Computing

Exam Board: OCR

Exam Board Website: OCR – Oxford, Cambridge & RSA Examinations externallink

Computing Curriculum Summary
Year 7 This section will be updated shortly.
Year 8
Year 9

 

Computer Science
GCSE
General Information

The course provides opportunities for you to develop your knowledge and understanding of how computers work. You will learn how to write code, design programs and understand the ethical and legal impact of digital technology. Cyber Security is also an important element of this course. This course is for those who wish to learn how to become producers of technology products rather than just consumers. You will study a range of topics providing a foundation for a career in programming, systems design, networking and a range of other areas.

What will I need to succeed?
  • Be willing to think for yourself, work independently and meet deadlines.
  • Enjoy solving logic puzzles.
  • Be determined and willing to persevere.
  • Be willing to adopt programming as a hobby spending at least 2 hours a week practicing and developing your programming skills at home.
  • Have access to a computer with internet access at home or be able to stay after college to use the ICT facilities to complete homework and practice programming skills.

Subject Content

The course will cover the following content:

  • Systems architecture 
  • Memory and storage 
  • Wired and wireless networks 
  • Network topologies, protocols and layers 
  • System security 
  • System software
  • Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns 
  • Algorithms
  • Programming techniques 
  • Producing robust programs 
  • Computational logic 
  • Translators and facilities of languages 
  • Data representation 

What it can lead to after leaving Swanmore College

Software Engineering, Computer Programming, Games Testing/Design, Graphic Design, Web Design, Network Engineers

 

Creative I-Media
GCSE
General Information

This Level 2 ICT qualification is focused on the creation of media products that we are all familiar with.  Skills that are delivered in this course include learning how to use a range of computer applications to create digital images, animations and websites.  You will also learn how to produce a range of pre-production documents including storyboards, visualisation diagrams and scripts. The course is assessed through 3 pieces of coursework (R082-Creating Digital Images, R085-Creating a Multipage Website and R086-Creating a Digital Animation) and through a single 1 ½ hour exam taken in year 11. Coursework comprises 75% of the final grade awarded.  Cambridge Nationals are vocational qualifications not GCSEs and are graded Level 2 Distinction* (equivalent to GCSE grade 8.5) to Level 2 Pass (equivalent to GCSE grade 4).

Presentation and planning of coursework means we will also learn how to use more general office applications like word processing and spreadsheets effectively.

 

What will I need to succeed? 

    • Have a potential ambition to work in the “Creative Industries”.
    • Enjoy using computers and wish to develop your IT skills
    • Be keen to continuously improve work to achieve as good an outcome as possible
    • Be creative and willing to use your imagination to produce a range of digital products.
    • Have the ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
    • Be organised and able to manage, with support from the teacher, long-term projects.
  • Access to a computer at home or be able to stay after college to use the ICT facilities to complete practical homework activities.

Subject Content

The Creative I-Media course will include the following content:

  • Creating pre-production documents from mood boards to storyboards.
  • Creating and manipulating images
  • Creating animations
  • Designing and producing websites
  • Understanding and categorising target audiences
  • Legislation relating to creative media production e.g. copyright and trademarks
  • File formats

Assessment Requirements: 

Three pieces of coursework comprising 75% of the final grade

Single 1 ½ hour exam 

Graded-Level 2 Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction*

What it can lead to after leaving Swanmore College

Software Engineering, Computer Programming, Games Testing/Design, Graphic Design, Web Design, Network Engineers, Project Management

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