ICT Faculty
E-Mail: headofict@soham-college.org.uk
Topic outline
KS3 - Year 7
In Year 7 students have 1 lesson of ICT per week. We have changed the content slightly this year for Year 7 as we are introducing the students to computer science where they will learn more about how the computer works and will learn some basic programming skills alongside all the other important skills like digital literacy, e-safety, software applications, use of ICT in society.
GCSE ICT
Click the logo or link below if you would like to view the full course specification from the Exam Board website.
Exam Board Qualification Specification 
GCSE ICT 2IT01 (Single Award) This course is about the aspects of the digital world that students are familiar with in their daily lives, making sure it is both relevant and interesting with content such as: personal digital devices, online shopping, E-Safety, Digital Design, Digital Publishing and Social Networking. Students are immersed in technology in just about every aspect of their lives. Do they understand the challenges and potential implications of their actions in this changing digital environment?
Key Subject aims:
- Become independent users of ICT, able to make informed decisions and its use and aware of its implications for individuals, organisations and society
- Acquire and apply creative and technical skills, knowledge and understanding of ICT in a range of contexts
- Develop ICT-based solutions to solve problems
- Develop understanding of current and emerging technologies and their social and commercial impact
- Develop understanding of the legal, social, economic, ethical and environmental issues raised by ICT
- Recognize potential risks when using ICT and develop safe, secure and responsible practice
- Develop skills to work collaboratively
- Evaluate ICT-based solutions
Why choose GCSE ICT?
This course taps into student’s ability to master and adapt technology to suit their own needs. It demonstrates how technology touches on every aspect of daily life: work, leisure and interpersonal relationships. It also helps them learn how to be responsible users of ICT.
This course is suitable for:- Generally higher ability students who demonstrate good ICT literacy.
Assessment
This course will be a single award which is broken down into 2 units.Unit 1 - Exam paper worth 40%
Unit 2 – Controlled assessment worth 60%Other Information
For more information see Miss West.GCSE Computer Science
Click the logo or link below if you would like to view the full course specification from the Exam Board website.
Exam Board Qualification Specification 
GCSE Computer Science 4512 Computer technology continues to advance rapidly. The growth in the use of mobile devices and web-related technologies has exploded. Everyone knows how to use these devices - but can they program them to do the tasks that they want? ICT is a subject that uses existing technology to perform different tasks - to manage a business, create documents and websites. Computer Science teaches you the fundamentals of what a computer is, how it works, and how to create new software of your own.
Why choose this course?
Today’s demand for computer science skills is greater than ever before, especially in the gaming, mobile and web industries. This course has been specifically designed to equip students with an essential understanding of computer science. You will be able to create your own mobile apps; interactive web-based applications and your own simple games. In essence, studying this course will allow you to innovate rather than just use existing software.
Overview of the subject content:
- Constants, variables and data types & structures.
- Program flow control.
- Procedures and functions.
- Scope of variables, constants, functions & procedures.
- Error handling.
- Handling external data.
- Computer structure -Systems, Hardware, CPU (Central Processing Unit), Memory, Secondary storage.
- Algorithms & data representation.
- Software development life cycle, prototyping & testing.
- Networking - Client/server & web application concepts.
- Use of external code sources.
- Database concepts - query methods (SQL).
- The use of computer technology in society.
This course is suitable for:
- Anyone who is interested in writing computer code to create their own software, and
- Anyone who wants a fundamental understanding of how a computer works, and
- Anyone who is a confident mathematician, who can approach problems logically.
Assessment
- Component 1- 60% of the GCSE
Practical programming (50 hours of controlled assessment).
You will complete two internally assessed programming tasks. You will work independently and demonstrate your ability to code a solution to a given problem. The tasks will be set in engaging and relevant contexts, eg gaming, web, mobile phone applications. - Component 2 – 40% of the GCSE
Computing fundamentals (1.30hr exam).
Questions will be taken from across the syllabus and will include a range of types of questions from very short to extended answers.
Other Information
For more information visit or email Mr Robinson at jrobinson@soham-college.org.uk.OCR Cambridge Nationals in ICT
Click the logo or link below if you would like to view the full course specification from the Exam Board website.
