Computer Science

SMCC-The-Computer-Science-IIII-Document.pdf

All pupils live in the digital age. It is their right to be educated in; how it works, the opportunities that it brings and the problems it has caused. Computer Studies education across all year groups will continually answer these questions through adherence to the national curriculum for Computer Science.   

The national curriculum for Computing as a subject can be defined as a combination of three separate strands: 

• computer science  
• information technology (IT)  
• digital literacy  

In recent years the government has recognised the need for a change of direction from seeing pupils merely as consumers of technology to seeing pupils as producers of technology.  This has led to a shifting of emphasis from IT and digital literacy to the science of computing. 

During KS3 at SMCC the intent is to expose pupils to all three strands of computing so that the breadth of opportunity in this field is known to all. The syllabus is split into 7 sections 

• Computer Systems 
• Networks and the internet 
• Efficient use of software to collect and present data/information 
• Data Representation 
• Algorithms 
• Programming techniques 
• Creating Programs 

Consequently, the KS3 syllabus fully adheres to the national curriculum which provides all the steppingstones necessary for the rigours of KS4.   

At KS4 the pupils who want to choose Computer Studies as an option will be allowed to do so regardless of ability.  However, whilst any pupil who wants to take the subject at KS4 can, it is vital that they do so with full understanding of what to expect from the GCSE syllabus.  

By the end of KS4 pupils should: 

• Understand the principles and concepts of computer science including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms and data representation 
• Be able to analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience (including coding using a high-level programming language) 
• Think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically. 
• Understand and identify the components that make up a digital system. 
• Recognise the impacts of digital technology to individuals and the wider society 
• Apply mathematical skills relevant to Computer Science. 

SMCC-Computer-Science-Curriculum-Map.pdf

SMCC-Ks3-Computer-Science-Curriculum-Overview.pdf

SMCC-Ks4-Computer-Science-Curriculum-Overview.pdf

Examination Board : OCR