In an era of unprecedented technological advancements, computer science has emerged as the cornerstone of our modern society. It has revolutionised the way we communicate, work, and live our lives. Studying Computing at Kings will help to prepare students for the new world that they will work in. It will prepare the students to develop their knowledge of hardware and software solutions; develop tools, techniques and processes to aid in the methods of Computational Thinking; discover project life cycles and the structure of pre-production skills used in industry; and finally allow for leadership opportunities where students will take full ownership of their work. Computing at Kings is taught by passionate subject specialists, who have gained their experience in industry and prepared to share that knowledge with students so they have the best understanding and preparation for their futures.
Our KS3 curriculum has been planned to help students naturally develop their computer literacy skills and give them an insight into how computers work and function. Throughout Year 7, students will learn how to use their computer workspace, E-safety, What a computer is and how it works, Computational thinking skills until they ultimately combine this knowledge for their end of year coding project using Scratch software. In Year 8 they will develop their knowledge further by gaining an understanding of the history of Computers, leading onto how Data is Represented and the process of converting images, text, video and sound into Binary. From here, students will be introduced to the different softwares that they could potentially use in industry and be encouraged to experiment to build confidence and passion before their final project.
Throughout KS4, students will be following the Creative iMedia BTEC course set by OCR. Year 9 will allow students to develop their software skills and knowledge, building confidence in their creative abilities. They will also learn how to utilise pre-production skills in their creative process to aid in the development of strong and structured ideas. Students will then develop their knowledge of how coursework should be structured and strengthen their ability to self-evaluate. Year 10 will commence the NEA coursework where students will be completing their first first project - R097 Interactive Digital Media. They will use their website development skills to code and create a fully functioning Interactive Product that will link to the brief set by the exam board. From here, they will focus on theory into Year 11 before completing their second piece of coursework - R094 Visual Identity and Digital Graphics. They will then complete their KS4 journey by completing their terminal exam - R093 Creative iMedia in Industry.
Students studying Computing and Creative iMedia will have a rich array of opportunities in the modern digital era. They will gain vital computer science skills like programming, computational thinking, software development and digital design. This will open the doors to careers in technology such as software engineering, data analysis, UX and UI design and many more in the digital sector. It will also allow students to develop their creative thinking, become more confident in their self evaluation of their work, and build confidence in their own abilities.
Computing is a place for students to explore their passion and open them up to worlds and jobs they never knew existed before.