ICT Department
Key stage 3
Pupils are taught twice a fortnight using in-house schemes of work which have been mapped to the assessment criteria defined in the KS3 National Strategy for ICT, Assessing Pupils Progress, by the DCSF.
Schemes of work are delivered using on-line resources. Each scheme of work is accompanied by a portfolio for class work, which is maintained by pupils electronically.
Each scheme of work includes an Assessment grid, indicating to pupils and teachers the learning objectives of each task. Learning objectives are mapped to relevant APP assessment criteria and corresponding levels.
A total of 12 homework tasks are set throughout the year, two per half term. Each homework task is based on class work covered so far and is mapped to relevant APP assessment criteria and levels.
Homework tasks are set during lessons and can also be accessed via the school website.
Pupils are expected to allocate time to each homework task as follows:
Year 7: 30 minutes
Year 8: 45 minutes
Year 9: 60 minutes
Homework tasks are attempted in a homework exercise book which pupils are issued with at the start of the year. Each homework task is marked before the next one is set.
Pupils have 2 weeks to complete each homework task which must be signed by their parent or guardian.
Each homework task is assessed using a numeric level and a qualifying letter. Higher numbers indicate higher levels of attainment; letters indicate how securely a level has been demonstrated as follows:
A = High
B = Secure
C = Low
For example 5C indicates that level 5 has only just been attained, whereas 4B indicates that level 4 has been secured.
In addition formative comments are included for each homework task, indicating how the work could have been improved.
Homework marks are recorded by teachers as numeric levels only on a SIMS MTR sheet.
Pupils are also tested twice a year. Marks are recorded centrally and levels are derived from these. These levels are then moderated by teachers in light of previous homework and class work tasks.
Key Stage 4
GCSE ICT, GCSE Computing and Functional Skills
60% of the ICT and Computing qualifications are based on controlled assessment tasks and 40% on theory. Since controlled assessment constitutes the majority of the work done by pupils, feedback and guidance are provided as per the Controlled Assessment Brief (CAB). Functional Skills is a purely practical course and is assessed by means of a practical examination.
For all three courses, a total of 12 homework tasks are set throughout the year, two per half term. Each homework task is based on work covered so far.
Homework tasks are set during lessons and can also be accessed via the school website.
Pupils are expected to allocate up to 60 minutes to each homework task, depending on the nature of the task.
Homework tasks are attempted in a homework exercise book which pupils are issued with at the start of the year. Each homework task is marked before the next one is set.
Pupils have 1 week to complete each homework task which must be signed by their parent or guardian.
Each homework task is assessed using examination grades A* to G
In addition formative comments are included for each homework task, indicating how the work could have been improved.
Homework marks are recorded by teachers on a SIMS MTR sheet.
Key Stage 5
A Level Applied ICT
At AS level, 80% of the qualification is based on coursework, at A2 level, 100% of the qualification is based on coursework.
Students submit draft strands of their coursework at scheduled deadlines which are advised to students at the beginning of the academic year and are available from the school website.
Feedback on draft work is provided to students on the “Coursework Strand Submission” form and returned to students as per schedule (usually within 2 weeks of draft submission).
Students then have time to refine their draft work according to feedback before making a final submission for marking as per schedule (usually 1 week after feedback was given). At this point no further submissions of this strand of work are possible.
Finalised work is marked by teachers as per schedule (within 2 weeks of final submission). Marks are recorded centrally and are available for viewing by students.
Computing
At AS level, 100% qualification is based theory, at A2 level, 40% of the qualification is based in coursework and 60% on theory.
At AS level, students are set a research assignment at the end of each discrete topic, as per scheduled deadlines which are advised to students at the beginning of the academic year and are available from the school website.
Each assignment should be completed as per schedule under open book conditions and is expected to take a total of approximately 3 hours.
Open book assignments are collected and assessed for effort. Students then sit each assignment under test conditions in lesson time, as per schedule (usually within 1 week of the assignment being set).
Closed book assignments are marked by teachers as per schedule (within 2 weeks of completion). Marks are recorded centrally and are available for viewing by students.
At A2 level, students complete research assignments on theory work as described for AS level.
In addition, A2 Computing students submit draft sections of their coursework at scheduled deadlines.
Feedback on draft work is provided on the “Coursework Strand Submission” form and returned as per schedule (usually within 2 weeks of submission).