ICT

Teachers

• Mr N. Badger (Head of ICT)
• Mrs S. Armsrtong
• Mrs K. Culshaw
• Mr M. Fyfe
• Mrs V. Mather
• Mr M. McAteer
• Mr M. O'Leary

At Childwall, there is a team of 6 well trained and dedicated staff, within the ICT department, each has their own area of expertise and strengths. Additionally within the department there is a classroom assistant who works with specific classes to assist the class teacher. Additionally she will remove specific individuals or groups of pupils, from the class and give them individual directed support.

The ICT departments specific facilities include 5 suites of computers that vary in size from 30 machines, to 18, with the smaller rooms being used for sixth form and weaker ability students. All rooms have a projector attached to the teacher’s machine, and a black and white printer in, as well as scanning facilities. Also students have access to a colour printer, which can be used, if needed, and is centrally located.

The software we use in all key stages, are based around two main packages. Microsoft Office, for the traditional ICT activities of Word Processing, Databases, Spreadsheets and Desk Top Publishing. We also use the Macromedia suite of software as well, to allow website design, and advanced manipulation and creation of images.

Key Stage 3

Curriculum Co-ordinator – Mr M. McAteer

During Year 7 and 8 pupils have three 50 minute lessons of ICT per week. In year 9 pupils have two or three lessons of ICT a week.

All of the lessons are taught by specialist ICT teachers in fully equipped ICT suites.

KS3 Programme of Study

Year 7

Introduction and Baseline Testing

The introduction unit consists of three section; a baseline test, introduction to the school’s systems and a presentation activity. The baseline test is designed to obtain an accurate level for each student in transition from Key Stage Two to Key Stage Three. The students will also complete a VARK assessment task, which will identify individuals learning styles.

Artwork and imaging

This unit is intended to give students an understanding of the various ways in which they can use Graphics to add impact to their work. They will learn how to select, manipulate and modify to suit their own purposes. The skills that the students learn throughout this unit will used to complete an end of unit project. The students will create a mosaic image of themselves using; hand drawn, digital and computer generated images.

Sensors and Control

This unit is designed to introduce students to the concept of control. Historically students have studied control using software such as Flowol, which has limited functionality and ambiguous links to the real world. Game Maker is a free download that allows students to insert characters into the software and then control their behaviour.

Animation

This unit is based around the idea of animations. Pupils will have to use animation software to create several animations culminating in an animation project. They will learn animation skills, planning skills, evaluation skills and will have to create an animation piece for a specific audience. Pupils will also be able to develop literacy skills as their animation will have to have a story behind it. Pupils will put their animation together using a variety of software packages that include Flash and PowerPoint.

Database, Spreadsheets and Word Processing

In this unit students will develop skills and produce documents using the Microsoft office suite. The documents that will be produced have a cross curricular link to the Maths and English departments.

Website Project

This unit is designed to bring together all the work that the students have carried out throughout the year. This takes the form of a website that has been created using Adobe Dreamweaver.

Year 8

Information: reliability, validity and bias

In this unit pupils use the internet to gather information on a particular topic, collate it and present it from a particular viewpoint.

Data: use and misuse

In this unit pupils investigate the large-scale use of data by commercial organisations. The unit is based around the use of ICT in the retail industry and pupils find out about electronic stock control systems, including the use of bar codes and electronic point of sale (EPOS) systems, and loyalty cards. The social implications of loyalty cards and EPOS cards are emphasised.

Control

This unit is based on Unit 13 ‘Control systems’. In this unit pupils explore ICT systems through the scenario of designing, building, programming and refining an autonomous robot. Pupils develop their abilities to plan, build, test, evaluate and document their use of control systems, as well as extending their skills in using sensors and control software.

Star Struck

This unit is designed to enable pupils to learn and develop a range of skills using numerous ICT software applications. The pupils will work to a theme revolving around a reality TV programme. They will have to create and manage a band. Throughout the unit, pupils will create a number of documents and products to promote their band.

