ICT at Weavers has been developed to recognise learners’ skills, knowledge and understanding of Information and Communication Technology functions, environments and operations.
Information and Communication Technology is concerned with developing the students’ ability to understand the modern world and to be able to communicate ideas and handle information effectively. The students learn to use a variety of software packages and should be capable, by the end of the Key Stage, of working independently with a computer to gain access to, manipulate and interrogate information and present their findings in a format suitable for use and audience. We show students how computer models can help to predict the future and help them to solve problems with unknown variables. Students explore how to set up models and learn how to enter rules and instruction sets and we explore ways in which information can be communicated to others. In particular, students begin to appreciate how this information can be used to influence others. Students learn how to use Word Processing, Presentation, Web Design and Desktop-Publishing packages. Finally, students study how computers are used to control and monitor their environments and begin to appreciate just how precise the instructions have to be.
Key Stage 3
In Key Stage 3 students receive one 50 minute lesson per week, whilst in Key Stage 4 students receive three 50 minute sessions.
Year 7
Throughout year 7 students will build on prior learning. Five units are spread across the year allowing students to become familiar with all elements of Microsoft Office. Students will create a multimedia presentation using text, images and sound. In creating their pages, students are expected to be sensitive to the needs of their audience. This gives students the opportunity to learn about a variety of general topics, such as rules for working with ICT, saving and printing, respecting other people’s work and keeping drafts for assessment portfolios.
This unit reviews students’ learning from Key Stage 2 and introduces some of the ICT Framework objectives for Year 7 in the theme ‘Finding things out’. The unit focuses on using data and information sources, and searching for, selecting and evaluating information on the Internet. Aspects of information handling are taught in English, History and Mathematics, allowing for cross-curricular activities to be carried out.
Students will be taught to use spread sheets as a modelling tool. It gives students the opportunity to review the learning from Key Stage 2 as well as introducing them to the Framework objectives for Year 7. The unit will end with data handling for Year 7. It allows teachers to review pupils’ learning from Key Stage 2 and to introduce them to some of the ICT Framework objectives in the theme ‘Finding things out’.
Year 8
This unit reviews students’ learning from Year 7 and introduces some of the ICT Framework objectives for Year 8 in the theme ‘Exchanging and sharing information’. In this unit, students plan and design a website, taking account of the users’ particular interests and needs. The lessons focus on the knowledge, skills and understanding of refining and presenting information and recognising fitness for purpose.
Students will use spread sheet software to develop models. They will be introduced to techniques to enable them to create more complex models and to interrogate and analyse them. They will be shown how to generate random numbers to provide test data and to simulate events. They will then consider the purposes for which simulations and animations are used.
Students create an information system for a travel agent to look up details of the climate for customers who wish to know about the weather they could expect at their holiday destination for the dates they want to spend there. The system uses a spread sheet to gather data from the Internet, to select and process the required data and to use text, tables and graphs to display the data. The focus for students is on understanding the three parts of a system – input, process and output – and the way that automating the processes leads to greater efficiency.
Year 9
Students are taught in mixed ability groups. They broadly follow the Key Stage 3 ICT framework, and in Year 9 the scheme of work covers the following areas; multimedia; running a business; text and graphics; developing control systems; developing and using databases; games design using Mission Maker. Students will undertake a project at the end of the year to prepare them for Key Stage 4.
Year 10
Pathway 1
The Single Award is two units.
The Single Award has one exam paper worth 40% of the total marks, and one controlled assessment worth 60%.
Pathway 2
The Double Award is four units, two of which are the same as the single award.
The Double Award has the same exam paper and controlled assessment task, and then a second exam paper and a second controlled assessment task.
Unit title and summary Assessment Time
UNIT 1: Living in a Digital World
In this unit, students explore how digital technology impacts on the lives of individuals, organisations and society. Students learn about current and emerging digital technologies and the issues raised by their use in a range of contexts (learning and earning, leisure, shopping and money management, health and well-being, on the move). They develop awareness of the risks that are inherent in using ICT and the features of safe, secure and responsible practice.
