Computing Key Stage 3

At KS3, students follow a structured scheme of learning that focuses on three strands of:

Computer Science
Digital Literacy
Information Technology
Computing is taught in discrete 45-minute lessons, with students at Key Stage 3 having one lesson a week. The units that our students’ study are inclusive and ambitious, and progression through the Key Stage is carefully planned so that our students can ‘link their learning’. Through their studies we strive to offer our students a rich and diverse curriculum that allows them to become digitally literate, use tools creatively to express themselves and develop both their problem-solving skills and ideas through information and communication technology.

Year 7

Year 7 Curriculum Overview	Topics
Term 1	Collaborating Online Respectfully Introduction to the school network, online safety, collaboration and using presentation software effectively.
	Networks & the Internet What computer networks are, the hardware needed to create a network. how computers communicate and transmit data as well as understanding the internet and the World Wide Web
Term 2	Using media to gain support for a cause Creating a blog post about a real-world cause that they would like to gain support for and making use of word processing and formatting skills
	Programming in Scratch I Introduction to programming and computational thinking, covering the programming concepts of sequencing, variables, selection, and count-controlled iteration
Term 3
	Programming in Scratch II Developing their understanding of decomposition, creating sub-routines, creating and using list structures

Year 8

Year 8 Curriculum Overview	Topics
Term 1	Web Developing Learning to write HTML, and CSS, then investigating how websites are classified and organised so that they can be retrieved by search engines. Student finishes with a fully functioning website
	Introduction to Programming Students are introduced to key programming concepts using a friendly learning environment. They examine what algorithms and programs are as well as learning about data types, debugging, sequence, selection and iteration.
Term 2	Data representation Understanding of how computers store and represent data. Developing an understanding of binary numbers and how they are used to represent text and numbers
	Mobile App Development Use prior coding experience to develop an app taking account of user needs. Decomposing a larger problem in smaller steps, working collaboratively and evaluating their finished product
Term 3	Computer Systems Understanding the different layers of computing systems: including programs and the operating system. Examining the physical components that store and execute programs
	Introduction to Programming in Python Introduction to text-based programming with Python: Starting with simple programs involving input and output, and gradually moving on to arithmetic operations, randomness, selection and iteration

Year 9

Year 9 Curriculum Overview	Topics
Term 1	Python Programming with Data Building on programming in Year 8, developing understanding of string manipulation and introducing data structures such as lists
	Making Computer Games Students will further develop their understanding of programming in the context of creating a computer game. This unit will reinforce prior learning whilst providing additional context for students.
Term 2	Data Science Understanding how to use data to help investigate and solve problems. Making use of small and large data sets, creating visualisations, identifying patterns and solving a problem in school
	Representing Audio/Visual data Focusing on digital media such as images and sounds, and the binary digits that are behind these types of media. Developing practical skills in image and sound editing
Term 3
	Cybersecurity Looking at the value of our data and what it may be used for e.g. profiling. Examining social engineering techniques and the more common cybercrimes such as hacking, DDoS attacks, and malware, as well as looking at methods to protect ourselves and our networks

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