Computer Science

Department Curriculum 

At St Thomas More the Computer Science curriculum has been sensibly planned to enable all pupils to be challenged and given the opportunity to learn and explore a wide variety of Computer Science and ICT related topics. 

The skills developed from the start of KS3 are planned to be built upon through the year groups as they progress through to KS4. The various units studied aim to encourage students to have a love for technology and inspire them to use computer science and ICT skills across the whole curriculum in the school. 

Year 7

During the first year pupils will learn a variety of topics from both Computer Science and ICT. It’s very important that that pupils coming into the school are giving the opportunity to develop their basic ICT skills and also gain an understanding of computer science. The pupils will learn a variety of topics to embed the fundamental skills they will need later in the subject including Binary and hexadecimal. 

The topics they will cover are: 

  1. Basic Skills, VLE Training and E-Safety
  2. Using computers safely and responsibly
  3. Computational Thinking and Graphical Programming
  4. Spreadsheets level 1
  5. Hardware and software
  6. Computer Animation Pivot Olympic event

 

Year 7 Computer Science Curriculum Progression Grid  

Year 8

In year 8 the pupils build on the foundational skills that they developed in year 7. They will progress the programming skills with Python and also improve their understanding of computer maths; through binary and hexadecimal. They will leave year 8 enhancing their spreadsheets skills and then learn about animation. 

The topics they will cover are: 

  1. Understanding computers
  2. Computer crime and cyber security
  3. Introduction to Python
  4. Spreadsheets level 2
  5. Animation

 

Year 8 Computer Science Curriculum Progression Grid

Year 9

During year 9 pupils are exposed to a wide variety of topics that are engaging and challenging for all levels. This year allow pupils to build upon the skills and knowledge developed at KS3, whilst also preparing them for what is to be expected at GCSE. This is a hugely important year for the pupils, it allows them to build confidence in areas of the subject that are demanding. Topics and lessons are planned carefully to ensure that a love for learning is evident in the classroom, thus giving the pupils belief as they move into the start of the GCSE in year 10. 

The topics covered in this year are as follows: 

  1. Computer networks
  2. Database development
  3. Back to the Future: Computer scientists
  4. Practical Programming Python next steps
  5. Ethical legal environmental impacts. Case study
  6. HTML and website development

 

Year 9 Computer Science Curriculum Progression Grid

GCSE

The OCR Computer Science (1-9) GCSE is taught from year 10 to year 11 and is a brilliant opportunity for pupils to thoroughly learn and develop in a challenging and exciting subject. 

In Year 10 we aim to cover all of the theory needed for component 01 and some aspects of component 02. In year 11 there is a larger focus on programming for component 02 and a full revisit of the theory delivered in year 10 

The course is broken down as follows: 

Component 01 – Computer Systems 

Systems architecture, Memory and storage, Computer networks connections and protocols, Network security, System software, Ethical legal cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology. 

Component 02 – Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming 

Algorithms, Programming fundamentals, Producing robust programs, Boolean logic, Programming languages and Integrated Development Environments 

 

Year 10 Computer Science Curriculum Progression Grid 

Year 11 Computer Science Curriculum Progression Grid