Computer Studies department vision
To provide an engaging, challenging curriculum that equips all students to be digital learners, by enabling all learners to be resilient, well-rounded who strive to be successful through learning.
Overview of the Computer Studies Department
- The Computer Studies department is comprised of three dedicated ambitious staff who all want the best for our pupils; through support and learning.
- To use a range of teaching techniques with technology to engage students to achieve their target grade.
- We seek to make pupils responsible citizens with regards to their usage of ICT/Computer Science and other related technologies by providing a broad curriculum with a combination of ICT and Computing.
- Our goal is to enable pupils to acquire the ICT/Computing knowledge and understanding that it can be transferred to support them in other areas of the curriculum. We believe that computing has a vital role in enhancing the learning process at all levels and across a broad range of activities.
- We have very high expectations of all students and encourage them to achieve their full potential. We aim to further students’ computing understanding and skills across all students’ ages. It is a vital part of being a member of a technologically advancing society in the 21st century.
- The ICT Department is very successful and pupils enjoy their lessons within a positive and safe learning environment. Pupils are actively encouraged to be aware of security issues concerning computer use and to apply safe practice in their use of the Internet.
- At KS3 the ICT and Computing department aims to embed skills and knowledge in a wide range of ICT and computing capabilities including Digital Literacy.
- We start in year 7 with enhancing skills in the office suite, using Word processing, presentation, publisher and spreadsheet packages to allow students to demonstrate their understanding of audience and purpose through a wide range of project and topic assessment based learning. We quickly move on to looking at Programming and Computing to ensure that knowledge, skills and understanding are embedded from an early age.
How Parents can Support
Parents are encouraged to work and support their children at home with their KS3 Computing curriculum. They should engage in discussions with their children on the projects that they are working on as well as any homework they are asked to complete. Parents can use all electronic resources provided for the students as well as a plethora of online websites and tools.
- BBC Bitesize – KS3 Computer Science
- Teach-ICT.com – KS3 Computing
- Codecademy – Learn to code interactively, for free
- Code Avengers – Learn to build websites, apps and games in a fun and effective way
- CodeCombat – Learn how to code by playing a game
- Khan Academy – Math, science, computer programming, history, art, economics, and even more free online classes