Computing at St Thomas More Catholic Academy

Computing

Curriculum Sequence

Please click on the icons below to view the curriculum sequence for each Key Stage. The curriculum sequence will show you what students should know and be able to do in the subject, alongside the key ‘tier 3’ subject specific vocabulary that your child needs to understand to allow them to access the deeper curriculum. The curriculum sequence also lists the ‘key assessment questions’ each term/half term that your child will be asked during assessments to help your child to prepare effectively, as well as the ‘disciplinary rigour’ which explains the methods, conventions, rules and practices that are specific to that subject.

Enterprise and Marketing

Computer Science

CiM

Business

LIBF

Curriculum Intent

The computing department endeavour to provide students with a world class curriculum, enabling them to develop the knowledge and skills required to respond positively to technological developments in a 21^st century society. Our well-sequenced, coherent, and purposeful curriculum, is designed to appeal to both boys and girls, balancing key concepts related to computational thinking, information technology and digital literacy.

Through quality first teaching, students acquire deep understanding through exposure to a spiral curriculum where key concepts are revisited in subsequent years with the opportunity to build on knowledge and skills previously developed. Students benefit from a culturally capital-rich curriculum, that provides them with opportunities to apply and extend their theoretical and practical learning to a variety of contexts and enrichment activities.

We endeavour to equip students with the essential knowledge, transferable skills to enhance their employability when they leave education, contributing to their personal development and future economic well-being.

KS3

Computing

We deliver an innovative and engaging computing curriculum that comprises of sixteen modules, designed to ensure students make progress from the end of Key Stage 2 through the entirety of the Key Stage 3 National Curriculum.

Our curriculum pathway is distilled into eight key concepts:

Algorithms
Programming
Application Software
Digital Media
Computers
Communication and the Internet
Data
Safety and ethics.

At its core, is computational thinking, the problem solving, and logical thinking skills used by computer scientists and programmers to solve complex problems, which can also be applied to real world issues. Writing programs allows students to put these skills to the test, and to develop their ability to work through problems and find solutions. Whilst not all students will pursue a career as a programmer, most will use a variety of software applications in their everyday lives. Learning how to use software responsibly and adeptly to produce and effectively communicate information is a vital skill. Alongside this comes the ability for students to develop and edit audio and visual media.

By the end of Key Stage 3, student’s will have developed their digital literacy skills in preparation for continuing on to a Key Stage 4 computing pathway.

KS4

Cambridge National in Creative iMedia

This vocational qualification provides a high-quality alternative pathway to GCSE and will build on key concepts taught through our Key Stage 3 computing curriculum. Knowledge and skills will be assessed through external examination and internal non-examined assessment. Students will enhance their learning beyond the classroom through engagement with universities, employers and industry specialists to make sure they acquire the right combination of knowledge, understanding and skills required for the 21st century.

The Cambridge National in Creative iMedia encourages student independence, creativity and awareness of the digital media sector. A balance of both theoretical and practical key concepts has strong relevance to the way our students use the technology required in creative media. Our curriculum design, will allow students the freedom to explore the areas of creative media that interest them, utilising industry standard software applications.

Students will learn a range of creative media skills and be provided with opportunities to develop transferable skills such as research, planning, and review, working with others and communicating creative concepts effectively. Through the use of these skills, learners will ultimately be creating fit-for-purpose creative media products.

We challenge all students, including our more able learners, by introducing them to demanding material and techniques; encouraging independence and creativity and providing tasks that engage with the most taxing aspects of the National Curriculum.

*Students will have the opportunity to study an additional computing-based qualification from September 2022. Confirmed qualification information will be made available during the Year 9 21/22 options process.

KS5

Cambridge Technicals in Digital Media

This vocational qualification provides a high-quality alternative pathway to A-Level and is a suitable pathway for students who have previously studied the Cambridge National in Creative iMedia. Knowledge and skills will be assessed by external examination and internal non-examined assessment. Students will enhance their learning beyond the classroom through engagement with universities, employers and industry specialists to make sure they acquire the right combination of knowledge, understanding and skills required for the 21st century.

The Cambridge Technical Certificate / Extended Certificate in Digital Media is designed to allow our students to achieve their potential and progress to the next stage of their lives, whether that’s Higher Education, an apprenticeship or employment. Students benefit from an extensive range of centre assessed units with practical and wider project-based assessment opportunities, as well as examined units. Our curriculum has been designed to be refreshing and provide exciting content that’s up to date, engaging, fit for purpose and suitable for the needs of our students.

*Trinity Sixth Form students have the opportunity to study A-Level Computer Science at St John Fisher Catholic College.

Curriculum Implementation

Our curriculum offerings are expertly taught by subject specialists, many of whom have industry experience, utilising a total of seven computer suites across the academy. We continue to invest heavily in both hardware and software resources to enhance the delivery of our curriculum. Students across all key stages make use of Microsoft Teams to access both class and home learning materials, in addition to Key Stage 3 computing students utilising Microsoft OneNote (Class Notebook). Students can access Office365 remotely and install on their own personal digital device a range of Microsoft software applications. Furthermore, all students are welcome to use the computers in our top -floor learning centre, to support in their learning and enrichment.

Class teachers actively encourage students to take ownership of their learning, and provide students at Key Stage 4 and 5 with a student learner pack, consisting of a knowledge organisers and revision materials. Through the pre-teaching of subject specific vocabulary, we promote high standards of oracy, and ask students to make use of their curriculum ‘learning journey’ to articulate links to prior and future learning. We work closely with the SEND and EAL department to embed student-specific interventions to ensure all students can access an inclusive curriculum. Students have the opportunity to showcase their computational thinking through participation in both local and national initiatives.

End of Course Assessment

Key Stage 3 Computing

In Year 7 students will complete a baseline assessment to provide an indication of prior computing knowledge.

Students will study a total of sixteen modules. At the end of each module, students will complete a summative and / or formative assessment, measured against five core learning objectives:

Know and understand the key concepts and principles of computing
Apply knowledge and understanding of the key concepts and principles of computing
Analyse problems in computational terms
Plan creative solutions to problems
Develop confident and responsible use of modern information technologies.

Key Stage 4 Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia

Unit R081 Pre-production Skills (Mandatory)