Staff

Our Head of Computing and ICT is Mrs V Patel

Facilities

The department uses IT suites located in George Hill and School House. These rooms house 26 computers each and are equipped with large touchscreen displays, audio visual facilities and colour laser printers.

Curriculum

Lower School

The Computing curriculum has been devised to provide pupils with a foundation knowledge base and skills in a range of software. This prepares pupils to opt for GCSE ICT or GCSE Computer Science. We follow a project-based curriculum that allows pupils to demonstrate the traits of our Novus curriculum. Fundamental ICT units such as databases and spreadsheets are covered as well as HTML and Python programming along with creative units in Photoshop and Audacity. Online Safety has also been an important part of the curriculum and strictly follows the guidelines set out by CEOP.

GCSE

Pupils can choose to study either Computer Science or ICT at GCSE.  We follow the Cambridge International Examination (CIE) specification for IGCSE ICT (0983) and IGCSE Computer Science (0984). The department’s results are very pleasing.

Computer Science

IGCSE Computer Science helps learners develop an interest in computational thinking and an understanding of the principles of problem-solving using computers. They apply this understanding to create computer-based solutions to problems using algorithms and a high-level programming language.

ICT

Pupils develop an understanding of the implications of technology in society. Through practical and theoretical studies, pupils solve problems using a variety of common software.

Sixth Form

We follow the OCR A Level Computer Science specification that is spilt into two complementary sections, programming and theory which are assessed across three components.

Click here to Learn more about Computer Science in the Sixth Form

Co-curricular Activities

Stretch & Challenge

All of computing pupils enter the Oxford University BEBRAS computational thinking challenge with pleasing results. In 2020, two of our pupils were finalists and were invited to Oxford University for further Computing enrichment challenges.

We run a number of annual events such as a trip to Microsoft Reading for the Microsoft DigiGirlz workshop for Shell Form pupils as well as a House scratch competition. A lunchtime Coding Club and support clinics are also provided.

In 2019, we travelled to Disneyland Paris for Computing Live. 86 pupils attended seminars delivered by influential experts from a range of fields.

Destinations

A growing number of pupils have gone on to read Computer Science and other related disciplines at Manchester, Birmingham, Warwick amongst other leading universities in the UK.