COMPUTING & BUSINESS STUDIES DEPARTMENT

Vision & Intent

To create 21^st century learners using an innovative, work based curriculum that enables students to be resilient and independently solve problems and be creative in their outcomes. Students to be able to be critically analyse contemporary issues and demonstrate business acumen. 

We combine units to create a foundation to build upon and introduce students to digital literacy, computer science and business studies. Our constantly evolving KS3 curriculum is broad and balanced to support students regardless of the pathway they have chosen at KS4. We expect students to be ambitious in their engagement with the curriculum through cultural capital opportunities. 

Our robust and relevant curriculum enables student to build knowledge and skills which enable them to tackle the next stage whether it is a career, academic studies and life beyond school competitively. Our curriculum provides opportunities to all students to develop mastery level skills, techniques and access powerful subject knowledge. Computer science & ICT in little Ilford school helps prepare students to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Curriculum content and aims

The National Curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Can understand and apply the fundamental principles of computer science, including logic, algorithms, data representation, and communication and are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
• Can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
• Can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems. (Computing Programmes of study for Key Stages 1-4)

Key Stage 3 Computing

Our 3 year spiral computing curriculum aims to cover the following strands: Safety & security, Networks, creating media, Data & Information, Design & development, computing systems, Impact of technology, algorithms, programming and effective use of tools. It has been planned using recommendations from the National Centre of computing education, National curriculum, Stem Education and looking at the needs and requirements of our students. Students are assessed through written end of unit tests, online tests and teacher feedback.

How parents/carers can support their child

Parents can:

• Check the homework on ‘Satchel’ website.
• Parents/Guardians can check teacher comments on Google classroom and track student progress. Parents /guardians are then encouraged to talk to their about their child about their progress in lessons/with homework.
• When your child is using the computer, parents/guardians need to monitor the websites/ online activity. Students WILL NOT be asked/need to go on any social networking sites.

KS4 Computer science (OCR exam board)

This is a 2 year options course and all pupils are taught to:

• develop their capability, creativity and knowledge in computer science and information technology
• develop and apply their analytic, problem-solving, design, and computational thinking skills
• Analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including designing, writing and debugging programs

There will be an introduction to programming in year 10 and there will be opportunities for Computer systems revision at the end of year 11 route through.       

OCR Exam board website link for computer science GCSE- please click here for information about the specification

Assessment : 

• End of topic written exam based on past paper exam exams. 
• Mid unit google form test MCQ
• Practice exam questions in class which is teacher/ peer/ self assessed. 
• Teacher feedback on classwork in books

Careers :

Home learning 

This will be set every week and a combination of : 

• Google form quiz
• Worksheets on google class
• Exam questions or flipped reading in book

  Useful websites- Click or type the titles and keywords below into a search engine to find the website. 

  E-Safety for parents/guardians/students

  Wikibooks –computers for beginners https://www.connectsafely.org/ - resources to help users/parents/guardians understand & manage the risk of new technology Childnet Internet Matters (BT)- supporting families online https://www.commonsensemedia.org/social-media  Parenting for a digital future – LSE blog

  
  
   

  Computer Science links	Future Pathways / Enrichment
  BBC Bitesize KS3 BBC Bitesize KS4 Isaac Computer science Oaks academy Computer science KS3 Oaks academy Computer science KS4 Studio code- binary game	BBC Make it digital Women in Computer science Creative Industries  TeenTech Live  BBC Make it Digital Traineeship  Decoded apprenticeships BCS-The chartered institute for IT Openlearn- courses- The internet of everything, machines minds & computers, Living with the internet- keeping it safe, information on the web, protocols in networks

KS4 Business studies (OCR exam board)

This is a 2 year options course and all pupils are taught to:

• To consider the practical application of business and economic concepts
• Apply business concepts to familiar and unfamiliar contexts developing problem-solving skills.  
• Investigate, analyse and evaluate business activities, opportunities and issues.
• Make justified decisions using both qualitative and quantitative data, interpretation, analysis, evaluation and the application of appropriate quantitative skills.
• GCSE Business Studies provides progression for those wishing to continue their studies to GCE Business, GCE Economics, banking and finance 

OCR Exam board website link for Business GCSE- please click here for information about the specification

Assessment:

• End of topic written exam x 6 (mini mock) assessed by the teacher
• Multiple choice tests in lessons throughout the unit
• Practice exam questions in class which is teacher/ peer/ self assessed.
• Feedback for classwork will be in the student's book 

Home learning 

This will be set every week and a combination of : 

• Google form quiz
• Worksheets on google class
• Exam questions or flipped reading in book 

How parents/carers can support their child

• Check the student is revising using websites listed. 
• Ensure the student checks and reads the technology & Business section on the BBC website and stays up to date with Technology & Business developments.
• Talk to them about their progress in Computer Science/Business.

Careers  Business Intelligence, Finance industry, Marketing, Recruitment, Business law…. GCSE Business Studies provides progression for those wishing to continue their studies to GCE Business, GCE Economics, banking and finance