Year 7:

In Year 7 students are introduced to the basics of using the school network and they also develop their understanding on the dangers of social networking websites and cyber bullying. They work in groups to create an advertising campaign including a TV advert, a leaflet and a presentation to the rest of the class about what they have learnt on this topic.

They study binary and are introduced to spreadsheets which include functions, formulae and graphical representation of data. This understanding is developed and used to interrogate simple databases. Finally students create an interactive IT artefact which includes hyperlinks, sound and animation.

Year 8:

In Year 8 students conduct primary and secondary research including Internet and paper based sources. They create a questionnaire with open and closed questions, analysing the results in a spreadsheet and create a brochure to show their findings on a topic which divides opinion.

Students learn about the functions of hardware and software, the history of computers, the internet and cloud computing. Skills are further developed in the use of relational databases and using techniques to search, refine and present data.

Students use software to plan, create and evaluate an animation designed to inform an audience on a topic of their choice. Finally they are introduced to coding techniques including understanding writing algorithms and creating games.

Year 9

In Year 9 students learn about networks and the hardware and software needed to run them. They research the internet and dangers which can be transmitted over a network such as viruses, Trojan horses and worms. They also promote a holiday destination using both traditional and electronic techniques. Students learn how to program using Python which shows them how to use variables, data types, if statements and loops.

Following this students plan and develop a website using features such as hyperlinks, rollovers and animation. Finally students investigate how companies store information about their customers to help them plan and promote their services. They also look at how emerging technology is altering the way we live and how the digital divide can affect individuals and society.