ICT Curriculum KS3

Overview

At Key Stage 3, students study ICT to develop a deep understanding of how digital technologies work and how to use them effectively, creatively, and responsibly. They learn practical software skills, explore the principles of computer science, and consider the impact of technology on individuals and society.

Students in Years 7, 8, and 9 have one ICT lesson per week. Our curriculum aims to:

Year 7

Introduction to ICT and Office Skills

Students begin by learning secure password practices and how to navigate the school network, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams. They develop key skills in Microsoft PowerPoint, including structuring slides, applying design principles, inserting and formatting images, and using animations and transitions. In Microsoft Word, students practise document layout, writing in a formal style, and producing professional letters. They learn how to evaluate their own and others' work, making purposeful improvements.

How Computers Work

Students explore the components of a computer system, distinguishing between hardware and software. They study the role of the CPU and the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle, and examine RAM, ROM, secondary storage devices, and peripheral devices. The unit develops understanding of how data flows through a system and how components interact..

E-Safety

Through real-world scenarios, students examine online personas, cyberbullying, privacy risks, and personal data protection. They explore the implications of sharing images (including the risks of sending nudes), safe online gaming practices, and strategies to protect themselves and others.

Introduction to Programming (Scratch)

Students are introduced to the fundamental programming concepts of sequencing, variables, selection, and iteration (for and while loops). Using Scratch, they create interactive projects, applying logic and problem-solving to produce functioning programs.

Computational Thinking

An offline problem-solving unit focusing on algorithmic thinking, decomposition, abstraction, and flowchart creation. Students explore how technology affects daily life, practise designing step-by-step solutions, and apply decision-making logic to solve given challenges.

Year 8

Data Representation

Students learn how computers use binary to store and process data. They carry out binary to decimal conversions, binary addition, and explore how binary represents text (ASCII), images (pixels, colour depth), and sound (sample rate, bit depth). They are introduced to logic gates, constructing truth tables and understanding how multiple gates work together.

Programming with Python

Building on block-based programming from Year 7, students move to text-based programming in Python. They work with variables, data types (strings and integers), input/output, selection (if/else), and iteration (for and while loops). By combining these concepts, they create small programs that require problem-solving and logical thinking.

Networks & Web Design

Students investigate how computers communicate, looking at networks, routers, and the differences between the internet and the World Wide Web. They explore internet services such as email, file transfer, and cloud storage. They then begin coding with HTML and CSS to structure and style web pages, progressing to adding images, links, and other interactive features. This culminates in a project to build a multi-page website for a set scenario.

Spreadsheets

Students develop their spreadsheet skills, working with formulas, functions, formatting, and chart creation. They use spreadsheets to model scenarios, analyse data, and present findings clearly.

Computational Thinking

Through a new set of challenges, students revisit and extend their skills in breaking down problems, designing algorithms, and applying logical thinking to practical tasks.


Year 9

Project Planning- Game Development

Students learn what makes a successful game, exploring player engagement, design principles, and gameplay mechanics. They develop project planning skills through mind maps, mood boards, and visualisation diagrams. Using concept art and sprite creation (including 8-bit design), they prepare assets for use in their own games.

GDevelop Programming

Students use GDevelop to build interactive games, learning to manage properties, add particle effects, and implement character movement. They apply collision detection, create hazards and rewards, and develop responsive game environments. The project encourages iterative development and self-assessment to refine their work.

Advanced Spreadsheets

Students revisit core spreadsheet skills before progressing to advanced formulas, conditional formatting, importing and managing large datasets, and creating pivot tables, pivot charts, and slicers. They use sparklines and data visualisation techniques to create interactive dashboards that can be used for decision-making.

Photo Editing

Using professional-standard tools such as PhotoPea, students learn advanced image editing skills, including precise selection, recolouring, background manipulation, and layering. They apply these techniques to a creative project designing a superhero comic.

Augmented Reality

Students explore augmented reality design, importing and placing 3D assets, creating interactive scenes, adding sound, and building multi-scene AR experiences. The unit develops both creative and technical skills, preparing students for emerging technologies.

Key contact

Mr S Tait