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Computer Science

Curriculum Intent

At Holcombe we aim to deliver the following ambitious outcomes for our students through our curriculum. Students will:

  • Be aspirational and ready for the next step in life
  • Achieve high quality academic outcomes
  • Develop as effective, efficient, resilient learners who can work independently towards ambitious goals
  • Develop an awareness of their own strengths and acquire effective habits to be successful at school and beyond
  • Develop long term knowledge and skills which can be effectively deployed in new circumstances.
  • Develop the cultural capital to be able to successfully engage with a wide variety of social situations
  • Develop an awareness of their place as a citizen in the school, wider community and the world beyond
  • The specific aim of the computer science department is to equip students with the core skills that they need in order to effectively utilise computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world”.

Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)

Key Stage 4

Years 12 and 13

Key Stage 3

We cover a Computing course at Key Stage 3 with an aim to equip pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with Maths, Science as well as Design Technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. The core of Computing is Computer Science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are encouraged to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of different content. Computing also helps to provide a backbone of ICT ensuring that all pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

By the end of Key Stage 3 all students should be able 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

 

 

Year 7

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Clear messaging in digital media 

Clear messaging in digital media 

Modelling Data - Spreadsheets 

Modelling Data - SpreadsheetsNetworks - From Sepaphores to the Internet 

Networks - From Sepaphores to the Internet

Programming Essentials In Scratch - Part 1 

Programming Essentials In Scratch - Part 1 

 

Year 8

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Programming Essentials in Scratch - Part II 

Programming Essentials in Scratch - Part II 

Computing System 

Computing System Representations - From clay to silicon 

Representations - From clay to silicon

Python  

Python 

 

Year 9

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Python Programming with Sequences of Data

Python Programming with Sequences of Data

Representations - Going Audio Visua 

Representations - Going Audio Visua Cyber security 

Cyber security 

System Architecture 

System Architecture 

 

KS3 Learning Journey

Please see attached the Key Stage 3 Learning Journey for Computer Science.

Click here for the KS3 Computer Science Learning Journey

Key Stage 4

Computer Science is a very practical subject – students will be able to use the knowledge and skills they learn in the classroom on real-world problems. It is also a highly creative subject that calls on learners to be inventive.

THE THREE COMPONENTS OF THE COURSE (these build on the content taught in Key Stage 3):

THE COMPUTER AND HOW IT ALL WORKS – COMPONENT 1

  • Study how processors work.
  • Investigate computer memory and storage.
  • Explore modern network layouts and how they function.
  • Build skills in the ever important realm of cyber security.
  • Investigate how types of software are used within computer systems.
  • Stretch wider comprehension of how computers and computing affect ethical, legal, cultural and environmental issues.

COMPUTATIONAL THINKING, ALGORITHMS AND PROGRAMMING – COMPONENT 2

  • Study fundamental algorithms in computer science.
  • Build a firm foundation in programming techniques.
  • Produce programs through diagrams.
  • Thoroughly test programs and make them resistant to misuse.
  • Explore Boolean algebra (AND, OR, NOT).
  • Understand how we store data within computers in binary form.

A PROGRAMMING PROJECT – COMPONENT 3

  • Use new-found programming skills on an independent coding project by solving a real-world problem.
  • Students will spend 20 classroom hours engaging with the Programming Project.
What will a student gain from this course?
  • Valuable thinking and programming skills that are extremely attractive in the modern workplace.
  • A deep understanding of problem solving and experience in creating logical and efficient solutions.
  • Ability to write down solutions to problems for other people to understand.
  • A good grounding in mainstream computing theory and understanding.

 

Year 10

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Data representation Networks protocols and layers System software and system security Impact of digital technology Algorithms Coursework 

 

 

Year 11

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Programming techniques Logic and languages Producing robust programs Exam preparation GCSE ExamsGCSE Exams

KS4 Learning Journey

Please see attached the Key Stage 4 Learning Journey for Computer Science.

Click here for the KS4 Computer Science Learning Journey

Years 12 and 13

Computer Science (this is not ICT, ICT is totally different from Computer Science) is a practical subject where you can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real-world systems. It’s an intensely creative subject that combines invention and excitement, that can look at the natural world through a digital prism. Computer Science qualifications will value computational thinking, helping you to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand the power and limits of human and machine intelligence.

 

Year 12

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Components of a computer and Their Uses
System Software and Application Generation		Exchanging Data
System Software and Application Generation		Networks and Web Technologies + Legal Moral Ethical and Cultural Issues
Programming in Python		Data Types
GUIs in Python Programming		Data Structures
Introduction To Coursework		Boolean Algebra
Coursework Analysis and Design

 

 

Year 13

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Computational Thinking 
Coursework Write Up Development and Testing		Programming Techniques and Algorithms
Coursework Write Up Evaluation		Review and Revise Component 1Review and Revise Component 2Personalised Program of SupportExams

KS5 Learning Journey

Please see attached the Key Stage 5 Learning Journey for Computer Science.

Click here for the KS5 Computer Science Learning Journey

Online Learning Support

On top of the obvious range of resources supplied to students in class, work packs, copies of class PowerPoints published onto teams, pdf textbooks, pdf question packs etc we also provide access to 3 outstanding online resources Seneca Learning (range of KS3, 4 and 5 interactive learning and testing), Test and Track (self-review and assessment to track knowledge and understanding helping the development of independent study) and CODIO (web-based IDE to support the development of programming skills which includes learning tasks as well as some theory).

Careers

You will develop an ability to analyse, critically evaluate and make decisions. The project approach is a vital component of ‘post-school’ life and is of particular relevance to Further Education, Higher Education and the workplace. Irrespective of your final choice of workplace or further education place Computer Science helps you to develop the analytical skills essential to success.

British Values

Students reflect on their work and develop their understanding though appropriate questioning. They take account of the views of others and respect their opinions even when they differ from their own.