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Computer Science

Welcome to the Computer Science Department

"If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow." - John Dewey

Head of Department:

Mrs Tisson
e-mail: mtisson3.310@parkhighstanmore.org.uk

Key Stage 3

The Key Stage 3 Computer Science curriculum is designed to guide students from foundational knowledge to increased competency over the three-year period. Initiating the journey in Year 7 with an 'Introduction to Computer Science', students not only lay the groundwork for essential skills in Clear Media Messaging, Spreadsheet applications, encryption and programming in Edublocks but also embark on an exploration of the digital landscape. 

Building upon this foundation in Year 8, our curriculum delves deeper into the world of programming languages, hardware and software, learning about AI Students gain insights into the intricacies of hardware and software, delve into the realm of cyber security, explore the impact of technologies, and navigate the complexities of online dangers. 

Year 9 Computing is all about creativity, challenge, and communication. Students dive into exciting projects—from designing digital art and animations to programming with Python and building smart tech with micro:bit. They explore the world of artificial intelligence and learn to create their own websites using HTML. Each unit is hands-on and encourages problem-solving, innovation, and teamwork. With regular home learning and practical assessments, students are supported to think independently and bring their ideas to life.

Year 7

Autumn Spring Summer

Unit 1 Cyber Security

  • Introduction and  Email scams
  • Protecting your data
  • Unit 2 Clear Media Messaging
  •  
  • Getting the message across
  • Poster Making
  • Creating a Brand
  • Adding Content
  • Presenting

Unit 3 Spreadsheet Modelling

  • Getting to know a spreadsheet.
  • Quick Collections
  • Collecting Data & fund raiser project
  • Fundraiser project
  • End of Unit assessment
  • WCF

BEBRAS –Practice & Actual competition 

Unit 3 Python Blocks 

  • Introduction to turtle. 
  • Turtle & Iteration 
  • User input and data type
  • Variables and constants, Project
  • Project

Unit 4 Encryption

  • Decryption Game
  • Barcodes, QR Codes & Binary Image
  • Mid Topic Assessment & Binary Mission
  • Binary Mission
  • End of Unit Assessment
  • WCF

Unit 5 Using media – Gaining support for a cause. 

  • Features of a word processor. 
  • Licencing appropriate images 
  • The credibility of sources 
  • Research and plan your blog. 
  • Promoting your cause. 
  • Project completion

End of Unit Assessment 
Assessment

Assessment 1 – Homework Research Task

Assessment 2 - End of Unit assessment Spreadsheet

Assessment 3 – Spreadsheet group project

Assessment 1 Encryption MCQ

Assessment 2 – Encryption End of Unit Assessment

Assessment 1 End of Year Assessment

Assessment 2 MCQ Mid topic assessment 

Assessment 3 Project

Home learning is allocated every three lessons by the department. It may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it.

In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, internal exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course.  Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.

Year 8

Autumn Spring Summer

Unit 1 Data Representation

  • What is representation. 
  • Number bases 
  • Binary addition. 
  • Mid Topic Assessment
  • Hexadecimal 
  •  End of Unit Assessment
  • WCF

 

Unit 2 Layers of a computer system 

  • Different layers of a computer system 
  • Hardware components 
  • CPU, RAM and OS, Project
  • Mid Topic Assessment
  • It’s only logical
  • WCF
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning 
  • Presentation

 

BEBRAS –Practice & Actual competition 

Unit 3 Introduction to Python 

  • Introduction to Python 
  • Functions
  • Functions,
  • Numbers & arithmetic 
  • Selection 
  • Assessment 1 
  • While loops, Python Project
  • WCF 
  • Python Project
  •  Python Project 

 

Unit 4 Cyber Security 

  • You and your data. 
  • Social engineering 
  • Script Kiddies. 
  • Rise of the bot 
  • Mid topic Assessment  
  • WCF 
  • There is no place like 127.0.0.1 
  • Under attack & project
  • Project

Unit 5 Networks

  • The internet 
  • Connectivity
  • Client server networks 
  • Encryption 
  •  End of Unit Assessment
  • WCF

 

Unit 6 Media Vector Graphics

  • Get into shapes
  • Working with multiple shapes
  • Icon Challenges
  • What will you make
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Showcase
Assessment

Assessment 1 Data Representation Mid topic assessment 

Assessment 2 End of Unit assessment 

Assessment 3 Layers of a computer system 

Assessment 4 –Home learning research 

Assessment 1 –Python Mid topic assessment 

Assessment 2 –Project

Assessment 3 - Cyber Security Mid Topic Assessment

Assessment 3 –Project

Assessment 1 – End of Year Assessment

Assessment 2 Networks Mid Topic Assessment

Assessment 3 – Media Vector Graphics Project

Home learning is allocated on a weekly basis by each department. It may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it.

