ICT

All students begin their ICT & Computing course by consolidating skills gained from KS2.  Skills and knowledge is then developed throughout each year to enable students to reach a suitable level with the necessary qualifications they need to enter the real world of work or further education.  The digital sector is a major source of employment in the UK. 1.46 million people work in digital companies and there are around 45,000 digital jobs advertised at any one time. Digital skills span all industries; almost all jobs in the UK today require employees to have a good level of digital literacy. The UK has positioned itself to be the ‘digital capital of Europe’ as it continues to invest billions every year in digital skills and commerce. Computing ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

Students are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, students are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that students become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world. The ICT & Computing Department helps learners develop knowledge and technical skills through studying the knowledge, understanding and skills related to data management, data interpretation, data presentation and data protection.

Curriculum Intention:

To ensure that students:

  • To develop young men morally and socially in order to prepare them to make a positive contribution the world by understanding the environmental issues surrounding IT systems.
  • To promote fundamental British values and citizenship including democracy and rule of law regarding making reasoned judgements about the use of IT systems and software as understanding the laws surrounding IT systems.
  • To deliver a broad and balanced curriculum where students are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Develop ideas through information and communication technology to enable students to become active participants in the digital world.
  • To provide continuous progression from KS3 where students begin to acquire vital knowledge skills and experiences to enable them to continue their education through to KS4 or KS5, by analysing problems and have repeated practical experience using various applications in order to solve problems. At KS5 students can evaluate and apply information technology, and are responsible, competent, confident creators’ users of digital systems.
  • All learners including the most disadvantaged and pupils with SNED develop skills that prove their aptitude in digital information technology, such as; using various software packages to solve problems and become digitally competent to enable them to make a positive contribution to the world of work.
  • Learners of KS3, year 7 and 8 experience a broad and balanced computing curriculum, with the chance to specialise further at KS4 and 5.
  • Educational enrichment opportunities including employer involvement are actively embedded at KS4 and KS5.
  • To ensure that literacy with specialist terminology is embedded across all key stages.
  • To expose students to subject specific reading in order to improve knowledge and understanding which will unlock the potential to grow and learn as individuals.
  • To ensure students are competent to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic algorithms and data representation.
  • To encounter processes to develop mastery and aptitude in digital information technology such as planning, designing and creating user interfaces, creating, interpreting and presenting information as well as cyber security, legal and ethical codes of conduct.

Curriculum Design

St. Aidan’s ICT & Computing Curriculum Progression Map

St. Aidan’s Computing learning Journey ICT with assessment overview

Course Information

GCSE – Course Information ICT

For more information about our sixth form course provision please follow the link below:

Courses « St. Anthony’s & St. Aidan’s Catholic Sixth Form (aaasixthform.com)

 Implementation:

  • Curriculum is structured to allow students to see, understand, revisit and explore the underpinning ideas from the subject.
  • The curriculum is further built around a process of interweaving topics and self-testing and re-testing to aid the development of long term memory and mastery of both the skills and the knowledge required.
  • We ensure we consistently follow our ARR handbook by testing through two frequent processes: formative and summative. Students will complete low stake and high stake tests to ensure knowledge of key concepts are being embedded and fully understood. DIRT time will be allocated to allow students to be able to reflect on PEN comments and work on their areas of weakness.

 Impact:

St Aidan’s Catholic Academy considers the greatest impact of the curriculum to be high rates of student progress:

Progress in:

  • the development of capability, creativity and knowledge in computer science, digital media and information technology.
  • development and application of analytic, problem-solving, design, and computational thinking skills.
  • a deep understanding how changes in technology affect safety, including new ways to protect their online privacy and identity, and how to identify and report a range of concerns.
  • A sufficient depth of knowledge to progress to higher levels of study or a professional career.

 

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