Computing & IT
Computing Key Stage 3 (Year 7, 8 & 9)
The explosion in the IT industry in the UK as one of the world leaders in many areas, including CGI, website design, animation and digital telecoms provides exciting demands by students and enterprise alike.
The Harris Academy Purley Computing department should reflect these changing needs by business in the market place, whilst still entrenching standard business software skills.
Students have the right to explore new skill sets and be provided with high calibre qualifications equipping them for today's choices of education, employment and apprenticeship opportunities.
Students will understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation.
They will be able to:
- Analyse problems in computational terms and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.
- Evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
- Responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
Key Stage 4 (Years 10 & 11)
Course Title: Computer Science Exam Board: OCR Qualification: GCSE
Computing is of enormous importance to the economy, and the role of Computer Science as a discipline itself and as an 'underpinning' subject across Science and Engineering is growing rapidly.
Computer technology continues to advance rapidly and the way that technology is consumed has also been changing at a fast pace over recent years. The growth in the use of mobile devices and web-related technologies has exploded, resulting in new challenges for employers and employees. For example, businesses today require an ever-increasing number of technologically-aware individuals. This is even more so in the gaming, mobile and web related industries and this specification has been designed with this in mind.
Course Title: CNAT IT: OCR Qualification: Vocational GCSE (Year 10)
About the course:
The OCR Level 1/Level 2 Cambridge National in IT is aimed at students aged 14-16 years and will develop knowledge, understanding and practical skills that would be used in the IT sector.
Students are interested in this if you want an engaging qualification where you will use your learning in practical, real-life situations, such as:
- using different applications and tools to design, create and evaluate IT solutions and products
- creating a data manipulation solution
- creating an Augmented Reality prototype.
This will help you to develop independence and confidence in using skills that would be relevant to the IT sector.
The qualification will also help you to develop learning and skills that can be used in other life and work situations, such as:
- planning and designing IT solutions and products for a given purpose
- selecting the best tools and techniques to solve a problem
- solving problems by exploring different software application tools and techniques
- creating IT solutions and digital products
- use of planning techniques to complete tasks in an organised and timely way
- finding imaginative ways to solve IT problems.
This qualification will complement other learning that you’re completing for GCSEs or vocational qualifications at Key Stage 4 and help to prepare you for further study.
Stage 5 (Years 12 & 13)
Course Title: Computer Science Exam Board: OCR Qualification: A Level
Computer Science is the study of computers and computational systems. Computer scientists deal mostly with software and software systems; this includes their theory, design, development, and application.
Although knowing how to program is essential to the study of computer science, it is only one element of the field. Computer scientists design and analyse algorithms to solve programs and study the performance of computer hardware and software. The problems that computer scientists encounter range from the abstract-- determining what problems can be solved with computers and the complexity of the algorithms that solve them – to the tangible – designing applications that perform well on handheld devices, that are easy to use, and that uphold security measures.
Computer scientists are lifetime learners; they are able to adapt quickly with this challenging field.
Key Stage 5 (Year 13)
Course Title: ICT Exam Board: OCR Qualification: CTEC Level 3 Introductory Diploma in ICT
The specification is designed to appeal to both full-time students interested in a career in IT and to those who already have experience of working in the sector. CTEC Level 3 qualifications are designed to provide specialist work-related qualifications. They give students the knowledge, understanding and skills that they need to prepare them for employment.
On successful completion students can progress into employment and/or continue their study in the same vocational area at college or university.
This specification provides content and structures that help students to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to work as professionals in the IT sector.
The assessment approach of the CTEC qualifications in IT allows students to receive feedback on their progress throughout the course as they provide evidence towards the assessment and grading criteria.
Evidence for assessment will be generated through a range of diverse activities including assignment and project work creating digital products, case studies, role play and oral presentation.
Delivery strategies reflect the nature of work within the IT sector by encouraging students to research and carry out assessment in the workplace or in simulated working conditions.
