The Computer Science curriculum equips students with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the digital age. It caters to learners from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4, fostering computational thinking and problem-solving abilities.

INTENT

• Spark Creativity and Innovation: Ignite a passion for computer science, encouraging students to express themselves through the creation of software and digital solutions.
• Develop Problem-Solvers: Cultivate critical thinking and analytical skills, empowering students to approach challenges with a computational mindset and in the process enhance student resilience.
• Empower Digital Citizens: Foster responsible digital citizenship by teaching essential online safety practices and the impact of technology on society. Students are taught to respect other users of technology so that it is used in an appropriate manner.
• Build a Strong Foundation: Equip students with a comprehensive understanding of core computer science principles, including algorithms, data representation, and programming.

IMPLEMENTATION

Key Stage 3 (Ages 11-14): Building Foundational Skills

• Ten Strands of Learning: The curriculum follows the Teach Computing Curriculum, covering ten essential areas. Students delve into algorithms, computer networks, and systems, gaining a solid understanding of how computers function and interact.
• Creating and Using Media: Students explore various media formats, including text, images, sound, and video. They acquire the skills to not only use these media but also create their own.
• Data Representation: The curriculum emphasises data – its storage, organisation, and application in representing real-world scenarios.
• Design and Development: Students are introduced to the design and development process, learning how to plan, create, and evaluate computing projects.
• Effective Use of Tools: The curriculum equips students with the ability to utilise software tools effectively for various computing tasks.
• Impact of Technology: Students explore the social and individual implications of technology, fostering responsible digital citizenship and are encouraged to consider their use of technology.
• Programming Fundamentals: The introduction to programming empowers students to write software that instructs computers to solve problems.
• Safety and Security: Developing a critical understanding of online safety and security practices is paramount in this curriculum.

Key Stage 4 (Ages 14-16): Deepening Knowledge and Programming Expertise (GCSE Course)

The GCSE Computer Science course provides a rigorous and engaging journey into the world of programming and computer architecture.

• Programming Focus: This stage delves deeper into programming, using a high-level text-based language. Students develop their problem-solving abilities by planning, creating, testing, and refining their own computer programs.
• Comprehensive Understanding: The curriculum broadens its scope, encompassing computer hardware and software, data representation using binary code, computer networks, Boolean logic, algorithms, memory, storage, and networks.
• Academically Rigorous: The emphasis on problem-solving, mathematical concepts, and high academic rigor makes this course well-suited for students who enjoy challenges.

IMPACT

Career Opportunities: Computer Science opens doors to exciting career paths in leading companies, from software development to cybersecurity. The computer science field is full of exciting, diverse, and high-growth careers. This could range from individual ventures to the thriving local tech sector to opportunities in international companies.

Overall, the Computer Science curriculum empowers students to become active participants in the digital world, with the ability to create, solve problems, and use technology responsibly.

Possible career pathways are Programming, Games Design, Business, Application Development, Website Creation, Computer Technicians.