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Southfields Academy

Southfields Academy

Computer Science

Teacher contact details 

Welcome to Computer Science 

Welcome to Computer Science where we aim to inspire our young people to be the technologists of the future.

What knowledge and skills will students develop at KS3?
 

Year 7

  • Introduction to algorithms and flowcharts
  • Programming in python using games
  • E-safety
  • Binary arithmetic

Year 8

  • E-safety
  • Computer systems
  • Digital communication and networks
  • HTML
  • Legal and ethical issues in computing

Year 9

  • Cybersecurity
  • Coding
  • Creating music in code
  • Artificial intelligence

What knowledge and skills will students develop at KS4? 

At Key Stage 4, we currently offer Computer Science GCSE and Creative iMedia.  The GCSE course will teach students how we use programming and algorithms to solve problems as well as the inner workings of networks and computing hardware.  The iMedia course is a creative course focussed on how we use software packages to create media products like websites and graphics

Students who wish to progress to GCSE Computer Science should aim to start to program independently using a block based language or using Python.  We teach the OCR specification for this course.

For Creative iMedia, students who are more on the creative side and would still like to experience technology should aim to practise their word processing skills as well as any web design skills like HTML.

What knowledge and skills will students develop at KS5? 

At Key Stage 5, those who have taken the GCSE will be able to extend their learning onto A Level or the CTEC I.T. course.  On the A Level, students will look further in depth at how algorithms work as well as new data structures and object-oriented approaches to problem-solving.  The CTEC I.T. course offers students a look at how real world problems are solved with a business focus.  It is still technical in its approach and students will be able to experience creating applications with a focus on both the technical and project management sides to development.

Continuing with OCR for A Level, students should aim to start learning an object-oriented language such as C#.  For the vocational route, students should develop keen interest in how I.T. is used in the workplace and read up on current events in tech.

Enrichment and extra-curricular activities 

We offer trips to computing lectures and technology related museums.  We encourage our students to take part in programming competitions in conjunction with local schools.

How can you help your child? 

How can students extend their thinking and challenge themselves in this subject? 

Sign up to any of the many free programming sites like Codeacademy and start learning today.

What are the career opportunities for students that study this subject? 

Software engineers of I.T. consultants are just a couple of the many pathways studying computing can lead to.