Computer Science at KS4

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If you require any further information about the curriculum we are following in this subject, please contact the Head of Department.

Course ID

OCR J277

Faculty

Computing

Department

Computing

Level

Key Stage 4 (GCSE)

Head of Faculty

Head of Department

By the end of KS4, students will have studied the inner workings of a computer including the architecture, operations and performance of a computer.

Students will be able to explain networking concepts and internet configuration. They will able to perform computational mathematical calculations with a variety of number systems including base 2 and base 16. Students will have also developed modularised software programs using a dynamic text-based language ‘Python’. The KS4 curriculum includes examining social, ethical, and legal the impact of technology on society.

Curriculum Termly Breakdown by Year

Year 10

Term	Unit of Work	Assessment
Autumn 1	Computer architecture, performance and programming fundamentals. Python fundamentals.	End of unit tests; quizzing, programming practical; book look.
Autumn 2	Computer logic, network topologies, computer laws, social, moral and ethical. Consequences of IT. Built in methods.	End of unit tests; quizzing, programming practical; book look.
Spring 1	Network threats including malware, network protection and network policies.	End of unit tests; quizzing, programming practical; book look.
Spring 2	Network protocols, networking models and application vs systems software. Validation (Python).	End of unit tests; quizzing, programming practical; book look.
Summer 1	Relational databases and computational thinking. Complex operations (Python).	End of unit tests; quizzing, programming practical; book look.
Summer 2	Systems life cycle, NEA preparation and extended programming including the use of external files.	Project work.

Year 11

Term	Unit of Work	Assessment
Autumn 1	Algorithms; sampling; lossy vs lossless compression; image storage (bitmaps and vector); Python-External file handling.	In-class test; end of unit tests; quizzing; programming practical; book look.
Autumn 2	NEA	OCR examination board.
Spring 1	NEA. Mock examination diagnostics.	OCR examination board. Mock examination.
Spring 2	Common problematic areas: Bubble sort; Insertion sort; Merge sort; Algorithms.	In-class assessment.
Summer 1	Common problematic areas: Circuits; Algorithms.	In-class assessment.
Summer 2	GCSE Examination.	GCSE Examination.

Extended Learning

Year 10

Websites	Read	Visit or Watch	Extra
BBC Bitesize GCSE Computer Science OCR.	New GCSE Computer Science OCR Complete Revision & Practice – Grade 9-1 (with Online Edition) (CGP GCSE Computer Science 9-1 Revision).	Bubble Sort; Merge Sort; Binary Sort; Binary / Hexadecimal / Denary; Bletchley Park.	Scratch MIT / Hour of code learning through developing fun-based games.

Year 11

Websites	Read	Visit or Watch	Extra
BBC Bitesize GCSE Computer Science OCR; EBS Computing SharePoint.	New GCSE Computer Science OCR Complete Revision & Practice – Grade 9-1 (with Online Edition) (CGP GCSE Computer Science 9-1 Revision)	Bubble Sort; Merge Sort; Binary Sort; Binary / Hexadecimal / Denary; Bletchley Park.	Scratch MIT / Hour of code learning through developing fun-based games.