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Please click on the name to contact the Curriculum Leader Mrs A Boyd |
What we aim to achieve with students
The increasing use of technology in all aspects of our lives makes ICT an essential life skill. Our aim is not only to help students to develop their technical skills but also to help them to understand when to apply these skills purposefully, safely and responsibly.
ICT develops students’ independent learning skills and provides them with a range of ways to present and share their knowledge and ideas. Students learn the importance of reflecting on their work, and seeking the opinions of others, in order to develop their ideas. This subject contributes towards students’ enjoyment and sense of achievement by providing them with powerful tools to support their creativity, initiative and independent thinking.
The courses we run
KS3
All pupils in years 7 and 8 have one lesson of discrete ICT each week. The curriculum map follows the four strands of the National Curriculum programme of study which are Finding Information, Developing Ideas, Communicating Information, and Evaluating.
Further details of the KS3 ICT programme of study are available at:
http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/uploads/QCA-07-3336-p_ICT_KS3_tcm8-401.pdf
KS4
The KS4 programme of study commences at the outset of year 9 and all students study an accredited qualification i.e. the Level 2 OCR Nationals in ICT. This is a vocational qualification equivalent to one or more GCSE depending on the number of units studied. There are no examinations and the students are assessed on coursework portfolios.
Whilst in year 9, students have three discrete ICT lessons per fortnight, and they study “Unit 1: ICT Skills in Business”, which is the core unit, and “Unit 21: Computer Graphics”. Students are expected to complete the coursework portfolios for each of these units during year 9.
ICT is a compulsory subject in years 10 and 11 however students can opt to study further ICT by choosing it as one of their GCSE options, and in which case they will follow the Level 2 OCR Nationals Award in ICT which is equivalent to two GCSEs. Students not choosing ICT as one of their GCSE options will follow the Level 2 OCR Nationals First Award in ICT which is equivalent to one GCSE.
Students in years 10 and 11 studying an off-site college vocational course are presently unable to continue studying ICT due to timetabling conflicts.
KS5
The ICT department offers students the opportunity to study an applied A-level in ICT i.e. Edexcel’s Applied GCE in ICT. The students study three units in year 12; two units are coursework and the other is a controlled examination. The arrangement is the same in year 13 and all six units are equally weighted.
Gifted and Talented Students
Criteria for determining Subject Specialists in ICT:
Year 7 - Data to be considered
1. End of KS2 NC Levels for ICT
2. Predicted end of KS3 NC levels for ICT
3. CATs rankings
G&T students in ICT will be identified by considering dataset (1). If that isn’t available then dataset (2) will be considered. If neither of these is available then dataset (3) is used
‘Top’ 10% will be noted as G&T in ICT
Year 8 - Data to be considered
1. Attainment in ICT in year 7
2. Predicted end of KS 3 NC levels for ICT
3. CATs rankings
G&T students in ICT will be identified by considering dataset (1). Students showing evidence of consistently working at NC level 5+ will be regarded as G&T in ICT. Up to 10% of students will be included in this list. Where more than 10% of students are identified, refinement will be made on the basis of considering dataset 2 and dataset 3
Year 9 - Data to be considered
1. Attainment in ICT in year 8
2. Previously noted ad G&T in ICT and Year 8
3. Predicted end of KS 3 NC levels for ICT
4. CATs rankings
G&T students in ICT will be identified by considering dataset (1). Students showing evidence of consistently working at NC level 5A/6+ will be regarded as G&T in ICT. Up to 10% of students will be included in this list. Where more than 10% of students are identified, refinement will be made on the basis of considering dataset 2, then 3 and finally 4
Year 10 - Data to be considered
1. End of KS3 ICT teacher assessments
2. Previously noted ad G&T in ICT and Year 9
3. CATs rankings
Subject Specialist students in ICT will be identified by considering dataset (1). Students showing evidence of consistently working at NC level 6+ in KS3 will be regarded as Subject Specialists in ICT. Up to 10% of students will be included in this list. Where more than 10% of students are identified, refinement will be made on the basis of considering dataset 2 and then 3
Year 11 - Data to be considered
1. Attainment in KS4 ICT to date
2. Previously noted as G&T in ICT and Year 10
3. End of KS3 ICT teacher assessments
4. CATs rankings
Subject Specialist students in ICT will be identified by considering dataset (1). Students showing evidence of consistently working at the equivalent of GCSE grade B and above will be regarded as G&T in ICT. Up to 10% of students will be included in this list. Where more than 10% of students are identified, refinement will be made on the basis of considering dataset 2, then 3 and finally 4