ICT
Subject Leader: Mr Matt Edmunds - m.edmunds@lavington.wilts.sch.uk
Year 7
What are we studying?
Students will complete up to 6 units of work over the year.
Year 7 is a critical year for establishing key computational thinking skills. Students will be studying:
What is in a computer?
Computational thinking for algorithms
Programming with Scratch
E-Safety
Spreadsheet Modelling
Website Creation
How are we assessed?
Each topic lasts for 1 six or seven week term. Within each short term we have one ‘mid-term’ assessment quizzes and an end of unit assessment task coming at the project conclusion. Assessment can be in the form of knowledge based tests, or a more general assessment of attainment through assessing the product of the project work. Homework may form part of the overall assessment picture. Tasks set on Google Classroom give each ICT teacher an overview of progress and attainment.
How are we grouped?
Groupings in Year 7 are initially based on the KS2 SATs scores and students are placed into one of 2 bands accordingly to ability; each band having 3 sets. For the whole of Year 7 students will be in the same set for Science.
These groups are reviewed and adjusted and anyone clearly mis-placed is moved as soon as possible. Set changes during the course of Year 7 are difficult because there needs to be agreement between subjects to any moves. Therefore it is often the case that set movements do not take place until the end of the year. These movements will be based on assessments and work completed during the course of Year 7.
What homework are we expected to do?
Per 6 week term, there are generally 2 key homework tasks that a student will complete. Usually the tasks will be based on the school’s homework system. Some units of work may require longer preparation and may be in the form of mini-projects completed independently by the students. Tracking, feedback and marking are all controlled on the Show my Homework.
What can parents do to help?
A PC at home would be advantageous. There is no requirement for a student to have his or her own computer/laptop/tablet. A broadband connection to the internet would allow easy access to Google Classroom or Show my homework. All software that we use in class is either free to download at home, or has free equivalents with compatibility.
Year 8
What are we studying?
Students will complete up to 6 units of work over the year.
Year 8 is a key year for extending digital literacy, and also important in exposing the student to new ideas and themes in ICT and Computer Science. The key message is to make sure a student is enthusiastic and confident about their ICT abilities and ideas. The longer 2 term projects, as outlined below, allow for great extension and development. All the knowledge and skills acquired in year 7 and year 8 will be useful in other subject areas.
Year 8 students will be working towards an ‘Intermediate Computer Driving License’.
- Key skills for effective digital literacy
- Key skills for Computer Science (including the elementary coding of algorithms)
- Key skills for safe ICT practises.
How are we assessed?
Each topic lasts for 1 six week term or 1 longer term of 12 weeks approximately. Within each short term we have one ‘mid-term’ assessment tasks, and an end of unit assessment task coming at the project conclusion. Assessment can be in the form of knowledge based tests, or a more general assessment of attainment through assessing the product of the project work. Homework may form part of the overall assessment picture. Tasks set on the VLE give each ICT teacher an overview of progress and attainment.
How are we grouped?
Groupings in Year 7 are initially based on the KS2 SATs scores and students are placed into one of 2 bands accordingly to ability; each band having 3 sets. For the whole of Year 7 students will be in the same set for French, ICT and Humanities subjects.
These groups are reviewed and adjusted and anyone clearly mis-placed is moved as soon as possible. Set changes during the course of Year 7 are difficult because there needs to be agreement between all of these subjects to any moves. Therefore it is often the case that set movements do not take place until the end of the year. These movements will be based on assessments and work completed during the course of Year 7.
What homework are we expected to do?
Per 6 week term, there are generally 3 key homework tasks that a student will complete. Usually the tasks will be based on the school’s VLE system. Some units of work may require longer preparation and may be in the form of mini-projects completed independently by the students. Tracking, feedback and marking are all controlled on the VLE and can be seen in a student’s ‘Gradebook’ area on each ICT course on the VLE.
What can parents do to help?
A PC at home would be advantageous. There is no requirement for a student to have his or her own computer/laptop/tablet. A broadband connection to the internet would allow easy access to the VLE. All software that we use in class is either free to download at home, or has free equivalents with compatibility.
Year 9
What are we studying?
Students will complete up to 6 units of work over the year.
Year 9 is designed to test the abilities of students to apply knowledge and skills in ICT. There is a lot of technical information which builds on their previous years’ experience, and we are looking to see which students may have an interest in extending their ICT work into KS4. There is a stronger emphasis on the ‘computing’ side of ICT – with exposure to HTML, Java, Python and similar languages/techniques. All the knowledge and skills acquired in years 7 and 8 and 9 ICT will be useful in other subject areas.
Students will be studying:
The Internet, HTML and Website Design
Lavington Music Television: Creating Music Videos
Computers and Computing: an introduction
How are we assessed?
