Vision Statement
Our vision is for students to develop a love of technology and acquire the knowledge and skills they need to access the ever-changing world of technology. We aim to develop computational thinking and problem-solving to ensure our students are industry-ready professionals to meet the challenges of the 21st century and create well-rounded and critically thinking individuals
Furthermore, we aim to provide a high-quality, engaging and challenging computing education that equips every student, regardless of background, to be a well-rounded and resilient learner who can apply their computational thinking skills and creativity to be the best they can for the benefit of others.
More specifically, our vision is aligned with that of the whole school and we are working to become the best computer science department in the country.
Mr H Gonzalez
Director of Academic Systems / Exam Officer / Teacher of Computer Science
The Team
Mr H Gonzalez – Teacher of Computing
Intent
The aim of the computer science department is to develop our students’ computational thinking skills and enable them to apply these skills and techniques in a wide variety of situations (both inside and outside the field of computing) to solve problems.
We hope to encourage our students to become creative and critical thinkers, with the confidence and resilience to meet challenges head-on and to do so with awareness and thought for others.
Our broad and balanced curriculum is designed to give students knowledge and understanding across all three areas of the national computing curriculum: computer science (foundations), information technology (applications) and digital literacy (implications).
As they progress through each key stage, students will have acquired the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills to study computer science at the next higher level.
Implementation
At Key Stage 3 students have 1 lesson per week and follow the “Teach Computing” curriculum to ensure full coverage of the National Curriculum. In each year, lessons are sequenced to build on prior learning and utilise the latest evidence-based developments in computing pedagogy. Assessment and feedback is carried out at three Data Capture points throughout the year. Students are given opportunities to address misconceptions.
Key Stage 4 students can continue to study computer science as an option subject with 3 lessons per week.
The computer science curriculum is divided into two areas (Principles of Computer Science and Problem Solving with Programming). Each area is broken down into blocks of 6 lessons, the last of which is an assessment. As with KS3, summative assessment is carried out at three Data Capture points throughout the year. GCSE assessment is in the form of a written paper and an online practical paper involving programming tasks.
Lessons in all years begin with interleaving Do It Now tasks (DINT) which recap knowledge and skills from prior learning, to support retention of key computing content and application
Impact
As a result of the quality of the curriculum and teaching and learning in computing, we are proud to celebrate that students receive a truly outstanding education in our subject. Our results over time are illustrated in the table below.
| % 4 (standard pass) | % 5 (strong pass) | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 30% | 22% | -0.69 | 2.8 |
| 2020 | 100% | 100% | N/A | 8.3 |
| 2021 | 81% | 69% | N/A | 5.2 |
| 2022 | 73% | 69% | +1.08 | 5.2 |
In addition to the outcomes achieved by our students, we recognise the unique position our subject holds in modern education and the impact of our curriculum will also be evidenced in:
- our students’ enthusiasm for the subject which is displayed both in and out of the classroom;
- our students’ work and their progress as evidenced in their written and oral work;
- the increased number of students taking Computing courses in KS4 and beyond;
- the progress and attainment of students in external exams.
Above all, as a result of our curriculum, our students will be digitally literate and able to join the rest of the world on a variety of digital platforms. They will be equipped, not only with the skills and knowledge to use technology effectively and for their own benefit, but more importantly – safely. Our biggest impact will be evidenced in the fact our learners understand the consequences of using the internet and that they are also aware of how to keep themselves safe online.
Inspiration
Our students are inspired, in part, from the exponential changes and huge advances continually taking place in technology. In lessons, students consider how computing has revolutionised fields such as medicine, finance, art, and entertainment and the massive impact it has had, and continues to have, on society.
We aim to supplement classroom practice by inviting outside speakers, working at the cutting edge of technology, to explain current advances being made, e.g. through artificial intelligence and machine learning. Through links with employers, Colleges and Universities, we also hope to highlight the high demand for computing professionals and the career/salary potential.
Students are encouraged to participate in the coding/robotics club where they can experiment with different tools and technologies, undertaking their own projects which bring their ideas to life. Participation in various computing competitions and challenges (e.g. Bebras) inspires our students as well as develops their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
The computer science department works closely and collaboratively with other departments, particularly STEM subjects, to give students opportunities to work on and solve real-world applications (such as the Balloon project). Trips and excursions are also undertaken to enhance the curriculum and inspire our students.
