ICT and Computing Department
The department consists of a number of excellent staff with a variety of skill portfolios, and the strength of the department’s results rests on high expectations, passion, shared pedagogy and good practice.
The department has established several popular and well-taught courses over the past few years, including A Level Computing, BTEC Creative Media Production (Level 3), GCSE Computing and we are looking to switch from BTEC to a GCSE ICT course from September.
All courses aim to ensure that students develop the general skills, knowledge and understanding that underpins a wide range of occupations and professions in the ICT and Computing industry.
The facilities in the school are all industry standard PC-based using Adobe CS5 Creative Suite programs, Microsoft Office suite, Scratch and Visual Basic, amongst other software.
Current Provision
Currently running National Curriculum at Key Stage 3 (including the introduction of the Computing changes to Key Stage 3 and Year 9s having the option to choose Computing and/or ICT lessons from September).
BTEC First ICT at Key Stage 4 as an option (to change to WJEC GCSE ICT from Sept.)
WJEC GCSE Computer Science at Key Stage 4 as an option.
A-Level AQA Computing and BTEC Level 3 Creative Media Production at Key Stage 5.
Level 2 BTEC First Award ICT from 2012 (currently optional at Key Stage 4)
Unit 1 - Technology Systems – Key computer concepts such as hardware, programming and binary
(Online Exam, 25%)
Unit 3 – A Digital Portfolio - Practical production of a website from set briefs using Adobe Dreamweaver
(Coursework, 25%)
Unit 4 – Creating Digital Animation – Practical production of an animation from set briefs using Adobe Flash
(Coursework, 25%)
Unit 6 – Creating Digital Graphics – Practical production of graphics from set briefs using Adobe suite software
(Coursework, 25%)
For further specification details please see the Edexcel website.
GCSE Computer Science (WJEC)
Unit 1 – Written exam
Based on programming, computer hardware and software
Unit 2 – Online exam
Based on programming tasks and HTML
Unit 3 – Controlled assessment
Programming based task using Visual Basic
For further specification details please see the WJEC website.
AS Computing (AQA) (current spec.)
Comp1 – Programming (using Visual Basic) to respond to exam board set task
(Computer based Exam, 60%)
Comp2 – Includes computer hardware, boolean algebra, the Internet
(Written Exam, 40%)
A2 Computing (AQA)
Comp3 – Algorithmic problems, operating systems, databases and networking
(Written Exam, 60%)
Comp4 – Independent programming project for real end user
(Coursework, 40%)
For further specification details please see the AQA website.
Level 3 BTEC National in Creative Media Production
100% coursework based
Unit 1 – Pre-Production Techniques – Planning skills
Unit 2 – Communication Skills
Unit 3 – Research Techniques
Unit 19 – Digital Graphics - Practical production of graphics from set briefs using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
Unit 59 – Web Authoring - Practical production of a website from set briefs using Adobe Dreamweaver
Unit 65 – Web Animation – Practical production of an animation from set briefs using Adobe Flash
Unit 70 – Computer Game Engines – Practical production of 2D and 3D games from set briefs using Unreal Engine and Gamemaker software
For further specification details please see the Edexcel website.
Jan 2015