Our mission is to provide an outstanding education in both the theoretical and applied components of computing enabling students to be safe proficient users of technology.

Aims

1. Provide opportunities of study in the areas of Computer Science, Digital Literacy and internet safety.
2. Offer an engaging curriculum to challenge students to achieve.
3. Develop a love of learning which results in natural rapid progress.

We strive to teach students to successfully apply their education to solve real-world problems thus enhancing their future life chances in the ever changing and challenging global environment of the 21st Century. Students will learn a wide range of skills including e-safety data handling, presentation and programming skills, which they will apply to a range of scenarios. These skills will be essential for the student as nearly every career will rely on some use of ICT or computing so we aim to equip the students with the skill to progress. A weekly computing club helps students develop their programming knowledge.

Learning Sequence Overview

Year 6 to 7 Transition Stage

The Key Stage 3 curriculum will build on the prior learning of students, and develop the skills that they have brought from primary.

Sequence of Learning KS3

This curriculum has been developed to allow students to acquire new skills in the three disciplines of Computer Science, Digital Literacy and Online Safety. A ‘backwards planning’ approach has been used to ensure that all learning at Key Stage 3 is linked to learning at Key Stage 4 level, satisfying the criteria of the National Curriculum and the expectations of future employers.

The Computer Science elements of the course aim to provide students with problem solving skills and basic knowledge of computer systems. Digital literacy modules aim to provide learners with lifelong ICT skills including Microsoft Office proficiency and the ability to create and edit digital images. Online Safety components of the curriculum ensure that students have the skills to use digital devices safely and what to do in potentially dangerous situations.

This curriculum is based on around different units that will cover the national curriculum. There are running themes throughout Key Stage 3, including e-safety, data handling, programming and presentation skills.

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

KS3 Intervention Programme

Intervention will be given to students who are under achieving, this will be through support during lessons and sessions at lunchtime or after school if required.

Students can continue to work on the Idea Award, Hour of Code and Code Academy to develop their understanding of computing outside the classroom.

• idea.org.uk
• code.org/learn
• codeacademy.com

How can parents/carers help?

One of the hardest demands on pupils is that of understanding the long-term importance of doing their best whilst at school.  This is where parents/carers come in.  Your reassurance and support can make a big difference to your child’s motivation and ability to cope and succeed with the academic demands.  Encouraging pupils to complete homework will build on the knowledge they have learnt in lessons and assist in embedding topic knowledge.

Sequence of Learning KS4 

Students follow the OCR Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia.

KS4 Intervention Programme

Intervention will be given to students in targeted sessions at lunchtime or after school. This can be for controlled assessment catch up or exam revision.

GCSE Specification

OCR Creative iMedia Specification

Students will complete four units, each weighing 25% of the total qualification. There is one written examination and three coursework units:

R081: Pre-production skills (mandatory written exam)

• This unit will enable learners to understand pre-production skills used in the creative and digital media sector. It will develop their understanding of the client brief, time frames, deadlines and preparation techniques that form part of the planning and creation process.
• Planning is an essential part of working in the creative and digital media sector. This unit will enable learners to acquire the underpinning knowledge and skills needed to create digital media products and gain an understanding of their application.
• On completion of this unit, learners will understand the purpose and uses of a range of pre-production techniques. They will be able to plan pre-production of a creative digital media product to a client brief, and will understand how to review pre-production documents.

R082: Creating digital graphics (mandatory coursework unit)

• This unit builds on unit R081 and learners will be able to apply the skills, knowledge and understanding gained in that unit and vice versa.
• Digital graphics feature in many areas of our lives and play a very important part in today’s world. The digital media sector relies heavily on these visual stimulants within the products it produces, to communicate messages effectively.
• The aim of this unit is for learners to understand the basics of digital graphics editing for the creative and digital media sector. They will learn where and why digital graphics are used and what techniques are involved in their creation. This unit will develop learners’ understanding of the client brief, time frames, deadlines and preparation techniques as part of the planning and creation process.
• On completion of this unit, learners will understand the purpose and properties of digital graphics, and know where and how they are used. They will be able to plan the creation of digital graphics, create new digital graphics using a range of editing techniques and review a completed graphic against a specific brief.

R085: Creating multipage websites

• This unit will enable learners to understand the basics of multipage website products for the creative and digital media sector.
• They will learn the components and features are needed for a given purpose in multipage websites.
• It will enable them to interpret a client brief, and to use time frames, deadlines and preparation techniques as part of the planning and creation process when creating a multipage website.
• On completion of this unit, learners will understand the purpose and properties multipage website, be able to plan and create a multipage website to a client’s requirements and review it, identifying areas for improvement.

R087: Creating interactive multimedia products

• This unit will enable learners to understand the basics of interactive multimedia products for the creative and digital media sector.
• They will learn where and why interactive multimedia is used and what features are needed for a given purpose.
• It will enable them to interpret a client brief, and to use time frames, deadlines and preparation techniques as part of the planning and creation process when creating an interactive multimedia product.
• On completion of this unit, learners will understand the purpose and properties of interactive multimedia products, be able to plan and create an interactive multimedia product to a client’s requirements and review it, identifying areas for improvement.

Extra Information

Course – OCR Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia.

Books – OCR Creative iMedia L1/2 – Pre-production skills and Creative digital graphics – Kevin Wells

Revision – Support for R081

How can parents/carers help?

One of the hardest demands on pupils is that of understanding the long-term importance of doing their best whilst at school.  This is where parents/carers come in.  Your reassurance and support can make a big difference to your child’s motivation and ability to cope and succeed with the academic demands of KS4.  Encouraging pupils to complete homework will build on the knowledge they have learnt in lessons and assist in embedding topic knowledge in preparation for examinations.