ICT

You will find you use ICT in lessons for many different subjects but you will also have discrete ICT lessons all the way from Year 7 through to Year 11. As well as using computers in lesson time, you will also be able to use them at lunchtimes to help with your homework and coursework.

Who will teach me ICT?

One of our ICT teachers of course, and they are:

• Mrs Brown
• Mr Thompson

What will I do in ICT lessons?

Key Stage 3 (years 7 to 9)

In Year 7 you will have 3 ICT lessons a fortnight and then in years 8 and 9 you will have 2 lessons a fortnight. All lessons are 1 hour long and take place in a computer suite where there are enough computers for everyone to work on their own machine.

You will follow a course based upon the Key Stage 3 National Strategy. You will learn about:

• Finding things out
• Developing ideas and making things happen
• Exchanging and sharing information

Throughout Key Stage 3 you will use a range of software including:

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Publisher
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Grass database
• Flowol control software

You will be given your own email address that you can use for sending and receiving emails both in school and also from home.

Key Stage 4 (years 10 & 11)

In Years 10 and 11 you will study a 2 year course leading to the OCR GCSE in Information and Communication Technology (specification A). This GCSE has 4 modules:

Module 1 – You will learn about computer systems, communications & information technology.
You will then sit an examination to assess your understanding; this is worth 20% of the final GCSE mark.

Module 2 - You will produce 2 coursework projects. The first is about presenting information & the second is modelling using spreadsheet software. Together, these projects are worth 30% of the final GCSE mark.

Module 3 – You will learn about ICT applications, systems, networks & computer technology. You will then sit an examination to assess your understanding; this is worth 20% of the final GCSE mark.

Module 4 – You will produce 1 major coursework project that will be a fully documented ICT system to tackle a real problem. This project is worth 30% of the final GCSE mark.

Why does everybody take GCSE ICT?

The world is becoming increasingly dominated by the use of ICT systems, which influence most aspects of our everyday lives. The study of ICT at GCSE will help to provide you with the analytical, communication and technical skills that you will need to be a successful and active participant in our exciting and dynamic world