw conclusions and review data presentation methods |
|
|
KS5 Course: BTEC Extended Certificate in IT |
Y12 Content |
Y12 Key Assessment |
Y13 Content |
Y13 Key Assessment |
Autumn 1 |
Unit 1 A - Digital Devices Unit 1 B -Transmitting Data Unit 3 – A investigating social media |
End of Learning Aim Tests Written report – section A |
Unit 6 Part B – Design of Website and Programming Skills Unit 6 Part C – Website Development Unit 2 – creating systems to manage information (Databases) |
Unit 6 – Part A
Past exam papers |
Autumn 2 |
Unit 1 C – Operating Online Unit 1 D – Protecting Data Unit 3 – A investigating social media |
End of Learning Aim Tests Written report – section A |
Unit 6 Part B & C Assignment Unit 2 – creating systems to manage information (Databases) |
Unit 6 – Part B & C
Past exam papers |
Spring 1 |
Unit 1 E – Impacts Unit 1 F – Issues
Unit 3 B – planning social media for business |
Mock Paper End of Learning Aim Test Written report and plan – Unit 3 B |
Unit 6 Part B & C Assignment
Unit 2 – creating systems to manage information (Databases) |
Unit 6 – Part B & C
Past exam papers |
Spring 2 |
Unit 3 B_ C– planning and creating social media for business Revision A - F |
Unit 3 B_ C report Exam papers / questions |
Unit 6 Part B & C Assignment Unit 2 – creating systems to manage information (Databases) |
Unit 6 – Part B & C
Exam – creating a database to meet business objectives. |
Summer 1 |
Revision A – F Unit 3 B_ C– planning and creating social media for business |
Mock Paper Exam papers / questions Unit 3 B_ C report |
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Summer 2 |
Revision A – F Unit 6 – Part A Web Site Design Principles Assignment Unit 2 – creating systems to manage information (Databases) |
External exam – Unit 1 Skills test and SAM papers |
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Further details from J.Maynard@barnwell.herts.sch.uk