Computer Science

Curriculum intent

At Chichester High School, we believe that our students should have the opportunity to follow a Computing curriculum that prepares them for life in modern Britain and take advantage of the opportunity this can offer them in both Britain and the wider world.

Good quality IT skills enable the student to engage positively within the modern workplace, while Computer Science skills enable students to take an active part in the design, development, and creation of new technologies to be used in the world in which they live. 

The core to the subject is the understanding of how technology works, and can be developed and utilised, and we draw and extend understanding from a range of other subjects outside of IT and Computing including DT, Maths, Science and PHSE and embed clear and high-quality literacy and numeracy skills through software development, problem-solving and evaluation skills.

At KS4 students all students are given the opportunity to study Computer Science at GCSE where they go on to develop key problem-solving skills useful in a range of disciplines as well as the coding and software development skills that will give them an opportunity to work or for further study in the developing area seen to be key in the modern world.

Computer Science will give our students the opportunity to:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding and application of the key concepts and principles of Computer Science

  • Understand, fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science
  • Be able to apply key algorithms and data representation and mathematical skills through practical and theoretical work.
  • Understand the key components that make up digital systems and how they communicate
  • Understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual, wider society, the ethical changes and cultural impacts as well as the positive and negative impacts digital technology has had on the environment
  • Use a range of software design techniques such as flowcharts, pseudocode and visualisation diagrams
  • Develop key problem-solving skills of Abstraction, Decomposition and Algorithmic thinking
  • Develop key skills and practical experience in script-based programming languages and be able to design, write and debug programs to solve non-simplistic problems
  • To be able to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically when solving problems
  • Be able to make informed decisions on appropriate and efficient coding techniques such as sequence, selection, iteration and the use of functions
  • Analyse problems in computational terms through practical problem-solving experience
  • Understand the components that make up digital systems and how they communicate with one another
  • Apply mathematical skills relevant to Computer Science

 

Ks4 journey


Programme of Study

KS4 

KO Data Storage

KO Memory

KO Boolean Logic and Language

KO Systems Arch

Computer Science course specification