Computing, ICT and Media

The study of ICT and Computing develops the ability of students to think creatively, analytically and logically. It prepares them for the world of modern technology as well as improving their communication, project management and numeracy skills.

KS3

Students follow the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Computing.

They work on a variety of projects which cover the attainment targets for the revised national curriculum.

These targets are broken down into assessment criteria across three strands: Computer Science, Digital Literacy and Information Technology.

Students gain ‘hands-on’ experience of how a computer works through their encounters with the innovative ‘Raspberry Pi’ handheld computers and build on their KS2 knowledge of coding to use algorithms for designing and solving a range of computational thinking problems.

Concepts such as abstraction, decomposition and the Binary number system are unravelled and links with statistics in the maths curriculum are made through collecting and representing data digitally in real-life scenarios.

Esafety knowledge is developed by studying the CEOP’s (https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ ) KS3 resources which includes recognising inappropriate content online, inappropriate contact, conduct rules and how to report concerns. Students take part in the annual ‘Safer Internet Day’ (https://www.saferinternetday.org ) and have created their own BSL videos on topics such as cyberbullying. One group even won a Hertfordshire schools e-safety competition, ‘Don’t feed the trolls’ with their video entry.

Some groups take an e-safety qualification from the British Computer Society exam board at Level 1, (equivalent to a GCSE Grade E). This further improves and consolidates e-safety knowledge.

Students also continue to contribute to the new Heathlands Esafety website, which is part of the new Heathlands Computing website.

In Year 9 students take examinations to achieve the ‘Edexcel Functional skills ICT’ qualification at Entry Level, where they use their problem solving skills in the Digital Literacy and I.T. environment to practically demonstrate use of software applications. This provides a strong foundation for KS4 studies and equips students with knowledge of the expectations of the examination process.

Students use digital media to present and evaluate their projects and have a newly-built media studio in school to develop these skills in tandem with the computing curriculum. Students learn film production through masterclasses involving deaf professionals including acting in front of a camera, using the camera, scriptwriting and video editing. The students then produce their own film. This year the film project is for all KS3 students, working on different scenes and occasional workshops where all groups work together on a scene. This project is now enabling students to achieve a creative Arts Award. For more information please check the KS4 Media tab.

Year 8 US1	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
	Computer Science– Using algorithms	Computer Science– Studio Code, “Angry Birds” and “Flappy bird”, Hour of Code	Information technology – Introduction to Word Processing
	Digital Literacy – Creative media project Arts Award Film Project	Information technology – Introduction to spreadsheets & data	Information technology Introduction to spreadsheets & data
		Digital Literacy – Esafety	Computer Science- Design an app project
			End of year assessment

Year 8 US2	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
	Computer Science– HTML, Unit 1	Computer Science– Introduction to binary	Information Technology – functional skills, word processing
	Digital Literacy – Creative media project Arts Award Film Project	Information technology – Hardware and processing	Information technology – Spreadsheets & data project
		Digital Literacy – Esafety, part 1	Digital Literacy – Esafety part 2
			End of year assessment

Year 9 US3	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
	Computer Science– Using algorithms	Digital Literacy – Esafety	Information technology – Word Processing, functional skills
	Digital Literacy – Creative media film project, plan and film Arts Award Film Project	Information technology networks and communication	Computer Science- design an app project
	Digital Literacy – Creative media film project: Process, edit and evaluate Arts Award Film Project	Digital Literacy – Esafety part 2	Computer Science- design an app project
			End of year assessment

Year 9 US4	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
	Computer Science – Introduction to Python	Computer Science– 10 KS3 python challenges	Information Technology – Functional skills Exam
	Digital Literacy – Creative media film project, plan and film Arts Award Film Project	Digital Literacy – Esafety	Computer Science – GCSE Computing/ICT introductory unit
	Digital Literacy & Information technology – Introduction to Premiere Pro CC video editing Arts Award Film Project	Digital Literacy – Creative media film project: Present and evaluate Arts Award Film Festival	Digital Literacy & Information technology – GCSE Media introductory unit
			End of year assessment

KS4

Course Description

The ICT department offers a range of qualifications in Computing, ICT and Media. The options meet the choices and future studies for individual students at Heathlands and some students this year are studying for two qualifications at GCSE. At Heathlands we value vocational and technical qualifications, which are designed to open career paths for our students, as well as traditional GCSEs.

