Computing

“An understanding of computer science is becoming increasingly essential in today’s world. Our national competitiveness depends upon our ability to educate our children—and that includes our girls—in this critical field” –

Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer, Facebook

At The Deanery CE Academy, our Computing vision is to develop confident problem-solving and computational thinking skills in our learners and to encourage them to be creative in the use of Information Technology and secure in Digital Literacy.

To equip students with:

• good quality IT skills that will contribute to success in other subjects and in the world of work
• an understanding of where Computing and IT knowledge and skills can lead them in the next stage of their education or in a career
• the core Deanery values of wisdom, hope, service and resilience in the responsible use of technology and in collaboration with others
• the confidence to achieve no matter what their starting point
• problem-solving skills that incorporate key computational thinking ideas of algorithmic thinking, abstraction and decomposition
• curiosity in how hardware and software are designed and work
• the ability to predict, run, investigate, modify and make code
• foundation knowledge of a broad range of Computing topics that form part of the GCSE so learners can make an informed choice at KS4

Year 7

Term 1-  Introduction to Computer Networks

Year 7 begins with a look at computer networks.  This unit begins by introducing how an IT room should be used and password security then continues by defining a network and addressing the benefits of networking, before covering how data is transmitted across networks using protocols.

– Progress homework quiz and milestone task

Term 2 - Introduction to Programming with Scratch

This unit introduces learners to text-based programming with Python. The lessons form a journey that starts with simple programs involving input and output, and gradually moves on through arithmetic operations, randomness, selection, and iteration. Emphasis is placed on tackling common misconceptions and elucidating the mechanics of program execution

 - Progress homework quiz and milestone task

Term 3-  Spreadsheets

This unit introduces learners to spreadsheets and the concept of cell referencing. We ask them to collect, analyse, and manipulate data, before turning it into graphs and charts. They will be confident working with data.

- Progress homework quiz and milestone task

Year 8

Term 1 – Layers of Computer systems

Year 8 starts with a Computer systems unit, which is a good follow on from Year 7 Computer networks. This unit takes learners on a tour through the different layers of computing systems: from programs and the operating system, to the physical components that store and execute these programs, to the fundamental binary building blocks that these components consist of.

- Progress homework quiz and milestone task

Term 2 – Introduction to Python Programming

This unit introduces learners to text-based programming with Python. The lessons form a journey that starts with simple programs involving input and output, and gradually moves on through arithmetic operations, randomness, selection, and iteration. Emphasis is placed on tackling common misconceptions and elucidating the mechanics of program execution

Progress homework quiz and milestone task

Term 3 – Representations – from Clay to Silicon

This unit conveys essential knowledge relating to binary representation of numbers and text. The activities gradually introduce learners to binary digits and how they can be used to represent text and numbers. The concepts are linked to practical applications and problems that the learners are familiar with.

- Progress homework quiz and milestone task

Year 9

Term 1 – Cybersecurity

This unit covers the techniques used by cybercriminals to steal data, disrupt systems, and infiltrate networks. The learners will start by considering the value of their data to organisations and what they might use it for. They will then look at social engineering techniques used by cybercriminals to try to trick users into giving away their personal data. The unit will look at the more common cybercrimes such as hacking, DDoS attacks, and malware, as well as looking at methods to protect ourselves and our networks against these attacks.

- Progress homework quiz and milestone task

Term 2 - Introduction to Python Programming (2022-23 only)

This unit introduces learners to text-based programming with Python. The lessons form a journey that starts with simple programs involving input and output, and gradually moves on through arithmetic operations, randomness, selection, and iteration. Emphasis is placed on tackling common misconceptions and elucidating the mechanics of program execution

- Progress homework quiz and milestone task

Term 3 – Developing for the Web

Students will explore the technologies that make up the internet and World Wide Web. Starting with an exploration of the building blocks of the World Wide Web, HTML, and CSS, learners will investigate how websites are catalogued and organised for effective retrieval using search engines. By the end of the unit, students will have a functioning website.

- Progress homework quiz and milestone task

Key Stage 3 lessons draw on resources and pedagogy from Teach Computing.

Students will follow the OCR specification for the GCSE Computer Science.

OCR’s GCSE (9–1) in Computer Science will encourage students to:

• understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms, and data representation

• analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including designing, writing and debugging programs

• think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically

• understand the components that make up digital systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems

• understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual and to wider society

• apply mathematical skills relevant to Computer Science.

(OCR website)

Year 10

Students will study:

Term 1

1.1 System architecture

2.2. Programming fundamentals

Milestone task

Term 2

1.1 System architecture (finish)

1.2 Memory and storage

2.2. Programming fundamentals (continued)

Term 3

1.2 Memory and storage (finish)

January PPE

Term 4

2.1.1 Computational thinking

2.1.2 Designing, creating and refining algorithms

2.2. Programming fundamentals (continued)

1.3 Computer networks, connections and protocols

Milestone task

Term 5

1.3 Computer networks, connections and protocols

2.1.2 Designing, creating and refining algorithms (continued)

2.2. Programming fundamentals (continued)

Milestone task

Term 6

1.3 Computer networks, connections and protocols (finish)

2.1.2 Designing, creating and refining algorithms (continued)

2.2. Programming fundamentals (continued)

End of Y10 PPE

Homework will consist of multiple choice questions and exam style questions.

BBC Bitesize

Teach Computing

Python

Bebras

OCR

BBC Bitesize