Ms Cheryl Spittles Subject Leader for Computing

Mr Avnish Majethia Computing Teacher

Mr James Petty Computing Teacher

Computing teachers at Waddesdon aim to provide every student with the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of all aspects of computing as part of a broad and balanced curriculum regardless of needs.  We achieve this by providing students with a solid platform of technical and creative skills that will support the successful use of ICT and raising their aspirations to enable them to flourish socially and academically at Waddesdon and beyond. This is achieved by teaching computer science and information technology; students will be encouraged to develop their computational thinking skills and apply these to all kinds of systems preparing them for the wider technological world.   

Students in Computing are supported by dedicated specialist teachers who desire to share their passion with future generations with dignity and respect. 

 

KS3

During KS3 students are taught digital literacy, basic concepts of computer science, programming and creating an Augmented Reality (AR) prototype app. These early skills equip students with the necessary skill set for GCSE and beyond whilst linking seamlessly to the KS4 courses that we offer within the department.

KS4

At Key Stage 4 we offer two pathways, GCSE Computer Science and Cambridge National IT Level 1/2.

Computer Science is designed to boost computing skills and address the current digital skills shortage in industry and places its emphasis on the following key areas: computational thinking, problem solving, designing systems and understanding human and machine intelligence.

IT is designed for students who wish to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of IT including the concepts of IT whilst gaining work related skills. These include the Internet of Everything, data manipulation and augmented reality.  

Skills acquired in either of these courses prepare students for their post 16 options whether they continue to study Computer Science or IT in Key Stage 5 or step into industry through an apprenticeship.

KS5

At Key Stage 5 we offer the BTEC AAQ Computing Level 3 which provides students with the skills and qualification to progress onto university or the workplace. During their course of study over two years they will undertake 4 units as follows: Programming Fundamentals, Cyber Security and Encryption, Human-Computer Interactions, Programming Project. During this course of study, students are given opportunities to engage with employers to gain insight into the industry.

KS3 Booklet

Year 7 Overview

Students are taught the following topics in Year 7:

 

 Topic 1 –Digital Literacy and Computational Thinking Fundamentals

Students are taught the skills to successfully use the school network whilst implementing computational thinking skills to solve problems creating deep thinkers and independent learners.

 

Topic 2 – Human Computer

During this unit, students will explore what’s ‘under the hood’ of the computer and be able to identify hardware and software appropriately and show an awareness of how to safely save, retrieve and modify files.

 

Topic 3 – App Building

This hands-on unit brings out the creative side of students bridging their KS2 coding skills into a fully coded app using a block editor to create a game using digital artefacts and their own interpretation of a brief.

 

Topic 4 – Memory and storage

Students will begin to show an awareness, through this technical unit, of how data  is stored in a computer system looking and number systems, character sets, images and sound to demonstrate

Year 8 Overview

Students are taught the following topics in Year 8:

 Topic 1 – Digital Literacy and Computational Thinking recap

Students are given the opportunity to recap and build the fundamental skills they learned in Year 7 through deliberate practice and meaningful challenge to broaden their knowledge and skills set within the Office suite.

 

Topic 2 – Cyber Security

This topic explores the dangers, particularly to devices and data, if cyber security is not considered. Through interactive activities the students explore and simulate a variety of cybersecurity tactics and threats.

 

Topic 3 – Future of Computing

In an ever-changing world this unit gives the students the opportunity to stop and explore the current trends and consider their ethical, moral and environmental impacts on the world. Students are also given the opportunity to programme their own Artificial Intelligent (AI) chat bot in a secure environment.

 

Topic 4 – Spreadsheet Modelling

In additional to the digital literacy skills, students are deliberately taught spreadsheet skills to broaden their exploration of the Office suite software. Real-world scenarios are used to simulate data modelling and the use of basic functions and formulas.

 

Topic 5 – Python Programming

It is important that every student is given the opportunity to experience programming in an industry recognised language. During this unit, the computational thinking skills that have been embedded throughout KS3 enable students to be successful programmers.

KS4 Syllabus (Computer Science)

GCSE Overview

At Key Stage 4, the Computing department offers two pathways as below.

1. GCSE Computer Science– this is suitable for aspiring students who wish to extend their learning of core computing concepts learnt over Key Stage 3.
2. Cambridge National in Information Technology– this is suitable for students who are interested in applied aspects of Information Technology, and who prefer a more creative scope of technology.

 

OCR GCSE J277 Computer Science

Students are taught the following topics in Years 9 to 11:

Computer Science comprises the following two externally assessed written exams at the end of Year 11:

Component 01 – Computer Systems (50%)

The first component is focused on computer systems, covering the physical elements of Computer Science and the associated theory.

This consists of the following units below:

1. Systems architecture
2. Memory
3. Storage
4. Network topologies, protocols, layers, and security
5. System software
6. Moral, social, legal, cultural, and environmental concerns

 

Component 02 – Computational Thinking (50%)

This component is focused on the core theory of Computer Science and the application of Computer Science principals.

This consists of the following units below:

• Algorithms
• Programming fundamentals
• Producing robust programs
• Boolean logic
• Programming languages and IDEs

CNAT IT

OCR Cambridge National J836 in Information Technology

Students study three mandatory units made up of one examined unit (40% of final grade) and two coursework units (60% of final grade).

• Unit R050: IT in the Digital World (exam in Year 11)
• Unit R060: Spreadsheet modelling (coursework)

R070: Augmented Reality (coursework)

KS5 Syllabus

A-Level Overview

BTEC AAQ Computing Level 3

Students are taught the following topics in Year 12 and Year 13 as part of their course:

Year 12

One exam-based unit (externally assessed) and one coursework unit (internally assessed):

• Unit 1 Programming Fundamentals (exam)
• Unit 3 Human-Computer Interaction (coursework)

 

Year 13

One exam-based unit (externally assessed) and one coursework unit (internally assessed):

• Unit 2 Cyber Security and Encryption (exam)
• Unit 4 Programming Project (coursework)

KS3 Coding Club runs after school each week for aspiring coders of any level or experience.

All students within the department are entered annually for the Bebras Computational Thinking competition hosted by the University of Oxford in October.