During Years 7 and 8, pupils are taught Computer Science on rotation.

In Year 7, pupils being by developing their general digital literacy and understanding of e-safety. They continue to expand their understanding by learning the different types of computer systems and how they operate. Pupils finish off with an introduction to computational thinking, developing their problem-solving skills and building their creativity through challenging using turtle graphics.

In Year 8, pupils building on their knowledge from Year 7 by exploring how computer systems operate, binary, data storage, hardware and software. Their programming skills are then extended to using written code in Python. Finally, building on the programming concepts they used previously, pupils will create an app, going through the entire creative process of design, writing the code, evaluating and publishing.

In Year 9, pupils can choose to continue studying Computer Science in further depth. They learn about different types of storage devices, representing data, algorithms, text programming and logic gates before completing a cross-curricular project with Business Studies where they create a business website. 

The Computer Science GCSE course allows pupils to work with real-world, practical programming techniques and problems that give them a good understanding of what makes technology work. They build further on the principles of computing learned in KS3, building up the bigger picture of the world of ICT.

Pupils will take two examinations at the end of Year 11. Topics covered include:

• Systems architecture
• Memory and storage
• Computer networks and security
• The impacts of digital technology
• Algorithms
• Programming
• Computational logic

We also offer a vocational Information Technology course in which pupils focus on the core skills required to plan and manage projects, in particular in the ICT industry. Pupils also look at different planning told, the project life cycle and relevant laws.