UNIT 2: Using Digital Tools
This is a practical unit. Students broaden and enhance their ICT skills and capability. They work with a range of digital tools and techniques to produce effective ICT solutions in a range of contexts. Students learn to reflect critically on their own and others’ use of ICT and to adopt safe, secure and responsible practice. They put into practice what they learned about digital technology in Unit 1.
UNIT 3: Exploring Digital Design
In this unit, students explore the design of interactive digital products such as websites, computer games and databases. They learn how to interpret and produce design documentation. Students investigate the properties of different types of digital content and features of the user interface. They develop knowledge and understanding of legal and other constraints affecting the production and use of digital content.
UNIT 4: Creating Digital Products
This is a practical unit. Students apply the knowledge and understanding of digital design they acquired in Unit 3 to produce an interactive digital product for others to use.
They can choose what sort of product to design and make, but it must include an appropriate user interface and user input must determine the outputs that are produced.
Edexcel GCSE in Business Studies. (Year 2 of Pathway 1)
UNIT 1: Introduction to Small Business
• Compulsory unit
• Externally assessed
- • 25% of the total GCSE
Overview of content
This unit contains five topics:
• spotting a business opportunity
• showing enterprise
• putting a business idea into practice
• making the start-up effective
• understanding the economic context.
Overview of assessment
• External examination: 45 minutes
• Compulsory multiple-choice and objective test questions with a total of 40 marks
UNIT 2: Investigating Small Business
• Internally assessed
• 25% of the total GCSE
Overview of content
•Same content as Unit 1.
Overview of assessment
• This unit is internally assessed under controlled conditions.
• Students complete one Edexcel-set task with a total of 40 marks.
• Research/investigation – approximately two weeks of curriculum of time (a maximum of six
hours).
• Analysis/evaluation of task (final write-up) – approximately one week of curriculum time (a
maximum of three hours).
• The task is internally marked by teachers and moderated by Edexcel.
UNIT 3: Building a Business
• Externally assessed
• 50% of the total GCSE
Overview of content
This unit contains five topics:
• marketing
• meeting customer needs
• effective financial management
• effective people management
• the wider world affecting business.
Year 11
Exam Board: OCR National level 2
Throughout Year 11 the students carry out a range of tasks that have been designed to recognise their achievements in a modern, practical way that is relevant to the workplace. The units include Digital Imaging, Animation, Website Creation, Desktop Publishing and Creating Computer Graphics. Each unit is graded as Pass, Merit or Distinction and students are working towards 4 GCSE equivalents.
NOTE: There is no examination.
Year 12
Cambridge Technicals in IT
Building upon the reputation and legacy of OCR's suite of IT vocational qualifications, the Cambridge Technicals in IT take an in-depth look at IT that's all around us. IT is at the heart of everyday life, at work, home and in our leisure time: from computer graphics and control systems, to communications and problem solving, IT has an ever-increasing role to play.
The Cambridge Technicals in IT draw this together through a wide range of units such as installing hardware, creating a website, identifying an IT fault, computer animation and e-commerce. It's an ideal foundation for students entering the workplace, The Cambridge Technicals in IT provide students with a theoretical background reinforced with practical skills that transfer into the modern workplace.
Year 13
Exam Board: OCR National level 3
The OCR national level 3 is a high quality, modern qualification aimed at providing the students with specific knowledge and practical skills to prepare them for higher education or employment. Being underpinned academically, it has a strong vocational inclination which is ideal for ICT. Areas of study are practically-based and realistic to the contemporary workplace. They support the achievement of key skills and relate to National Occupational Standards.
There are three levels of achievements: Certificate, Diploma and Extended Diploma. Students must complete four mandatory units and two, eight or fourteen optional units respectively. Each unit is graded as Pass, Merit or Distinction.
