KS3 Computer Science

Computer Science is a very fast changing discipline. Our intention is to prepare pupils to know today’s technology and today’s programming styles, and to learn for tomorrow’s technology such as AI. It is also important to understand presentation and word-processing tools. Computing reaches all sectors of society and as Bristol has a vibrant creative sector, it is important that this is reflected in students’ learning. This is the reason the students learn how to plan, design and create an interactive presentation and a game.

As our Computer Scientists move through the curriculum they will focus on the following threads that run through each year and each unit:

Online safety
Algorithms
Programming structures
Problem solving
Computational thinking

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Digital Literacy

Computing develops rapidly. This unit aims to get back to basics. Typing skills, word processing, presentations and searching for information effectively are all covered.

Number Bases
What goes on inside a
computer?
What is binary?

Hardware & Software

What components make up a computer and how do they
work together? How do all the different applications work?

Algorithms & programming
How to create algorithms to solve problems. Using EduBlocks to develop programming skills; input & output, variables and functions.

E Safety
How do we balance digital media use in our lives? How can we protect ourselves from phishing? Presenting ourselves online. How do we chat safely with people we meet online?

Algorithms

Computational thinking – abstraction and decomposition. Problem-solving; bridges of Konigsberg, Knight’s tour and a variation of the travelling salesman

Flowol

Using flowcharts to write algorithms

Programming
Edublocks and Python

Selection and Iteration. Arithmetic operators Programming graphics

What is AI? Where is it used? What is a large language model? Turing tests and chatbots.

The Ethics of AI

E Safety

How do companies collect and use data about us? How might our digital footprints shape our future? How does social media affect our relationships?

Cyberbullying

App Development
What is an App?
Why are there so many?
How are they created?

Computational Thinking (CT), Algorithms & Programming
Review input/output, variables, operators, selection and iteration using Python.

Functions and parameters.

Problem-solving using these tools.

Systems Security
What are the threats to
computer networks?
What is malware, phishing and hacking? How do we protect against these?

Interactive Multimedia Project

This is a project designed to develop a range of skills; planning, researching, designing, creating and evaluating. It will be based around a scenario and will involve how to use the Internet effectively to find information, including how to spot bias. The finished product will be an online brochure comprising text, graphics and video.

Game Design

Using Construct3 to plan, design, create and test a game through programming.

E Safety

How does social media try to hook us and what can we do about it?
Protecting privacy online
Risks and consequences of sexting
How should we respond to online hate speech?Fake news