ICT

Introduction

We firmly believe that ICT is of utmost importance to the future of all our students and strive to provide excellent and reliable, modern ICT facilities across the curriculum, with unlimited access for all.

The ICT Department provides students with an understanding of the range of computer applications. Students are taught through an interesting variety of projects how to use ICT tools to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information responsibly and creatively.

The interaction, responsiveness and speed of communication offered by ICT command interest and attention among pupils of all ages. ICT gives them a strong feeling of being in control. The subject is a vast and ever changing one where skills become interchangeable and using new technology an ever important part of our lives as world e-citizens.

KS3

Key Stage 3 students take discrete ICT lessons in Years 7, 8 and 9. During Year 7, students carry out units of work on multimedia, spreadsheets, database software and desktop publishing.

Year 8 students will undertake work on similar topics but at a more advanced level. In addition they will experience designing their own website.

We spend Year 9 bringing all of these skills together in an integrated project. Students begin their preparation for the end of Key Stage 3 ICT SATs during the spring term.

KS4

Pupils at Key Stage 4 have the option to choose DIDA or Applied ICT (fast-track).

Students choosing the new Diploma in Digital Applications have 10 hours of ICT lessons over a two week period. This is a new distinctive course that offers pupils the opportunity to complete a range of projects, including web design, movies and animation.

The Applied ICT course is a double award worth two GCSE's and pupils have 5 hours of ICT lessons over two weeks. Both are vocational qualifications, meaning that students concentrate on the practical skills that are necessary in today's world.

Post 16

AS/A2 GCE in Computing (OCR Exam Board Level 3)

This is a two-year course. It can be taken as a single A/S (3 Units in Year 1) or single A Level (3 A/S in Year 1 and 3 A2 Units in Year 2). This course is designed to develop an understanding of the fundamentals of computing and to provide the knowledge and skills suitable for participation in an evolving computer-dependent society. Computing provides opportunities to be at the forefront of these changes and for candidates, through their careers, to play a role in the dynamic computer-based information society of the future.

GCE in Applied ICT (Edexcel Exam Board Level 3)

This is a two-year course. It can be taken as a single A Level (3 A/S and 3 A2 Units) or double A Level award (6 A/S Units and 6 A2 Units). This course provides you with the skills, knowledge and understanding required to prepare you for ICT related employment or to help you progress on to higher level qualifications such as Degree courses or work based qualifications such as NVQs or Vendor-Specific qualifications eg Microsoft/Cisco

Examples Of Year 13 Web Projects

Diploma in Digital Applications (DiDA) (Edexcel Exam Board Level 2)

This is a one year course. This course provides you with an introduction to the skills, knowledge and understanding required to prepare you for ICT related employment or to help you progress on to higher level qualifications such as A Levels.

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ACS FasTTrackers wiki

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