ICT & Computing
 

Studying Computer Science and ICT in Preston Manor is an integral part of the school curriculum.

 

“Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have faith in people.  If you give them the right tools, they will do wonderful things with them” - Steve Jobs.

 

At Preston Manor School, we have faith in our students and we strive to give them the opportunity and tools to help them become well rounded, logical thinkers, curious learners and become better at making decisions and problem solving.

 

Computing and ICT is an integral part of the Preston Manor school curriculum.  Our syllabus is broad, balanced and designed to cover the three main areas of technology - Digital Literacy, Computer Science and Information Technology. It is important to instil the love of learning in our students so that they become confident and resilient learners, understand the changing world of technology and how it can be used in their everyday lives, as well as being aware of its benefits and limitations.

Throughout the curriculum, students are challenged to develop Computing and IT capability which allows them to develop various skills, to enjoy learning about and understanding the importance of information, how it is processed, stored and protected in today's digital age.  They are encouraged to develop skills in using various hardware, peripherals and software to prepare them for the ongoing evolution of technological. We foster responsible and healthy citizens by teaching them the impact that computing technologies have on ethical, legal, cultural, social, and the environment as well as to adopt appropriate health and safety attitudes and practice in and outside of the classroom.

KS3 Programme of Study:

 

Our KS3 curriculum is designed to develop competencies to equip pupils for KS4.  

This is the core of our curriculum as we want all our pupils at Key Stage 3 to acquire knowledge and skills in the three main areas of Digital Literacy, Computer Science and Information Technology.  These topics will enable them to be safe in the online/digital world, use spreadsheets to perform daily life calculation, analyse, and visualize data and information. Students are taught skills that help them to solve challenging problems by creating databases to understand how commercial websites can use databases to store customer information, sales information, preferences, as well as saved user input. Students acquire computational thinking and programming techniques which helps them to develop problem solving and decision making skills. Due to the rapid advancements in technology, students are encouraged to develop a growth mindset and the ability to transfer technological solutions across the whole school curriculum.  

 

KS4 Programme of Study:

Our KS4 curriculum has been created to provide an extended programme to permit a deeper understanding of content and skills in two pathways. 

We offer GCSE Computer Science and Cambridge National Level 2 Information Technology.  Computer Science students will foster a widened understanding of different hardware and software required to create networks.  They will also be capable of logical thinking and create algorithms using procedural languages. Information Technology students will foster a comprehension of how Project Life Cycle, Hardware, Software and Cyber Security will influence everyone in our world. Our students will grow into an IT specialist role by analysing a problem and create an IT solution to solve it.

 

KS5 Programme of Study:

Our KS5 curriculum has been created to offer an insight into Computer Science and Information Technology careers.  

 

We offer A Level Computer Science and Cambridge Technicals Level 3 Information Technology.  At the end of KS5, Computer Science students will nurture an in-depth understanding of different hardware and software required to create networks.  Our students will develop and expand their technical understanding as well as the ability to analyse and solve real life problems using computational thinking and create algorithms.  Our Information Technology students will have acquired an understanding of Hardware, Software, different types of information used across different organisations and Cyber Security. Our students will be capable of managing a project through the stages of Project Life Cycle as well as using their innovative skills to invent an idea that can benefit a group of users operating on the Internet.