Digital Life (part 1)

In this unit, pupils work as a team to investigate an area of concern for society at large. They use a wide range of ICT to solve the problems associated carrying out this investigation. This provides them with the opportunity to develop further their expertise in the use of spreadsheets and databases, together with word-processing, presentation, web design, and desktop publishing software, vector and bitmap-based graphics software and e-mail. This is a controlled, integrated project involving whole-class decisions and combined data to establish the requirements of a system.

Digital Life (part 2)

In this unit, pupils work as a team to investigate an area of concern for society at large. They use a wide range of ICT to solve the problems associated carrying out this investigation. This provides them with the opportunity to develop further their expertise in the use of spreadsheets and databases, together with word-processing, presentation, web design, and desktop publishing software, vector and bitmap-based graphics software and e-mail. This is a controlled, integrated project involving whole-class decisions and combined data to establish the requirements of a system.

Year 9

Enterprise

This is a project based unit. This unit brings together many of the elements already delivered in 7 and 8. Pupils are challenged to come up with a business idea and then to explore the ICT requirements for their new business.

DNA Database Unit

This unit is based around building skills in Database software, in a bid to give year 9 pupils necessary skills to complete the QCA Online test. The Database topic will involve the pupils using a flat file database to extract and sort information using basic sort and query functions of the database package.

Sports Education

This is a true Cross Curricular ICT unit. In this case we link directly to PE. The purpose of this unit of work is to support and enhance the delivery of Sports Education. One of the key themes of the unit is to help pupils organise and take ownership of their own learning.

Fanzine

This unit gives pupils a chance to create a multimedia website with a number of paper based products attached. The subject matter of the site is of their own choosing to stimulate their interest in the work.

Functional Skills P1: Managing a project

This unit is designed to develop the skills needed to carry out a project systematically. The project is designing a front-of-house ticketing system for a theatre.

Functional Skills P2: Independent Learning

This unit is designed to develop the knowledge skills and understanding of the hardware and software requirements for the system described in p1.

Assessment within the department is constantly evolving, moving away from a simple assessment of the work completed in class, to a range of summative assessments. These include end of unit tests and tasks, written or word processed question and answer tests, or verbal assessments.

Homework is set every half term, with every pupil in Key Stage 3, being issued with a booklet, containing 6 to 8 tasks. This homework booklet is completed during the half term and handed in, during the week before the holiday at the end of the half term. If a booklet is lost it can be replaced at a charge of £1, alternatively, it can be downloaded from the link(s) below (in progress)

	Yr 7	Yr 8	Yr 9
Autumn term	Year 7 - 1	Year 8 - 1	Year 9 - 1
	Year 7 - 2	Year 8 - 2	Year 9 - 2
Spring Term	Year 7 - 3	Year 8 - 3	Year 9 - 3
	Year 7 - 4	Year 8 - 4	Year 9 - 4
Summer Term	Year 7 - 5	Year 8 - 5	Year 9 - 5
	Year 7 - 6	Year 8 - 6	Year 9 - 6

The booklets contain a range of tasks, some of which include research tasks, others relate to work that has been completed in past units of work, during the school year, and others look forward to tasks later in the school year.

The work is marked, and returned to the students, after the holiday, and another booklet is issued.

If there are any issues within Key Stage 3 ICT, the class work or the homework, please feel free to contact Mr McAteer, Curriculum Co-ordinator for Key Stage 3 ICT, or Mr Badger Head of ICT Faculty.

• Year 7 Homework Book 1 (pdf)
• Year 7 Homework Book 2 (pdf)
• Year 8 Homework Book 1 (pdf)
• Year 8 Homework Book 2 (pdf)
• Year 9 Homework Book 1 (pdf)

Extra Curricular ICT

This year at Childwall we are running a number of exciting projects :

Robotics

Cross Curricular Projects

We have partnered with the Science Faculty and the University of Liverpool, Proudman Oceanagraphic Lab to complete some exciting projects.

