Quick Links

Quick Links

Back to top

St Mary's Catholic High School

Computing

Vision Statement

IT skills are fundamental to the daily life of young people today; it is crucial that these skills are developed to provide a solid foundation for their future lives.

We aim to equip students skills to ensure they become digitally literate; becoming contributors rather than consumers of IT.

Students should to able to safely use, express themselves and develop ideas through information and communication technology for the future workplace, and as active participants in a digital world.

Aims

We want all students to:

be safe, responsible, competent, confident, and creative users of information and communication technology

be fully aware of the full range of issues around e-safety in order that they can recognise and take appropriate action when encountering inappropriate or dangerous content, and malicious use of IT

understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computing, including abstraction, logic, algorithms, and data representation

analyse problems in computational terms and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs to solve such problems

evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems

enjoy using their developing skills to explore the world of applied computing in areas such as mixed-media, graphic design, software development, and the world wide web

recognise that the world of computing is changing at a rapid pace, and that having skills in computing will open doors to unknown possibilities in the future

Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3 students develop the skills acquired in primary school and are introduced to more complex use of IT, including: computer programming, computer languages, database design, app development, and mixed media. 

Students, are instructed in issues relating to e-safety so they can recognise and take appropriate action when encountering inappropriate or dangerous content, and malicious use of IT.

Units include:

Year 7

  • SMCH Driving License
  • E Safety
  • Scratch - introduction to programming
  • The basics of HTML and CSS
  • Spreadsheets

Year 8

  • Graphics
  • Flowol - a flowchart-based interface 
  • Python - programming language 
  • App Development using Mediator

Year 9

  • Database
  • Python (continued)
  • Sound
  • Video

Computing - Year 7 Curriculum Map

Computing - Year 8 Curriculum Map

Computing - Year 9 Curriculum Map

Key Stage 4

OCR Level 1/2 Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia (600/7043/2)

In Year 10 and 11 students can study Creative iMedia as one of their option subjects. 

The course will equip students with a range of creative media skills and provide opportunities to develop, in context, desirable, transferable skills such as research, planning, and review, working with others and communicating creative concepts effectively. Through the use of these skills, students will ultimately be creating fit-for-purpose creative media products.

Assessment

Students will complete four units:

  • Unit 081 - Pre-production skills - externally-assessed exam
  • Unit 082 - Creating digital graphics - centre-assessed task
  • Unit 085 - Creating a multipage website - centre-assessed task
  • Unit 086 - Creating a digital animation - centre-assessed task

Each unit represents 25% of the final grade,

Creative iMedia - Year 10 Curriculum Map

Creative iMedia - Year 11 Curriculum Map - coming soon

OCR Cambridge Nationals Level 1/2 Creative iMedia - Specification