Computer Science
Overview
New Computer Science curriculum is in place at Key Stage 3 and it is also offered as an optional subject at Key Stage 4 and 5. Computer Science is an exciting new curriculum where pupils learn in depth how computers work and how programming can help us create applications. For example pupils make interesting computer programmes using Visual Basic, a popular programming language used in the Computing industry. The Key Stage 3 curriculum also allows pupils to understand the requirements of studying computing at GCSE level should they chose to take it as an option in GCSE.
Villiers High School has 4 brand new Computer Science suites with the latest software’s including programming languages like Visual Basic, Python and other development software’s like MySQL that is used to further pupils learning of Computer Science.
Each pupil is given a username and password to access the schools network. They are also given access to Google Classroom and Google Drive which is used as a Teaching and Learning tool at Villiers High School. The students also get their individual school email addresses which they can use to communicate with their teachers and peers.
Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3 pupils have 1 lesson a week of computing.
In Year 7 pupils study:
1. Importance of studying Computer Science and its link to E-Safety
2. Understanding Hardware and Software
3. Writing Algorithms (flowcharts and/or pseudo-code)
4. Writing simple programs using Python and Visual Basic
5. How to write simple programs using Visual Basic?
6. Web designing using HTML, CSS and JavaScript
7. Identifying network/system security threats, E-Safety
8. Data representation: Binary to Denary vice versa and Introduction to Hexadecimal Number system
In Year 8 pupils study:
1. Understanding Wired and Wireless networks including LAN, WAN
2. Importance and main functions of an Operating System
3. Functions and characteristics of the CPU
4. Role of RAM and ROM (primary storage)
5. Extension to coding using HTML and JavaScript
6. Further extension to programming experience using selection (or using if statements)
7. Further extension to identifying and preventing vulnerabilities (System security) How to protect your online transactions
8. Data representation: Hex to Denary vice versa and Binary addition
In Year 9 pupils study:
1. Network topologies and protocols
2. Types of secondary storage
3. Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns related to Computing and how the individual student is empowered and constrained by them
4. Computational thinking including sorting and searching algorithms
5. Extend their programming experience using iteration (or loops)
6. Facilities of an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
7. Data representation: Binary multiplication and subtraction
Key Stage 4
GCSE Computing is an exciting option subject for Key Stage 4. The students get up to 5 lessons per fortnight to study computing.
Requirements: Minimum 5 grade in both English and Maths.
This new exciting Computing curriculum is for those who love Maths and Science and want to achieve top grades in Sixth Form, then getting into a top university. This exciting GCSE gives students an excellent opportunity to investigate how computers work and also develop computer programming and problem solving skills. During the course students will be completing in-depth research and practical programming work. Students will be learning how to programme mobile phone apps, using scripts to create databases and coding standalone applications.
At Key stage 4 we study:
Component (01) - Computer systems (50%)
1. Systems Architecture
2. Memory
3. Storage
4. Wired and wireless networks
5. Network topologies, protocols and layers
6. System security
7. System software
8. Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns
Component (02)- Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (50%)
1. Algorithms
2. Programming techniques
3. Producing robust programs
4. Computational logic
5. Translators and facilities of languages
6. Data representation
Component (03)- Programming project (Not formally assessed but an essential requirement)
20 timetabled lessons are provided to complete a project given by the exam board.
1. Programming techniques
2. Analysis
3. Design
4. Development
5. Testing and evaluation and conclusions
Key Stage 5 - A-Level
The OCR A Level in Computer Science is highly relevant to the modern and changing world of computing. Completely re-written for 2015/16, the new 2 year A Level course will:
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Focus on programming and emphasise the importance of computational thinking as a discipline.
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Have an expanded maths focus, much of which will be embedded within the course.
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Put computational thinking at its core, helping students to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand human and machine intelligence.
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Allow student to apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real world systems in an exciting and engaging manner.
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Give students a clear progression into higher education, as the course was designed after consultation with members of BCS, CAS and universities.
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Visit the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park to see the world's first electronic computer
Please note students will be enrolling on the full 2 year A Level course and will not receive an AS
Entry Requirements for A Level Computer Science
Grade 6 in Maths, Science and English
GCSE Computing will be beneficial but not an essential requirement
Assessment
Unit 1 - Computer Systems (40%) (Exam)
Unit 2 - Algorithms and Programming (40%) (Exam)
Unit 3 - Programming Project (20%) (Coursework)
