Computing
Statement of Intent
The Computing department at Wyedean School aims to equip students with the skills to participate in a rapidly-changing world through challenging and engaging topics. Students will develop an understanding and application in the fundamental principles of computer science by having the opportunity to write programs, design webpages and produce professional digital products.
Computing skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, creative and independent learners and it is our intention that children have every opportunity available to allow them to achieve this.
The national curriculum for Computing aims to ensure that all students:
- can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- 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
- are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
In Computer Science we are dedicated to ensuring our students leave with the skills to fully embrace a future of rapidly advancing computer technology.
Our Students
At Wyedean, students will:
- Enjoy using technology and tackle all applications with confidence and a sense of achievement and purpose.
- Develop practical skills in the use of technology and the ability to apply these skills to the solving of relevant and worthwhile problems
- Understand the capabilities and limitations of technology and the implications and consequences of its use.
- Be open minded in their approach to technology so that they will be able to adapt easily to the technology systems and approaches they will encounter in their future lives.
- Understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- Analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- Understand Cyber Security; the impact, threats and future cyber security needs.
- Use technology as a tool appropriately across the curriculum to support and enrich their learning.
In Computing lessons, we ensure that the students work as part of a well-paced learning environment and are able to set high expectations for their personal success. For more able students, the high expectations built into our curricular design and the relation of topics to real world applications provide students with opportunities to extend their knowledge and develop skills for the world of work or further academic study. We run many STEM workshops and trips
KS3 Assessment at Wyedean
There are a set of criteria that have to be met to be ‘secure’ for each year for each subject. Each year is a stage and within that there are 3 steps. The extent to which that year’s criteria are met will indicate which step they are on; emerging, developing or secure. This could be decided based on a certain number of criteria being met or it may be that you would not consider anyone as developing if they have not achieved this particular piece of knowledge or skill. It is possible for a student who is in Y8 to be working on Y9 work so may be Y9 emerging, or to still be at the Y7 secure stage.
On student reports there will also be a comment about progress:
- Not making expected progress
- Making expected progress
- Making accelerated progress
Students are assessed on the three core strands of the subject:
They are assessed by completing units that link to real world scenarios.
Key Stage 4/5 Transition
At key stage 4 students get the opportunity to study both Computer Science and/or Information Technology. ICT is about the use of computers and their applications. Computer Science is about their design and implementation.
We understand that students learn in a variety of different ways and have different passions in computing, we try to accommodate this by offering different courses
The rigorous programme of support for our students enables them to make a smooth transition to key stage 5. We offer many online workshops to prepare students for the transition into A level study.
Key Stage 5
We continue with the choice of Computer Science and ICT. Students can choose between A-Level or BTEC courses, both equivalent in terms of UCAS university points, but assessed in very different ways. A large number of our students go onto study computing degrees as a result of their experience with our courses.
We also offer an alternative pathway with the Level 2 BTEC in Vocational Studies designed for students who would like to continue their studies or develop in vocational pathways.
KS5 BTEC National IT Scheme of Learning
OCR Computer Science Scheme of Learning
Partnership working
Our subject is very relevant one and we therefore constantly look for opportunities to link with the outside world.
We are currently working with:
NCSC
Bank of England
Cyber Security Associates
BAE Systems
Raytheon
Sopra Steria
Cygenta
Ohbot
CGI
Deep3
Deloitte
Thales
University of South Wales
Bristol University (UWE)- PGCE students
John Cabot – NPQSL
OCR and WJEC- GCSE and A level Computer Science
Edexcel- BTEC ICT level 2 and 3
CAS- Computing at School
STEM- Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths
BAES Systems- Careers In Action
RAF- Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises
We work hard to build and retain strong links with our local and wider community. This involves liaison, networking, leading and attending external training and engaging outside agencies in the day to day working of the department.
Teachers on the team have moderated and examined for various examination boards which enables the team to give our GCSE and A-level students the best possible preparation for their exams and coursework.
