Computing, Business Studies and Economics

Faculty of:

ICT

Head of Faculty:

Mr T. Uddin

Members of staff:

Ms D. Tran ( 2nd I/C)
Mr K. Hussain (Head of Year Sixth Form)
Mr A F. Patel (Head of Year 7)
Mr D. Barton
Mr K. Ahmed
Mr S. Chowdhury
Mr R. Ahmed
Ms A. Grey

About the department:

We wish for all students to use ICT to improve the learning experiences, especially those with learning difficulties or disabilities; To use ICT to enhance, enrich and extend learning; To encourage and allow students to adapt to the rapid technological changes in society; To develop an awareness of social, economic and political consequences of the use of ICT for individuals and society.

Key stage 3 Curriculum:

Year 7 pupils will be working on the following projects:

• Project 1: E-Safety

The online world is a great place for students to learn, play and explore but we are also aware of the risks that students may face online – and we all want to avoid them. By working through this project, the students will learn the following:
– Health and Safety
– Hazards, risk and harm
– How to be safe online
– Chatroom rules
– Mobile phones
– How to deal with cyberbullying

• Project 2: Hardware and Software

This is a theoretical unit covering the basic principles of computer architecture and the use of binary. Students will look at the Input-Process-Output sequence and the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle, some simple binary to decimal conversion and vice versa, and learn how text characters are represented using the ASCII code. This will be followed by some simple binary addition. They will learn more in depth how storage devices represent data using binary patterns and physically save these patterns. Finally, they will look at a brief history of communication devices, how new technologies and applications are emerging and the pace of change.

• Project 3: Networks

This is a theoretical unit covering the basic principles and architecture of local and wide area networks. Pupils will learn that the World Wide Web is part of the Internet, and how web addresses are constructed and stored as IP addresses. Client-server, peer-to-peer networks and the concept of cloud computing are all described. Ways of keeping data secure and simple encryption techniques are also covered. In the final lesson, pupils will sit a multiple choice test which will form the Unit assessment.

• Project 4: Computer Crime and Cyber Security

This unit covers some of the legal safeguards regarding computer use, including overviews of the Computer Misuse Act, Data Protection Act and Copyright Law and their implications for computer use. Phishing scams and other email frauds, hacking, “data harvesting” and identity theft are discussed together with ways of protecting online identity and privacy. Health and Safety Law and environmental issues such as the safe disposal of old computers are also discussed.

• Project 5: Algorithms

In this project, students will use ICT systems to control events in a predetermined manner. Students will create sequences of instructions to control events and demonstrate the importance and the need to be precise when framing instructions. Students will develop, try out and refine sequences of instructions to control events.

Year 8 pupils will be working on the following projects:

• Project 1: Hardware and Software

This is a theoretical unit covering the basic principles of computer architecture and the use of binary. Students will look at the Input-Process-Output sequence and the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle, some simple binary to decimal conversion and vice versa, and learn how text characters are represented using the ASCII code. This will be followed by some simple binary addition. They will learn more in depth how storage devices represent data using binary patterns and physically save these patterns. Finally, they will look at a brief history of communication devices, how new technologies and applications are emerging and the pace of change.

• Project 2: Networks

This is a theoretical unit covering the basic principles and architecture of local and wide area networks. Pupils will learn that the World Wide Web is part of the Internet, and how web addresses are constructed and stored as IP addresses. Client-server, peer-to-peer networks and the concept of cloud computing are all described. Ways of keeping data secure and simple encryption techniques are also covered. In the final lesson, pupils will sit a multiple choice test which will form the Unit assessment.
This unit will form very good preparation on the topic of networks at GCSE level.

• Project 3: Computer Crime and Cyber Security

This unit covers some of the legal safeguards regarding computer use, including overviews of the Computer Misuse Act, Data Protection Act and Copyright Law and their implications for computer use. Phishing scams and other email frauds, hacking, “data harvesting” and identity theft are discussed together with ways of protecting online identity and privacy. Health and Safety Law and environmental issues such as the safe disposal of old computers are also discussed.

• Project 4: Coca-cola Enterprise (Business Studies)

As students in Year 8 will start looking into their GCSE options, we aim to give them the opportunity to study and gain a snapshot of what Business Studies is about. This project will help the students to understand the role of marketing and influences it has on the success of the business.

They will learn how to:
– Identify target audience
– The importance of branding
– Budgeting for advertising
– This will cover literacy and numeracy skills which is important for them to develop to ensure a high grade achieved throughout the curriculum.

• Project 5: Python

In this project, the students will complete a range of programming activities. Students will:

– Follow a sequence of instructions
– Enter a program in idle and run it
– Recognise different type of data: text, number, instructions
– Describe operators, expression, truth tables
– Think through pseudocode and discuss what it will achieve
– Write a Python function
– Use IF, WHILE statements in a code
– Write pseudocode for part of a problem

Key stage 4 Curriculum:

• OCR Cambridge Nationals in IT Level 2 J808
• AQA GCSE Business
• OCR GCSE Computing

Key stage 5 Curriculum:

• OCR GCE A-Level Computing
• Edexcel GCE A-Level Economics
• Edexcel BTEC Nationals ICT Level 2
• Edexcel BTEC Nationals Information Technology Level 3
• Edexcel BTEC Nationals Business Studies Level 2
• Edexcel BTEC Nationals Business Studies Level 3
• AQA Business Studies

About the department:

Extra-Curricular:

Electronic learning:

Curriculum Summary Business