Computing & ICT

Reflecting its enormous impact on modern life, ICT is a critical department within the School and our studies have an effect across the entire curriculum. Within our own department we currently boast three separate and fully equipped computer suites with over 70 networked computers. These fabulous facilities are available to students during lunch times and after school for their private research, typing-up of work, printing and scanning – and our staff are always on hand to help!

All students from Year 7 and 8 are taught as part of their other curriculum subjects but taught by ICT and Computing specialists. Using Microsoft Office 2007 running on Windows XP we teach everyone the basic skills including text and layout using MS Word, formulas and data presentation using MS Excel, desktop publishing on MS Publisher, database studies on MS Access and web page design. We also teach how to produce graphics and photo art-work using Adobe Photoshop. These studies are increased in Year 9 when students have two dedicated periods per week working towards the short course GCSE. In year 10 opportunities are provided to complete the full ICT GCSE course for those who wish to continue their studies in the subject and we also present the new GCSE course in computing.

At Advanced Level we offer the AQA course in Computing. The course includes a programming project as well as theory of how computers work including machine language and microprocessor structure. The computing course encourages independant learning skills and problem solving; it is an excellent pre-cursor to University study whether in Computer Science or other science and enginering based subjects.