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Computing
Curriculum Intent
The Computing curriculum gives every student a secure and progressive foundation across the three strands of the National Curriculum: computer science, information technology, and digital literacy. In Year 7 students learn how computer systems work and develop computational thinking, before exploring privacy, artificial intelligence and physical computing with the Micro:bit. In Year 8 they deepen their understanding of data representation and programming and think critically about the ethics and bias of AI. In Year 9 they consolidate their skills through Python programming and algorithmic problem solving, alongside essential IT skills such as spreadsheets and data handling. Computational thinking — breaking problems down, spotting patterns and designing solutions — sits at the heart of everything we teach.
Our aim is for students to understand not just how to use technology, but how it works and how to use it safely, ethically and responsibly. We are committed to equipping students with the digital skills increasingly demanded by industry and prioritised by government, from coding and data literacy to a critical understanding of artificial intelligence, so that they are ready for the careers and technologies of the future. By the end of Key Stage 3, our students will be confident, capable and responsible users and creators of technology, well prepared for GCSE study and/or for life and work in an increasingly digital world.
Key Stage 3
Year 7 Curriculum Overview
Autumn Term
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Half Term 1 |
Half Term 2 |
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Knowledge |
Topic 1: Computer Systems
Topic 2: Computational Thinking
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Topic 3: Privacy & Artificial Intelligence
Topic 4: Microbit
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How we assess |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Spring Term – Rotation as above with D&T and Food Tech
Summer Term – Rotation as above with D&T and Food Tech
Year 8 Curriculum Overview
Autumn Term
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Half Term 1 |
Half Term 2 |
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Knowledge |
Topic 1: Data Representation and Programming
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Topic 2: Artifical Intelligence
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How we assess |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Spring Term – Rotation as above
Summer Term – Rotation as above
Year 9 Curriculum Overview
½ termly rotations with D&T and Food Tech
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Half Term 1 |
Half Term 2 |
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Knowledge |
Topic 1: Algorithmic Problem Solving & Python Programming
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Topic 2: Spreadsheets
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How we assess |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Key Stage 3 useful resources
BBC.bitesize
Key Stage 4
Our Key Stage 4 Computing curriculum follows the AQA GCSE Computer Science specification, building directly on the strong foundation established at Key Stage 3 and developing students into confident, capable computational thinkers. Students study the fundamental principles of computer science, including programming and algorithms, data representation, computer systems and architecture, networks, cyber security, and the ethical, legal and environmental impacts of technology. A central focus is practical programming, where students develop and refine their skills to design, write, test and evaluate their own solutions to real problems, strengthening the logical reasoning and problem-solving abilities that are so highly valued.
Year 10 Curriculum Overview
Autumn Term
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Half Term 1 |
Half Term 2 |
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Knowledge |
Paper 1 – Computational Thinking Representing algorithms Efficient of algorithms |
Paper 1 – Programming Data Types Program Concepts Arithmetic operations
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How we assess |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Spring Term
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Half Term 3 |
Half Term 4 |
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Knowledge |
Paper 1 – Programming Relational operators Boolean operations Data structures String handling |
Paper 1 – Programming Random number generation Strutured programming Subroutines – procedures and functions Robust and secure programming |
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How we assess |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Summer Term
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Half Term 5 |
Half Term 6 |
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Knowledge |
Paper 1 – Programming Robust and secure programming Programming projects to secure previous knowledge |
Paper 2 – Data Representation Number bases Binary/Decimal/Hexadecimal conversions Units of storage Binary additions Binary shifts Images |
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How we assess |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Year 11 Curriculum Overview
Autumn Term
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Half Term 1 |
Half Term 2 |
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Knowledge |
Paper 2 – Data Representation Character Encoding Sound Compression |
Paper 2 – Computer Systems Hardware and software Boolean Logic Software classification Classification of programming languages |
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How we assess |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Spring Term
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Half Term 3 |
Half Term 4 |
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Knowledge |
Paper 2 – Systems architecture Fundamentals of computer networks |
Paper 2 – Cyber security Cyber security threats Social Engineering Malicious code Methods to detect and prevent threats
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How we assess |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |
Summer Term
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Half Term 5 |
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Knowledge |
Paper 2 – Databases and SQL Ethical, legal and environmental impacts of digital technology on wider society including privacy |
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How we assess |
Formative assessment ongoing lesson by lesson to monitor learning. Summative assessment to measure overall mastery of each topic area and assign a flight path. |