BAA Computer Science Curriculum Intent Statement
Working alongside other ALT Computer Science teams, the BAA Computer Science Faculty delivers the Computer Science and Vocational IT curriculum through three key values across all key stages;
- Through collaboration of teachers and students to provide a progressive, reflective and modern computer science curriculum that matches the needs of both students and the ever changing industry
- With excellence in the pillars of progression for computer science, information technology and digital literacy to ensure a challenging interleaved curriculum leading to success and further opportunities
- Founded on inclusion for all with pedagogy and practice to support, build and enable all students in our schools to embrace a technology rich world with confidence.
Expand each Key Stage to access the Curriculum Map and see an overview of what is covered in this subject:
At KS3 in Computer Science pupils have 1 hour a week, please see the curriculum map to see what pupils will learn over the course of their study. KS3 aims to further develop knowledge in the areas of Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy. Students will develop their computational thinking skills, programming skills, learn about computer systems, networks and how computers represent data. KS3 also covers how to be a responsible digital citizen and develops skills on how to use IT to plan and create solutions to problems.
Our KS3 curriculum will enable students to:
- Understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- Analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- Evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
- Be responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
At KS4 in GCSE Computer Science, pupils have 2 hours a week. We follow the OCR J277 Specification (GCSE – Computer Science (9-1) – J277 (from 2020) – OCR).
The course is divided into 2 components:
- Computer Systems – Systems Architecture, Memory & Storage, Networks, Network security, Systems Software, Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology.
- Computational Thinking, algorithms and programming – Computer Systems includes: Component 2 covers Algorithms, Programming fundamentals, Producing robust programs, Boolean logic, Programming languages and Integrated Development Environments.
Final assessment is through 2 exams for each component.
Cambridge National in IT
At KS4 in the Cambridge National in IT qualification, pupils have 2 hours a week. We follow the OCR J836 Specification (Cambridge Nationals – IT Level 1/Level 2 – J836 – OCR).
The course covers the impacts of digital technologies on the individual, organisation and wider society. Topics include learning about IT Design Tools, Human Computer Interface (HCI) in everyday life, Data and Testing, Cyber security & Legislation, Digital Communications and the Internet of Everything.
Final assessment is through a combination of 1 exam (IT in the digital world) and 2 non-exam assessment units on Augmented Reality and Spreadsheets.
Our KS4 curriculum will enable students to:
- Read, write and develop algorithms that include the constructs of sequence, selection, iteration and procedures
- Solve problems using computational thinking to program code in a structured way to write, test and debug programs using logical reasoning and approaches to refine problems across an array of contexts
- Develop a rich understanding of the technology that underpins computers through the fundamentals of binary representation, systems architecture, software and networking technologies
- Understand how the impact of technology effect safety, security of systems and the ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology.
‘A’ Level Computer Science
At KS5 in ‘A’ Level Computer Science pupils have 5 hours a week. We follow the OCR Specification (AS and A Level – Computer Science – H046, H446 – OCR).
The course is divided into 3 components :
- Computing Systems – processors, software and software development, exchanging data, data types/structures/algorithms, legal/moral/cultural/ethical issues
- Algorithms & Programming - computational thinking, problem solving and programming, algorithms to solve problems, standard algorithms
- Programming Project – Individual project including analysis, design, development and evaluation.
Final assessment is through 2 exams and the Project non-exam assessment.