ICT – Key Stage 3

Over the course of the year, the following topics will be covered at an appropriate level for each class.

1. E-safety
2. Word Processing
3. Powerpoint and Presentations
4. Using the Internet
5. Programming
6. Uses of ICT
7. (National Curriculum Level 3 and above only) Spreadsheets
8. (National Curriculum Level 3 and above only) Databases
9. (National Curriculum Level 3 and above only) Networks and computer systems
10. (National Curriculum Level 4 and above only) Complex & Creative Projects using multiple skills

Each class should cover as much as appropriate but, particularly for higher level students, it is important that sections 7 to 10 are covered in order to prepare for accredited qualifications. All classes should cover some programming skills – this can go down to National Curriculum level 1 and below, so opportunities exist that are suitable for almost all students outside the INT classes.

For students on the high Entry Level or GCSE pathway, there is an age appropriate Scheme of Work from which selected modules can be taught in order to provide a solid grounding in skills across the full Computing National Curriculum.

Year 7:

1. Networking – E-Safety, Using computers and the Internet
2. Computers – Inputs/Outputs and Memory
3. Data Representation – Excel (Database/Spreadsheet introduction)
4. IT – Graphic Design and Copyright
5. Computational Thinking – Algorithms and decomposition
6. Programming – Basic Programming Techniques (Scratch)

Year 8:

1. Computational Thinking – Turtle Programming and Algorithms
2. Networking – Networking Basics
3. Data Representation – How data is represented in computers
4. Programming – Text Based Game Programming
5. Computers – Software and Hardware
6. IT – Using technology safely

Year 9:

1. Computational Thinking – Programming algorithms
2. Programming – Further programming techniques in python
3. Computers – Introduction to Linux
4. IT – Artificial Intelligence
5. Networking – Cryptography
6. Data Representation – Boolean Logic and Processing