In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, internal exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course.  Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.

Year 9 

Autumn Spring Summer

Unit 1 Data Representation Going audio-visual 

  • The basics
  • Representing bitmap images
  • Using GIMP
  • Representing sound
  • Measurements of storage
  • End of Unit Assessment
  • WCF

Unit 2 Python Programming

  • Introduction to Flowol 
  • Algorithms and flowcharts 
  • Subroutines in flowcharts 
  • Defining functions 
  • For loops 
  • While loops 
  • Lists 
  • End of Unit project

BEBRAS – Actual competition 

Unit 3 – Media animations 

  • Move, rotate, scale, colour 
  • Animation, names, parenting 
  • Complex models and colours 
  • Organic modelling 
  • Lights, camera, render 
  • Project

 

Unit 4 Physical computing with micro:bit 

  • Hello physical world 
  • Bare bones 
  • Connections 
  • Dream it up
  • Build it up 
  • Project 

Unit 5 – AI

  • What is AI?
  • How computers learn from data
  • Bias in, Bias out
  • Decision trees
  • How to solve problems with ML models
  • End of Unit Assessment
  • WCF

Unit 6 HTML and Web development 

  • Website building blocks 
  • Words are not enough 
  • Taking shortcuts 
  • Searching the web 
  • Tightening the web 
  • Navigating the web 
  • Project 
Assessment

Assessment 1 – Data Representation End of Unit Assessment

Assessment 2 – Python MCQ

Assessment 3- Python Project & EOY

Both of the units taught in the spring term will be assessed using projects which allow the students to apply their learning in a practical setting 

Assessment 1 – Medi Animations Project

Assessment 2 – Microbit Project

Assessments may include MCQs, coding, and a project 

Assessment 1 – End of Year Assessment

Assessment 2 – HTML Project

Assessment 3- Python Project

Home learning is allocated on a weekly basis by the department. It may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it.

At the end of each unit the students are assessed either through a written paper, a practical task, or through a combination of both.

Key Stage 4

Our GCSE curriculum aligns with the OCR Computer Science curriculum, extending the knowledge acquired in KS3. Emphasising hands-on coding, robust problem-solving methodologies, and a comprehensive theoretical understanding, our curriculum prepares students not only for academic success but also for future careers in a range of fields.  

Computer Science

Year 10

Autumn Spring Summer

2.2.1 - Programming fundamentals  

  • Variable constants and outputs 
  • Inputs and outputs in Python 
  • Arithmetic and logical operators 

2.2.2 - Common data types, arithmetic operators and boolean operators 

  • Integers, boolean,  
  • Characters and strings 
  • Assessment 1 

2.2.1 - Programming fundamentals  

  • Selection and conditionals 
  • Iteration (while loops) 
  • Iteration (count- and condition-controlled loops
  • Assessment 2 

1.1 - Systems Architecture 

  • Architecture of the CPU 
  • Architecture of the CPU 
  • CPU Performance  
  • Assessment 1 

1.2 -  Memory 

  • Secondary storage types and characteristics 
  • Secondary storage – choosing suitable devices 
  • Assessment 2 

1.2.2 - Memory and storage 

  • Binary and denary 
  • Hexadecimal 
  • Assessment 3 
  • Binary arithmetic 
  • Characters 
  • Images 
  • Sounds 
  • Assessment 4 

1.2.5 Compression 

  • The need for compression 
  • Types of compression: 
  • Lossy and lossless compression 

2.2.3 Additional programming techniques 

  • The use of basic string manipulation 
  • The use of 1D arrays 
  • Assessment 1 

2.2.3 Additional programming techniques 

  • Sub programs (functions and procedures)  
  • Assessment 1
  • Random number generation 
  • Assessment 2 

1.3 - Computer networks, connections and protocols 

  • The internet and the world wide web 
  • Local area networks 
  • Assessment 1 
  • Wireless networking 
  • Client server and P2P networks 
  • Standards protocols and layers 
  • Assessment  2

2.1 Computational Thinking 

  • Abstraction 
  • Decomposition 
  • Algorithmic thinking 
  • Computational thinking 
  • Assessment 1 

2.3.1 - Defensive design 

  • Code maintenance 
  • Validation, authentication and anticipating misuse 
  • Assessment 1 
  • Implementing defensive design 

2.3.2 – Testing 

  • Identifying syntax and logic errors 
  • Selecting suitable test data 
  • Assessment  1

1.4 – Network security 

Forms of attack: 

  • Malware 
  • Social engineering, e.g. phishing, people as the ‘weak point’ 
  • Brute-force attacks 
  • Denial of service attacks 
  • Data interception and theft 
  • The concept of SQL injection 
  • Assessment  1

Programming project 

  • Analysis and design 
  • Developing longer programs 
  • Testing the solution 
Evaluation 
Assessment

