Computer Science
Ethos and Aims
The study of Computer Science is an ever growing and ever-changing field with industry links to the games industry, engineering, manufacturing, cyber security and military intelligence to name a few. It fosters students’ ability to solve problems and adapt to situations to make them more critical and independent. Programming is delivered to allow students to gain skills in analysing, designing, developing, testing and evaluating coded solutions to computational problems. There is a direct and obvious link to the real world with technology being involved all over the global, including environmental research into sustainability to how to use technology solutions to develop vaccines and manage large data to better predict weather patterns or outbreaks in disease. Computer Science is a sought-after discipline and growing in popularity.
The pupils at the Bewdley School mostly follow the National Curriculum for Computing. The curriculum is very heavy on problem solving and computational thinking. They have amply opportunity to code solutions to problems and dev3elop critical theory knowledge. However, further scope has been added into the curriculum, creatively is often pushed aside in Computer Science, this is an issue, at the end of key stage 3 students have the opportunity to develop skills in 3D modelling for games and movies with implementation of 3D printing to a see a finished product. This side of Computer Science is incredibly important to explore when the curriculum allows and can be insufficiently represented.
The aim is also to encourage high uptake in the later school years. Computer Science is a popular subject but representation at the lower end of the school is low due to staffing. Making sure the curriculum that follows the Computing National Curriculum has flares of industry intrigue is important, this gap is bridged by allowing students to build a gaming PC in Year 9, 3D modelling in Year 9 and allowing students to explore drone flight for data gathering as covered in the sixth form.
Staffing
Mr C Beech – Head of Science Department
Mr C Mueller – Subject lead and teacher of Computer Science
Computer Science is under the banner of the Science department, all leadership is championed by a sole member of staff as a Computer Science specialist. Students are however encouraged and expected to embrace Computing across the curriculum in different subjects, however their classroom teachers deem fit.
Intention
KS3
In Computer Science we have a unique system to The Bewdley School, students have the ability to access Computer Science in Year 7 and Year 8. Computer Science is part of the technology rotation, this means they have the subject for about a half term and gain experience in basic Computer Science theory which relates to the National Curriculum and gain programming experience which further embeds the key concepts of the National Curriculum, such as problem solving. In Year 9 the intent is to prepare for the GCSE the following year, students are exposed to flipped learning and learning ahead of time to make best use of lesson time. Programming and Computer Science theory are further developed with the scope to enhance this further in the GCSE. The curriculum covered at KS3 also has scope built into it for real world examples and experience, such as build a PC, 3D printing and physical Computing.
KS4
At the Bewdley School, we believe that Computer Science has the ability to engage pupils of all background, regardless of their future career pathway. The Computer Science Department’s intent at KS4 is to deliver a curriculum which inspires and challenges pupils of all abilities and aspirations and prepares them for further study post-16.
KS5
Through the delivery of the OCR Computer Science courses, the Department’s intent is to fully prepare its students for their chosen path to higher education or employment.
In Computer Science there is further scope of enrichment in project-based work. Students have the opportunity to get involved with a drone project, which intends to point out and determine where the weak points are in the school’s flood defences, this allows students from backgrounds such as Geology, Sciences, Geography, Politics to get involved with Computer Science and gain cross curricular experience.
Pupil Premium and SEND students are monitored closely, especially as there has been a pandemic to help reduce the gap created by the digital divide.
Implementation
Teachers will use the appropriate Schemes of Work which should include challenging content, with sequenced learning and progression through each key stage of education provided by the department.
Structure
The National Curriculum and Key Stage Programmes of Study will be taught to all pupils. These will be used as the basis for long-term and medium-term planning, this basis allows expansion into interesting industry links, especially lower down the school in later key stage 3, this is further supported by the whole-school literacy and numeracy strategies and policies.
Short-term planning will be brief. It will demonstrate a clear learning journey focusing on pupils’ progress, with strategies in place for adapted learning, remembering that all pupils are entitled to a challenging curriculum – adapting or scaffolding resources or through talk that facilitate learning for each pupil.
The Lead Teacher for Computer Science and any department staff are given responsibility for leading, managing, monitoring, evaluating and reviewing the curriculum. Teachers will be given good opportunities to use their subject expertise to enhance the curriculum.
An extensive range of high-quality resources, including plentiful use of computers, will be used to underpin the curriculum. Opportunities will be taken to enrich the curriculum through subject specific workshops and relevant projects.
Homework will be set where appropriate to link the curriculum with learning at home, this will have an emphasis on embedding gained knowledge or learning new knowledge ahead of time.
Pedagogy
The Computer Science department utilising a bespoke curriculum focused on flipped learning and mastery. Flipped learning has been evidenced to be an effective teaching model or gaining knowledge before a lesson, or embed knowledge after a lesson with the aim to be the most effective and focussed use of lesson time possible.
The department also embraces mastery, students are exposed to tier challenges throughout lessons which focus on knowledge over time and revisiting previous learning to embed visited skills but also to introduce and drip feed new skills which are practiced over time, this has been found to be effectively useful in encouraging students to embrace some of the more challenging aspects of the subject, such as programming.
Equality
Computer Science curriculum is written in a way to be inclusive, topics discussed and studied are relevant to student’s real world. Discussions are gender and the workplace, especially Computing work places are discussed and debated as to the importance of modern life and gender roles. Students are encouraged to take up Computer Science regardless of gender, ethnicity or orientation. PP students are also monitored closely to ensure any online homework’s or assessments can be accessed and students can be supported.
Impact
Children develop as learners through knowing more and remembering more, through the use of many techniques from mastery to flipped learning, building on prior learning and knowledge and developing the skills to become lifelong learners. The engaging curriculum that we provide will make sure all pupils develop their Computer Science knowledge and conceptual understanding through the breakdown of Computer Science into manageable chunks of key theory topics and concepts; enrich their time in school with better understanding of how and why a computer works, this will enhance their problem solving skills and develop traits such as being more determined, ability to persevere and show grit when pressure and stress is applied as they work their way through their school career. This will better set students up for a work career and industries they wish to progress into later in life. This safe application of workload stresses is essential for building these key skills.
The work of the Lead Teacher for Computer Science and any subject teachers will ensure that all pupils benefit from an exciting, rich, balanced curriculum that is matched appropriately to their age and abilities. They will ensure that all pupils are treated equally and given equal opportunities and access to the curriculum as much as is reasonably possible within a mainstream school.