Millthorpe School
COMPUTING & IT
Department
Extract from Millthorpe School ICT Department Handbook 2013-2014
Introduction to the COMPUTING / IT Department
In today’s modern society, Computing and IT is fundamental in ensuring inclusive, personalised, enhanced
and extended learning experiences. We believe that Computing / IT has an essential role in helping us to
achieve these wider aims.
Aims of the Department

provide a personalised learning experience in which engaged and Computing / IT confident learners
achieve improved learning outcomes

allow learners access so that they can study at anytime and anywhere, e.g. using a range of devices
and/or technologies and to provide access to high quality learning materials

support all staff in professional development, providing tools for collaboration, management and
administration

educate learners to use a wide range of Computing / IT resources and tools confidently, flexibly and
creatively across the whole curriculum ‘e-safely’ outside the school

promote social interaction and collaborative working alongside helping to ensure our learners are
independent, creative, reflective, effective participators, team workers and self-managers

provide a safe environment, preventing access to unsuitable material and preventing inappropriate
use of systems

enable teachers to access a wide range of multimedia and digital resources
Our Facilities
We have 5 dedicated Computer suites that are very reliable and up to date. We use a wide variety of
software ranging from Adobe Photoshop CS5 through to Pyscripter. We are constantly monitoring the
opportunities available to students regarding both hardware and software this encompasses VLEs and free
software for students when and where available.
COMPUTING / IT at Keystage 3
As a department we aim to deliver exciting and challenging lessons utilizing Computing and IT. We use
these as guidance to our teaching and learning and support it by endeavouring to ensure that students:

experience exciting and interesting Computing / IT lessons and are actively involved in the lesson,
thinking hard, being challenged, aware of objectives and outcomes and assisting each other where
necessary.

make good sustainable progress and achieve higher standards. The pace of lessons is appropriate and
we aim to ensure that every child achieves to their best potential.

have extra support if they are not living up to their potential. We benefit in many of our lessons by
the support of dedicated and highly skilled Teaching Assistants.

are included, stimulated and make progress. We provide a variety of contexts within which we set our
work and try to ensure that these contexts are appropriate for everyone. We differentiate our work
and resources so that everyone makes progress.
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Extract from Millthorpe School ICT Department Handbook 2013-2014
COMPUTING / IT at Keystage 4
The department offers 2 GCSE qualifications to be taken as an option:
OCR Computer Science:
This three-unit course is designed to give an in-depth understanding of how computer technology works
and a look at what goes on ‘behind the screens’. The course helps students learn about critical thinking,
analysis and problem solving.
• The computer systems and programming unit explains the theory about a wide range of issues such as
hardware and software, the representation of data in computer systems, databases, computer
communications and networking, programming and more.
• The practical investigation is all about engaging with computing in the real world. Students look at a
computing topic in more depth and carry out a practical investigation into a given computing issue
• The programming project requires students to design, code and test a solution for three given tasks
using a suitable programming language (python)
OCR GCSE ICT:
This is a four-unit course which should prepare students to make informed decisions about further
learning opportunities and career choices.
GCSE ICT enables candidates to:
• become independent and discerning users of ICT, able to make informed decisions about its use and
aware of its implications for individuals, organisations and society.
• acquire and apply creative and technical skills, knowledge and understanding of ICT in a range of
contexts.
• develop ICT-based solutions to solve problems.
• develop their understanding of current and emerging technologies and their social and commercial
impact.
• develop their understanding of the legal, social, economic, ethical and environmental issues raised by
ICT.
• recognise potential risks when using ICT, and develop safe, secure and responsible practice.
• develop the skills to work collaboratively.
• evaluate ICT-based solutions.
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