Assessment 1 programming techniques- MCQ on TEAMS 

Assessment 2 – programming techniques short written algorithm questions 

Assessment 1- CPU MCQ 

Assessment 2 -MEMORY- MCQ 

Assessment 3- STORAGE exam questions 

Assessment 4- DATA REPRESENTATION exam questions 

Assessment 1 MCQ -ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES 

Assessment 2- exam questions ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES 

Assessment 1 MCQ – COMPUTER NETWORK 

Assessment 2- exam questions 

COMPUTER NETWORKS 

Assessment 3 MCQ -COMPUTATIONAL THINKING 

Assessment 4- exam questions 

COMPUTATIONAL THINKING 

Assessment 1 MCQ 

TESTING 

Assessment 2- exam questions 

NETWORK SECURITY 

ASSESSMENT 

APRIL MOCKS

Assessment 1 MCQ 

UTILITY SOFTWARE 

Assessment 4- programming project 

Home learning is allocated on a weekly basis by the department. It may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it.

At the end of each unit the students are assessed either through a written paper, a practical task, or through a combination of both.

Year 11

Autumn Spring Summer

2.1 – Algorithms Computational Thinking

  • Abstraction
  • Decomposition
  • Algorithms using flowcharts
  • Algorithms using pseudocode
  • Interpreting and Completing Algorithms
  • Interpreting and Completing Algorithms
  • End of Topic Assessment

2.1.2 Algorithms

  • Searching Algorithms
  • Searching Algorithms
  • Sorting Algorithms
  • Sorting Algorithms
  • End of Topic Assessment

1.4 Network Security

  • Network Security
  • Network Security
  • Preventing Vulnerabilities
  • End of Unit Assessment

 1.4.2 Identifying and preventing vulnerabilities 

Common prevention methods: 

  • Penetration testing 
  • Anti-malware software 
  • Firewalls, o User access levels 
  • Passwords, o Encryption 
  • Physical security 
  • Assessment

1.6 - Ethical legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology 

Impacts of digital technology on wider society including: 

  • Ethical issues 
  • Legal issues 
  • Cultural issues 
  • Environmental issues 
  • Privacy issues 

Legislation relevant to Computer Science: 

  • The Data Protection Act 2018 
  • Computer Misuse Act 1990 
  • Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 
  • Software licences (i.e. open source and proprietary 

2.4 - Boolean logic 

  • Truth tables 
  • Logic gates 
  • Logic diagram

2.3.1 - Defensive design 

  • Code maintenance 
  • Validation, authentication and anticipating misuse
  • Implementing defensive design 

2.3.2 – Testing 

  • Identifying syntax and logic errors 
  • Selecting suitable test data 

1.5.1 Operating systems 

The purpose and functionality of operating systems: 

  • User interface 
  • Memory management and multitasking 
  • Peripheral management and drivers 
  • User management 
  • File management 

2.2.3 - Additional programming techniques 

  • String manipulation 
  • File handling 
  • SQL 

2.5 - Programming languages and IDEs 

  • High and low level languages 
  • Assembly language and the little man computer 
  • Translators 
  • Compilers and interpreters 
  • IDEs 

2.2.3 - Additional programming techniques 

  • Arrays 
  • 2 dimensional arrays  

Revision  

  • Recap of topics 2.4 and 2.5 
  • Recap of topics 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6
  • Recap of 1.1 
Assessment

Assessment 1 – short questions 

Assessment 2 – algorithm questions 

Assessment 1 – MCQ  legal ethical 

Assessment 2 – 2 and 8 mark question- legal ethical 

Assessment – short questions- Boolean logic  

End of topic test – Boolean logic 

Assessment 1: MCQ -defensive design 

Assessment 2- end of topic test defensive design 

MCQ testing 

MCQ programming languages 

End of topic test programming languages 

Assessment 1: algorithm assessment on arrays and subroutines 

Assessment 2: End of topic test on system software 

Assessment 1 

Component 1 full paper 

Assessment 2 

Component 2 full paper 

GCSE Exams

KS4 Assessment 

Written Paper Examination:

Paper 1    50%   Computer Systems
Paper 2    50%  Computational thinking, algorithms, and programming

Examination Board:

OCR

Course Specification:

OCR J277 GCSE Computer Science (9-1) 

Qualification obtained:

GCSE Computer Science (9-1)

Useful Reading Material:

GCSE OCR Computer Science J277 Course textbook by PG Online

Learning to Program in Python by P M Heathcote

Additional Information

Useful Websites

www.ocr.org.uk

www.teach-ict.com

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education

https://www.codecademy.com/

http://girlswhocode.com/

http://www.w3schools.com/

http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse_new/gcse_ict_home.html

https://code.org/learn

https://blockly.games

https://www.tinkercad.com

 

KS5 Subject information

 

 

Subject Careers Information

 
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