Each topic lasts for 1 six week term or 1 longer term of 12 weeks approximately. Within each short term we have one ‘mid-term’ assessment tasks, and an end of unit assessment task coming at the project conclusion. Assessment can be in the form of knowledge based tests, or a more general assessment of attainment through assessing the product of the project work. Homework may form part of the overall assessment picture. Tasks set on the VLE give each ICT teacher an overview of progress and attainment.
How are we grouped?
Groupings in Year 9 are initially based on the KS2 SATs scores and students are placed into one of 2 bands accordingly to ability; each band having 3 sets. For the whole of Year 9 students will be in the same set for French, ICT and Humanities subjects.
These groups are reviewed and adjusted and anyone clearly mis-placed is moved as soon as possible
What homework are we expected to do?
Per 6 week term, there are generally 3 key homework tasks that a student will complete. Usually the tasks will be based on the school’s VLE system. Some units of work may require longer preparation and may be in the form of mini-projects completed independently by the students. Tracking, feedback and marking are all controlled on the VLE and can be seen in a student’s ‘Gradebook’ area on each ICT course on the VLE.
What can parents do to help?
A PC at home would be advantageous. There is no requirement for a student to have his or her own computer/laptop/tablet. A broadband connection to the internet would allow easy access to the VLE. All software that we use in class is either free to download at home, or has free equivalents with compatibility.
Years 10 and 11
What are we studying?
- ·GCSE Computer Science
- ·iMedia
COMPUTER SCIENCE GCSE (OCR):
- ·Gives learners a real, in-depth understanding of how computer technology works
- ·Provides excellent preparation for higher study and employment in computer science
- ·Develop critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills.
This is an exciting and challenging course, perhaps one of the toughest GCSEs on offer! A proven interest in computer programming and a higher set in maths is a prerequisite.
iMEDIA
What are we studying?
OCR Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia is a qualification that aims to develop a student’s creative media skills through their practical use. The qualification covers a number of key areas in the creative media field ranging from pre-production skills through to digital animation and adopts a hands-on approach to both teaching and learning. Cambridge Nationals deliver skills across the whole range of learning styles and abilities, effectively engaging and inspiring all students to achieve great things.
We will be aiming to achieve the Cambridge Nationals “Certificate” in Creative iMedia which is equivalent to a single GCSE.
There are two mandatory units for this course.
Unit R081 - Pre-Production skills is focused on understanding a client’s brief, planning for certain time frames, meeting deadlines and preparation techniques that form part of the planning and creation process.
Unit R082 – Creating Digital Graphics will help the students to understand the basics of digital graphics editing for the creative and digital media sector. They will learn where and why digital graphics are used and what techniques are involved in their creation. This unit will develop learners’ understanding of the client brief, time frames, deadlines and preparation techniques as part of the planning and creation process.
We then have a choice of two optional units from the following:
- ·Creating 2D and 3D digital characters.
- ·Storytelling with a comic strip.
- ·Creating a multipage website.
- ·Creating a digital animation.
- ·Creating an interactive multimedia product.
- ·Creating a digital sound sequence.
- ·Creating a digital video sequence.
- ·Digital photography.
- ·Designing a game concept.
- ·Developing digital games.
How are we assessed?
Unit R081 is assessed by a written examination (1 hour 15 minutes) which accounts for 25% of the overall mark. This question paper contains a scenario on which all questions are based. It consists of two sections, comprising short answer and extended response questions. The students will be assessed for the quality of their written communication. The other units are assessed by the Lavington teaching staff and moderated externally by the exam board. The assignment briefs will be drawn from the OCR bank of model assignments.
All results are awarded on the following scale:
Distinction* at Level 2 (*2)
Distinction at Level 2 (D2)
Merit at Level 2(M2)
Pass at Level 2 (P2)
Distinction at Level 1 (D1)
Merit at Level 1 (M1)
Pass at Level 1 (P1)
How are we grouped?
Students will be in mixed ability groups for this qualification.
What home learning are we expected to do?
Students will be set home learning once every two weeks to help them prepare for the written examination questions. It is our aim to give detailed feedback to the home learning to help the students think about their responses in more depth.
What can parents do to help?
If your child has access to the internet at home, please allow them to visit the Video Tutorials for the software that they will be using in class. The higher grades are only accessible if the student demonstrates a range and depth of skills in their completed coursework pieces. There is a significant amount of written work involved in each unit. Please encourage your child to develop their communication skills by using connectives to expand upon their responses. For example, the use of “which means” or “for example” will lead to a better explanation of their thought processes and enable them to meet the assessment criteria for the Merit and Distinction levels.