Secondary 

Information and Communication Technology

The objectives of the ICT curriculum are:

·         to stimulate and develop student interest and enjoyment in Information and Communication Technology.

·         to enable students to become familiar with a wide range of software applications and to work both autonomously, and as part of a team.

·         to enable students to appreciate the wider social and technical issues relating to Information Technology and Systems.

·         to enhance the learning and knowledge of students, in all subject areas, by the application of a variety of ICT techniques.

·         to promote self esteem through progressive development of student-  orientated tasks

ICT now forms an integral part of learning throughout the school. All students receive a minimum of one hour of ICT per week at KS3.

 ICT is offered as an optional subject in KS4.

In the 6^th Form, ICT can be followed at “As” and “A” Level.

The Schemes of Work are designed to enable all students to become autonomous users of ICT tools and to give them the opportunity to progressively develop their knowledge and skills of a broad range of the concepts associated with information systems and software.

Year 7 enables students to grasp fundamental skills through a series of activities including: computer graphics, word-processing, desk-top publishing, control technology and spreadsheets. Health and Safety aspects of ICT are also introduced.

 Year 8 reinforces the skills and knowledge acquired in Year 7 and develops new topics, such as: databases, website design and video editing.

 In Year 9 more emphasis is placed on case studies and project orientated work, with the assignments incorporating research, analysis, development and evaluation of ICT systems. Students also extend their knowledge by using the more advanced features of spreadsheets and databases.

 In Key Stage 4 students are encouraged to develop their skills and knowledge through project activities. The course follows the AQA GCSE syllabus 5521 and provides opportunities for the extension of learning over a wide range of technical, commercial and social aspects.

 In the 6^th Form the ICT programme follows the Edexcel Applied ICT syllabus. The As topics cover, Communication systems and the Internet, spreadsheet models, Database applications and commercial websites. At A2 there is a choice of topics, but the studies are centred on Multimedia systems, Project Management  and Database Development.