COMPUTER SCIENCE - learning journey & curriculum

The Computer Science curriculum is designed to provide the training and skills to interact with the software required for everyday life. We aim to transform lives by developing a deeper understanding into how computational thinking can be applied to solve given problems.

In KS3 students understand e-safety and develop computational thinking skills and gain a deeper understanding of cyber security. We inspire creativity through app development and using creative software to design products around a given scenario. Throughout KS3 we create opportunities including trips such as the Computer Science Museum alongside extra-curricular activities within creative and cyber outlets alongside linking students to local industry through guest speakers and inspiring futures.

Through providing these core skills and additional opportunities many students go onto KS4 iMedia or Computer Science providing further opportunity to develop the skills of working with a business to create interactive media as part of an iMedia project or looking into how cyber security can protect a business from cyber-attacks. We also offer cyber days to all students where students are encouraged to share their understanding with those from industry to start conversations with businesses early on.

Students who choose to carry the subject on develop a stronger understanding of developing complex algorithms along with understanding more to do with networks in Computer Science while those who IT can look more into how systems can support businesses. Which has encouraged students to take this further through their programming projects or through employer involvement in IT L3 and highlights the journey in which students have begun to think, write and talk like industry experts.

Our KS3 curriculum is designed to ensure all students leave Cleeve understanding how to use technology safely and responsibly while develop students problem solving using computational thinking by building on students’ knowledge from KS2. Within the KS3 curriculum students develop creative projects based around scenarios and understand how to present data in a visual way and present their findings to their peers.

Those who go onto study at KS4 will leave having developed an understanding of social issues surrounding Computer Science along with the ability to develop a deeper understanding of computational thinking with the mastery skills of finding the most efficient solution to a given problem through developing solutions in teams. KS5 students will consider measurements of efficiency and investigate complex programming techniques like object orientated programming then justify the decisions they have made to both their peers and to potentially industry.

The curriculum has been designed to provide scaffolded learning for all learners to make progress within the lessons. The use of presentations with a reduction in the amount of text to support cognition and learning from all students. The curriculum has identified areas where additional support is necessary and has built into the curriculum time where additional support can be provided with the support of home.

Work for all key stages is set via Teams, meaning students can access the work anywhere not just from within the school but from home also. We provide additional revision guides to those who need them meaning they can use this additional resource both in home and at school. Through promotion of unheard heroes in Computer Science we aim to encourage all students to be able to see themselves within the subject while developing students understanding of the history of the course.

Students in KS3 learn the basic instructions of the CPU and how it works, then in KS4 students further develop their understanding by learning the key components like registers and the control unit and if students choose to carry on the subject they investigate different types like Harvard and Von Neumann. As demonstrated with the 5 in 5’s in lessons which highlight when topics were last covered.

KS3 assessments utilise a knowledge quiz delivered through Microsoft Forms to demonstrate students’ knowledge then in the next unit it will be a written assessment whereby students demonstrate how they can apply their knowledge. KS4 and KS5 use end of unit assessments with intervention work provided if students underperform which is to be completed in an intervention detention. Through use of embedding sessions encouraging students to develop their own revision notes on an A3 poster along with use of practise papers and questions.