Nutrients Down the Mersey

For details please visit

www.mnu.org.uk

Comenius

We currently have a Finnish Comenius assistant with us in School. Miss Maija Salokangas is helping to arrange for European oppurtunities for our pupils. We have visitied Spain twice, Hungary and are planning to visit Finland.

Key Stage 4

Curriculum Co-ordinator – Mr N. Badger

ICT is a very popular option at GCSE, and within this option block, the ICT department offers a qualification that we believe suits the pupils at Childwall. It is called the Diploma in Digital Applications (DiDA), which can be worth between 1 and 4 GCSE’s at Grades A* to F. This qualification is very new and forward looking, being only in it second year of certification.

The aim of the new course is to look at the practical application of the technology that is available. The course is structured to prepare students for the real world of work, or further education. The units within the course of study are designed to stimulate students creatively and develop real – world practical skills that will motivate learning across a wide range of subjects.

There are a range of units that can be studied in this suite of qualifications, and they are:

• Using ICT
• Multimedia
• Graphics
• ICT in Enterprise
• The Active Web
• Digital Game Authoring

Within the first year of the course, year 10, all students study the compulsory unit, ‘Using ICT’. This unit is based around the basic fundamentals on the computer, looking at applications such as e-portfolio building, basic graphics, word processing, spreadsheets and databases.

During the second year, year 11, the students then complete one of the range of optional units. This will then give the student 2 GCSE’s. If time allows and a third unit will be studied for, again from the optional list, and a third GCSE awarded.

Year 8 Lego

Maija and I had the pleasure of taking our newest Robotics team to South Sefton CLC for the North West First Lego League finals on December the 12th. Pupils had to design and build a robot after school to complete a number of tasks based around the Climate Connections theme. They had to give an oral presentation and were judged on their team work and technical ability. I was delighted when they recieved the Spirit of Excellence award for their efforts.

Key Stage 5

Curriculum Co-ordinator – Mrs K Culshaw

We have recently introduced two new courses at Key Stage 5, which we believe will provide students with real work/life ICT experiences, better preparing them for employment in the sector or study at higher education. We have an excellent track record of delivering results at Level 3. We do this by offering:

• Individual support
• Extra Curricular Opportunities
• Small group support at the CLC

New Courses Offered

Level 3

BTEC National Award for IT Practitioners is available for all students to take in years 12 and 13 who have 5 GCSEs grades A — C. It is an ideal choice for candidates who have been successful at GCSE ICT. There are 2 compulsory units; Unit 1: Communication and Employability Skills for IT and Unit 2: Computer Systems plus 4 optional units. The course consists of 100% coursework.

The qualification is designed to provide specialist work-related knowledge, skills and experience necessary to prepare students for employment in the IT Sector. They link to the National Occupational Standards for the sector, where these are appropriate and are supported by the relevant Standards Setting Body or Sector Skills Council. On successful completion learners may progress into or within employment or continue their study in the vocational area.

The qualification requires the learner to undertake360 guided learning hours consisting of six units which focus on particular aspects of employment within the IT sector.

Link to EDEXCEL website

www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/nat/itc/awd/4345

Level 2

The BTEC First Diploma for ICT Practitioners allows the study of a variety of topics within the ICT field, these topics could be theory based or very practical in their nature. The delivery and assessments of these units will also vary greatly and could be in the form of assignments, practical observation, written test etc. The course will run over the period of 12months and will provide the successful candidate with the equivalent of 4 GCSE’s.

The qualification requires the learner to undertake360 guided learning hours consisting of seven units which focus on particular aspects of employment within the IT sector.
Link to EDEXCEL website

www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/first/itc/btec-fd-sep-2006/btec-fd-ictp

Year 12 ICT visit Radio City