Subject Overview

At Tibshelf Community School, we aim to prepare our learners for their future by giving them the opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills that will equip them for an ever-changing digital world. Knowledge and understanding of ICT is of increasing importance for children's future both at home, in their communities and for employment. Our curriculum focuses on a progression of skills in digital literacy, computer science, information technology and online safety to ensure that children become competent in safely using, as well as understanding, technology. These strands are revisited during children's time in school to ensure the learning is embedded and skills are successfully developed.

To ensure a broad range of skills and understanding, Computing is taught through digital literacy, computer science, information technology and online safety. As part of information technology, children learn to use and express themselves and develop their ideas through ICT for example writing and presenting as well as exploring and creating digital media. Within digital literacy, children develop practical skills in the safe use of ICT and the ability to apply these skills to solving relevant, worthwhile problems for example understanding safe use of Internet, networks, and email. In computer science children learn to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms, and data representation. Children also develop their computational thinking to analyse and solve problems and gain a practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems. Our children learn the key principles of online safety to ensure they become responsible digital citizens who can confidently contribute to an ever-changing digital world.

Assessment Information - KS3

In years 7 and 8 students study computer science for 1 hour each week. We aim to give students a broad range of skills making them confident and safe users of ICT and begin developing their knowledge and curiosity of computer science. Students have access to specialist teachers which gives them a fuller experience of the National Curriculum. We aim for an inclusive curriculum which is accessible to all through a range of opportunities and challenges for students of diverse abilities, talents, and background. Students are encouraged to become confident and motivated learners allowing them to learn
successfully - both independently and in groups. Assessments for each unit related to the national curriculum take place throughout the key stage. These assessments are a combination of assessed project work and assessments taken under examination conditions.

Assessment Information - KS4

In years 9, 10, and 11 students are given the opportunity to continue their studies in both Computer Science and Creative Media Production. Several specialist units are delivered to meet the requirements of each qualification. In the OCR GCSE in Computer Science assessments take place for each unit - assessments are a combination of assessing project work and formal assessments under examination conditions. Final assessments take place at the end of year 11 with two written examination papers with equal weighting. In the BTEC in Creative Media Production assessments also take place for each unit. Assessments are a combination of assessing project work and formal assessments under examination conditions. Final assessments are a combination of two coursework components which are internally assessed and verified, and one externally assessed examination component.

"In computer science I really like the feedback from assessments. I know exactly which topics I need to improve and focus on".