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IT Computing

Intent

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.

Learning Journey

Info Tech Learning Journey

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CS Learning Journey

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Curriculum Map 

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 

 

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

 

 

  

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
UI

 

Assignment C1 Task A – the user interface

 

C3 Impact of modern technologies; technologies to manage teams, impact of
technologies on organisations and individuals

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
wide variety of functions and advanced features

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 

 

 

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 

 

 

 Further details from J.Maynard@barnwell.herts.sch.uk

 

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