Curriculum Content

The Key Stage 3 curriculum is organised in such a way that it provides all pupils with the opportunity to develop themselves as successful learners who are well-prepared and excited about a future career in the digital world.

Year 7

At the start of the academic year, pupils delve into the fundamental aspects of digital technology. They explore individual components of a computer system, grasp the concept of binary information to represent data and recognise the significance of a connected digital world. Next, we introduce basic programming concepts like sequence, selection, and iteration using Scratch. This marks the beginning of their journey as problem solvers, where they present low-level algorithms to a range of different computer-based challenges. As they progress, they engage in a series of exciting projects using the BBC Micro:bit. At the end of Year 7, pupils delve into the impact of the digital world on broader society, covering topics such as computer misuse, copyright, and e-waste.

Year 8

They will explore how information is encoded and represented in digital systems. This includes understanding number bases (such as binary and hexadecimal), character encoding and representing images in a digital format. They will then revisit the components of a computer system developing an understanding of the technical aspects of a range of digital hardware, logic gates, system architecture (like the von Neumann model), CPU functions, memory and finally different forms of data storage. Pupils then challenge themselves further by using Python, a versatile and widely-used programming language. They’ll learn basic programming constructs, data types, and how to write simple Python programs. Pupils then must understand the importance of cyber security. Pupils will explore cyber threats, methods to detect and prevent them, and the legal impact of digital technology on wider society.

Year 9

Pupils will delve into the fascinating world of computer networks. They learn about network architecture, protocols, and technologies. Understanding how devices connect and share data is crucial in the modern age. Additionally, they will enhance their programming skills by immersing themselves in advanced Python concepts, tackling intricate data structures, and solving challenging coding problems to a range of intricate problems. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to experiment with Turtle, a graphical package based on the Python programming language. We then discover the power of visual communication through digital graphics. They explore concepts related to creating and manipulating images, understanding file formats, and basic design principles.