GCSE (9 – 1) Computer Science, Edexcel Exam board
GCSE “Creative Computing”, Edexcel Level 2 Certificate in Digital Applications (Level 2 is one of the 5 GCSEs required for study at FE).
OCR Cambridge Nationals Level 1/Level 2 in iMedia (Level 2 is one of the 5 GCSEs required for study at FE).
BCS Level 2 Certificate in IT user skills, (ECDL extra) (Entry to Level 3 IT, ICT and related courses at FE)
BCS Level 1 Award for IT Users (Entry to Level 2 IT, ICT and related courses at FE)
Functional Skills ICT, Entry level 1, 2 or 3
Trinity Creative Arts Award: Level 1, 2 or 3. (The Level 3 award has 16 points on the UCAS tariff.)

Course Programmes

GCSE (9 – 1) Computer Science, Edexcel Exam board

The Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in Computer Science consists of two externally-examined components.

Component 1: Principles of Computer Science
Written examination: 1 hour and 40 minutes
50% of the qualification

Component 2: Application of Computational Thinking 1CP1/02
Written examination: 2 hours
50% of the qualification
80 marks

Students must also undertake a programming project. However this project will no longer count towards their overall grade for the qualification but a single project must be completed to fulfil the requirements of the qualification.

For more information visit:

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/computer-science-2016.html

(Please note: Computer Science A level applications require GCSE Maths, Level 6 and above.)

GCSE “Creative Computing”, Edexcel Level 2 Certificate in Digital Applications

Students can study a GCSE in Creative Computing, formally known as the Edexcel Certificate in Digital Applications, “CiDA”

CiDA – CREATIVE COMPUTING – Why?

It is a qualification equivalent to a full GCSE, which you can achieve at A* – E, now known as GCSE 9-1.
It will prepare you for working in the creative industries and you will learn essential skills for all digital roles in the workplace
You will be studying ICT (IT) with creative, arts-based subjects such as media and design. This develops both your computing and media skills learned through your KS3 projects.
You will be working with apple macs in the newly built Heathlands media suite and learn a range of computing, media & design apps used by professionals in their workplace.

CiDA is taught over 120 guided learning hours (GLH) and comprises two units: one externally assessed unit with a practical exam (25%) and one internally assessed optional unit (75%), with three options to choose from.

Mandatory Unit – Students must complete this externally assessed unit

Unit 1: Developing Web roducts (30 GLH)

Optional Units – Students must complete one of the three internally assessed optional units

Unit 2: Creative Multimedia (90GLH) OR
Unit 3: Artwork and Imaging (90GLH) OR
Unit 4: Game Making (90GLH)

Students can also study a second qualification, “ECDL” at either Level 1 or Level 2. This is offered by the British Computer Society exam board and focuses on using IT in the workplace.

ECDL – Why?

It is a qualification equivalent to a full GCSE, which you can achieve at A* – C
It is recognised in “industry”, so your CV will look impressive when you apply for a job
Colleges offer this at different levels – so you can tell them you have achieved the Level 1 or level 2 already!
Universities recognise this as an important ICT qualification

ECDL – What will I study?

If you achieve your Functional Skills ICT exam at Entry Level 3 in year 9 you will study:

BCS Level 2 Certificate in IT User skills (ECDL Extra)(QCF)
Presentation Software – Powerpoint
Word Processing Software – Word
Spreadsheet Software – Excel
Improving Productivity using IT – theory, applying knowledge and skills

If you achieve your Functional Skills ICT exam at Entry Level 1 or 2 in year 9 you will study:

BCS Level 1 Award for IT Users (QCF)
Presentation Software – Powerpoint
Word Processing Software – Word
Spreadsheet Software – Excel
Improving productivity using IT

Assessment: At the end of each unit you will take a 45 minute test online, in school.

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS ICT

This ECDL KS4 qualification enables you to build on your Functional Skills ICT knowledge learned in year 9. Functional Skills ICT teaches vital problem solving skills which you will encounter in many jobs and careers in ICT/Computing. This qualification assesses your problem solving skills and trains you to become a confident and qualified user of IT.

OCR Cambridge Nationals Level 1/Level 2 in iMedia and Trinity Creative Arts Award: Level 1, 2 or 3.

Please click on MEDIA KS4 documents for information on these qualifications.

This Week’s Featured Photos

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