Computing
Computing at Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9)
Computing at Key Stage 3 builds students' confidence and capability as creators and users of technology. Across the three years they develop computational thinking, programming, and digital skills through practical, engaging work — and learn how the digital systems around them actually work.
Year 7
In Year 7, students build strong foundations in computing — developing their digital literacy, computational thinking, and understanding of how computers and the digital world work.
They learn to stay safe and responsible online, manage files, protect personal information and communicate well digitally, with skills taught through practical tasks rather than in isolation. They develop computational thinking by breaking problems down, spotting patterns and reasoning logically, take part in the national Bebras Challenge, and use spreadsheets as part of a growing digital toolkit.
Students explore how computers work — the components inside a machine, how they connect as a system, and how information is stored and processed. They learn to program through block-based coding, then apply their skills hands-on with the BBC micro:bit, writing real code to control a physical device. They also develop creative and design skills through 3D modelling in Tinkercad.
Lessons combine practical work, discussion and hands-on activities, building skills that support students across the curriculum and prepare them for Year 8.
Year 8
In Year 8, students build on their Year 7 foundations and go deeper — becoming more technical, more independent, and more creative in how they apply their computing skills.
They deepen their understanding of how computers represent data — how numbers, text, images and sound are encoded in binary — and explore the Boolean logic that underpins how computers make decisions. They also take part in the national Bebras Challenge, applying computational thinking to a range of logic and problem-solving tasks.
Programming takes a significant step forward. Students move from block-based coding into writing real text-based Python, then apply those skills to physical computing — programming the BBC micro:bit using MicroPython to build a project with sensors and inputs.
Students investigate online reliability, learning to evaluate sources, spot misinformation and bias, and think critically about AI-generated content. They extend their spreadsheet and data-handling skills with more complex formulas and charts, and develop creative design skills through 3D modelling in SketchUp — designing spaces and objects with greater ambition than in Year 7.
Lessons combine practical activities, discussion and independent problem-solving, preparing students for the demands of Year 9.
Year 9
In Year 9, students apply their computing skills across a range of ambitious, real-world contexts — a strong final year for every student that also builds firm foundations for those choosing GCSE Computer Science.
They explore cyber security in depth — how systems are attacked, the laws that protect data and people (Computer Misuse Act, GDPR), and the role of social engineering and malware. They also study how computer systems work at a technical level: the CPU, fetch-execute cycle, memory and processing — content that connects directly to GCSE.
Programming takes on new dimensions. Students take part in the national Bebras Challenge, apply their Python skills to physical computing with the BBC micro:bit, and later use MakeCode Arcade to design and build their own game — combining programming logic, creative design and iterative problem-solving.
They develop data and digital skills through the Digital Toolkit strand, using spreadsheets to model scenarios and interpret results. They also work with Fusion 360, professional-grade CAD software, to design and engineer 3D objects to a brief — a significant step up from earlier years.
Lessons combine practical work, discussion and independent problem-solving. Computing is more than programming: students learn how systems work and apply a range of techniques to solve problems — valuable thinking and creative skills highly relevant beyond school and in the modern workplace.
Computer Science at KS4
At Key Stage 4, students study GCSE Computer Science, following the OCR GCSE Computer Science (J277) course.
Computer Science is a creative and challenging subject that develops students' ability to think logically, solve problems and design digital solutions. Building on the foundations from Key Stage 3, students deepen their understanding of how computer systems work and how programs are created.
The course is structured around two papers: Computer Systems and Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming. In the first, students explore how hardware, memory, networks, security and software work together, and how data is represented at a technical level. In the second, they develop their programming skills in Python — designing algorithms, writing and testing programs, and solving increasingly complex problems.
Throughout the course, students learn to design, write, test and refine programs, and consider the wider impact of technology on individuals and society. They develop resilience, precision and confidence through practical work and applied problem-solving.
By the end of the course, students have a strong understanding of how digital systems operate and the skills to progress to further study in computing and related fields.
