SubjectsComputing

In designing our Computing curriculum, we aim to achieve the following. Students will: 

• Appreciate the prevalence, power and potential of computer technologies. 

• Develop competence in the use of industry-standard software and as such be prepared for the 21st century workplace. 

• Learn to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly and securely, including protecting their online identity and privacy and learning to recognise inappropriate content. 

• Understand computational thinking and its application to the design of robust computer code and programming techniques.

Through our varied teaching approach and use of relevant and current resources, we will encourage our own developed model of 5 key thinking skills for success in Computing. As well as being taught to read, write and talk about Computing with confidence and fluency, our students will learn to think: critically; concurrently; creatively; collaboratively; and computationally. We believe that these skills will inspire confidence in our students to take on the many types of challenges that formal assessment questions pose and, therefore, improve the chance for their examination success. 

Our curriculum aims to prepare our students for their future as digital natives, ready for a global jobs market in which computing technologies will play a fundamental part in the local economy and will support the growth of the ‘Golden Valley’ development and the established GCHQ government agency, becoming the heart of the UK’s Cyber Industry. 

At Key Stage 5, we offer A Level Computer Science as a full 2-year A’ Level course as well as a BTEC course which differentiates the ability of students who prefer a vocational route beyond the Key Stage 4. We deliver all our courses (KS3, GCSE, A Level and BTEC) with a variety of recognised pedagogical techniques including, but not limited to: Rosenshine’s Principles; blended learning; and ‘flipped’ learning.