Curriculum Statement: Computing

Core Values

Our curriculum is underpinned by our core values;

Respect
Integrity
Trust
Diligence
Fearless
Driven

Curriculum intent

In the Computing department, we endeavour to develop learner’s knowledge, skills and understanding through key computational concepts and experience.  The KS3 curriculum has been designed to ensure learners have sufficient knowledge to stay safe online and use computers safely in life.  The KS3 curriculum also provides a focus on developing resilient learners who are able to learn from/recover from mistakes and effectively solve problems.  The topics at KS3 give a basis of knowledge, skills and understanding to allow students to progress onto their KS4 Curriculum. Learners have the opportunity to develop their capability, creativity and knowledge in computer science, digital media and information technology.

Planning documentation (Taught on a 10 week rotation)

KS3 Curriculum Map

Curriculum implementation 

The curriculum places a key focus on developing secure knowledge of computing concepts and problem-solving skills. Each unit of work has a key set of aims and assessment criteria. In the schemes of learning, assessment is used to drive improvement, ensuring that all students make progress.

Through nurture provision (Individual needs)

A curriculum has been implemented that allows flexibility for differentiation, according to the needs of each individual student in that cohort. During KS3 students have booklets that run in parallel to the content of the scheme of work. As they progress through their studies curriculum resources are adapted for all abilities and SEND needs. Differentiated and structured tasks will be given to individual students who need further support in developing skills to support their learning.

Through enrichment

The department supports a number of national initiatives to promote e-safety such as safer internet day. It showcases the whole school uptake of Office 365 including the use of Microsoft Teams.

Through teaching, learning & assessment

In Computing, we implement this through the delivery of high-quality education which places developing the computing concepts at the forefront of planning.

Students complete DIRT activities regularly as a matter of course in order to develop improve their work and correct their mistakes. The scheme of learning links directly to agreed assessment matrices which are reviewed regularly. Various quality assurance activities are undertaken to rigorously ensure that the implementation of the computing curriculum has maximum impact.

Through promoting literacy

Within each scheme of learning KS3 and KS4, keywords and concepts are highlighted and discussed. Work is marked for literacy.

Through homework

KS3 student’s homework tasks run in tandem with each scheme of work. Students may be asked to complete flipped learning homework tasks where they produce notes that inform the learning in the next lesson using video content.

Curriculum impact 

The impact of the Computing curriculum is measured through several means (in line with the whole school methodology):

• Progress and attainment data for current year groups
• Destinations data
• Attendance data
• Behaviour logs
• Engagement in enrichment activities
• Student voice
• Progress towards the Gatsby benchmarks
• Inclusion