Welcome to our department!
“If you can imagine a computer doing something, you can program a computer to do that!”
Tim Berners Lee
(Inventor of the WWW)
Teaching Styles
All courses use a range of teaching styles, giving students opportunities to access learning using a range of different approaches. In Computing lessons, students are actively encouraged to develop their ‘computational thinking’, a skill set intended to help them problem solve and break issues down into small, manageable pieces. We deem this an essential skill as the students prepare for life outside of education and the necessity to be able to participate effectively in the digital world. Whole class discussions, group work and peer assessment ensure an engaged, enjoyable and calm working environment.
Extra Curricular
A number of extra curricular activities are run throughout the year, with students participating in Code Club, the Bebras competition, CyberFirst (Year 8 only), CyberDiscovery, the Perse Coding competition, Matrix Challenge and Amazon GetIT.
In addition to the above activities, the department runs trips including visits to the National Museum of Computing and New York (every other year).
Homework
Homework is set on a regular basis in line with the school Homework Policy.
Grouping
All courses are taught to mixed ability groups.
Revision
All lesson materials are shared with students on Google Classroom.
KS4 and KS5 students all have accounts on https://www.testandtrack.io/
Other revision resources can be found on BBC Bitesize and https://www.senecalearning.com/
Click here for Business Studies information for KS4 & KS5
Key Stage 3
The aims and rationale of the curriculum in Years 7-9 in Computer Science are:
To equip students with the skills to participate in a rapidly changing world. Students will develop an understanding of the fundamental principles of Computer Science by having the opportunity to write programs, design and produce professional digital products. We aim to ensure that all students:
• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
• can analyse problems in computational terms and have practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
• can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
Click here for a detailed curriculum map for Key Stage 3 Computer Science
Key Stage 4
We offer two options within the department at Key Stage 4:
- GCSE Computer Science - Specification
AQA 8525 https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/computer-science-and-it/gcse/computer-science-8525 - GCSE Business -Specification
Edexcel 1BS0 https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Business/2017/specification-and-sample-assessments/GCSE_Business_Spec_2017.pdf
Key Stage 5
AQA A level Computer Science is taught in conjunction with HBS.
AQA 7517 https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/computing/specifications/AQA-7516-7517-SP-2015.PDF
Eduqas A level Business is taught at HGS.
Eduqas A510QS https://www.eduqas.co.uk/media/h4mljngz/eduqas-a-business-spec-from-2015.pdf
Full details of the courses offered by the Hitchin Schools Sixth Form Consortium are shown in the Consortium Prospectus.
