Computing

How to login, saving work, network environments and using school email – and how to do so professionally

Unit 7.2 – Be Safe Online

How there are a variety of online risks to manage appropriately

How to address those risks and be safe using technology

Unit 7.3 – Computer Systems 1

The different computer components

How computers ‘think’, including translating binary

How different computers are used by different industries (eg: a plumber vs a graphic designer)

Unit 7.4 – Computer Networks

What networks are, and their advantages at home, school and work

The types of networks, including LANs and WANs

How the Internet works, why it is different to the WWW and how searches work

Unit 7.5 – Programming in Kodu

How games are developed in the industry

Key programming concepts such as algorithms, abstraction, decomposition etc

Creation of a game in Kodu

Unit 7.6 – Programming in micro:bit

Builds on 7.5, but using more challenging programming code – including block and textual programming

Using Desktop Publishing to present to a specific audience

Who are key computing figures – including successful British Computer Scientists and female Computer scientists

Unit 8.2 – Computer Systems 2

Builds on Unit 7.3, but in more depth about binary

Teaches pupils more about how computers think (logic gates)

Looks at different storage devices for different purposes (eg: school pupil vs person at work)

Unit 8.3 – Computer Networks 2

Builds on Unit 7.4

Includes building a network for small business, including factors that affect performance, the hardware used in networks, and threats to business that use networks

Unit 8.4 – Programming in Scratch

Builds on Unit 7.5/6

Continues with block-based programming, but looks in more depth at programming concepts such as iteration and selection

Unit 8.5 – Programming in Python

Builds on all previous programming units, but now working with a textual based programming language

Incorporates programming for a brief, such as an alcohol law age checker for a company

Working to a brief to create a new album cover

Looks at how graphic designers work (work-flow)

Use of Photoshop to create their chosen cover

Unit 9.2 – App Design

Pupils create an app for The Farnborough Academy

Again, working to a brief to meet audience needs

Incorporates support from Nottingham app company MultiPie – videos from their staff advising pupils of how apps are designed, made and tested

Unit 9.3 – Safer Internet Day

Pupils follow materials from Safer Internet Day each February

Expands on their knowledge from Year 7, including more age appropriate information to support pupils in using the Internet and devices safely and responsibly.

Unit 9.4 – Programming in Python 2

Develops skills learning in Unit 8.5, such as reading and writing from a file, lists/arrays and more complex programming challenges

Unit 9.5 – Computer Systems 3

The final computer systems unit incorporates the ethical, moral and legal considerations of using technology for various stakeholders

It also looks more closely at how the CPU and computer works

This unit also looks at the development of technology over time

Split into two components – Computer Systems and Computational Thinking

One coursework unit (not formally graded)

Two exams – 1 hour 30 minutes each, 80 marks, for each component.

Computer Systems covers how computers work, networks, security, software and ethical, moral and legal issues in Computer Science

Computational Thinking teaches pupils about algorithms, programming, binary representation, logic gates and software development.

Split into four components – Pre-Production Documents, Creating Digital Graphics, Creating Animation, Creating Interactive Multimedia Products

Three are coursework units, worth total 75% of the course

One exam (Pre-Production Documents) – 1 hour 15 minutes, 60 marks, worth 25% of the course.

Each coursework unit covers what industry standards are with a research task, followed by a design phase, before pupils create the relevant product, then review it.