Exam Board Qualification Specification 
OCR Cambridge Nationals in ICT J810 Overview
OCR Cambridge Nationals in ICT is a new course with first teaching from September 2012. This course replaces the old OCR Nationals course which the current class of 2013 are doing. The main difference from the old course is there is now a written external examimation (25% of the qualification) and a slight difference in the coursework topics on offer. This course develops the student’s skills, knowledge and understanding of ICT in a modern, practical way that is relevant to the workplace. Range of units that are available include:
- Using ICT to create business solutions
- Creating interactive products using multimedia components
- Creating digital Graphics
- Creating dynamic products using sound and vision
- Introduction to computer programming
Why choose the new OCR Cambridge Nationals award?
Learning should be fun and this new course can provide such a platform. Students can specialise in areas of learning linked with work that they are interested in. The increasing use of technology in all aspects of society makes confident, creative and productive use of ICT an essential skill for life. ICT allows you to not only learn and master skills and techniques but also understand how to apply these skills in learning, everyday life and employment.
This course is suitable for:- Everyone – no matter what your ability range or interest as there is enough variety in the course to suit you all!!
- It is not just for students who want to work in the ICT sector but because you are learning a variety of ICT skills they will be beneficial and useful no matter what employment sector you go into.
Assessment
- A Level 2 qualification; and it is graded at Level 2 Pass, Level 2 Merit, Level 2 Distinction, Level 2 Distinction*, Level 1 and Unclassified
- Core and optional units
- External assessment which is 25% of the qualification (OCR sets and marks this assessment)
- Complete 2 core units plus approximately 2-3 optional units
Other Information
For more information see Miss West.
Topic 7
BTEC First Award in ICT (Information & Creative Technology) Level 2
Click the logo or link below if you would like to view the full course specification from the Exam Board website.
Exam Board Qualification Specification Level 2
Overview
BTEC’s offer a practical approach by applying learning to real-life situations. Students undertake a number of units for which they present evidence, based on actual work and studies. This course develops the student’s skills, knowledge and understanding of ICT in a modern, practical way that is relevant to the workplace. Range of units that are available include:
- The Online World
- Digital Animation
- Digital Graphics
- Digital Video
- Mobile Apps Development
- Website Development
- Software Development
Why choose the new BTEC award?
Learning should be fun and this new course can provide such a platform. Students can specialise in areas of learning linked with work that they are interested in. The increasing use of technology in all aspects of society makes confident, creative and productive use of ICT an essential skill for life. ICT allows you to not only learn and master skills and techniques but also understand how to apply these skills in learning, everyday life and employment.
This course is suitable for:- Everyone – no matter what your ability range or interest as there is enough variety in the course to suit you all!!
- It is not just for students who want to work in the ICT sector but because you are learning a variety of ICT skills they will be beneficial and useful no matter what employment sector you go into.
- With no formal exams, the new BTEC’s are ideal for a wide range of abilities.
Assessment
- A Level 2 qualification; and it is graded at Level 2 Pass, Level 2 Merit, Level 2 Distinction, Level 2 Distinction*, Level 1 and Unclassified
- Core and optional units
- External assessment up to 25% of the qualification (Edexcel sets and marks these assessments)
- Complete 2 core units plus approximately 2-3 optional units
Other Information
For more information see Miss West.
OCR Level 2 Nationals in ICT
Class of 2013 ONLY
Click the logo or link below if you would like to view the full course specification from the Exam Board website.
Exam Board Qualification Specification OCR Level 2 Nationals in ICT 06324 Overview
OCR Nationals are an exam free alternative to the more traditional GCSE ICT taking a more engaging, practical approach to learning and assessment. This course develops the student’s skills, knowledge and understanding of ICT in a modern, practical way that is relevant to the workplace.
They will learn how to:
- Use software such as multimedia, databases, spreadsheets, web design, digital video, digital imaging and animations
- Apply ICT to real life situations and solve problems
- Use ICT to research, acquire, manipulate and present information
Why choose OCR Nationals?
The increasing use of technology in all aspects of society makes confident, creative and productive use of ICT an essential skill for life. ICT allows you to not only learn and master skills and techniques but also understand how to apply these skills in learning, everyday life and employment.
This course is suitable for:- Everyone – no matter what your ability range or interest as there is enough variety in the course to suit you all!!
- It is not just for students who want to work in the ICT sector but because you are learning a variety of ICT skills they will be beneficial and useful no matter what employment sector you go into.
- With no formal exams, OCR Nationals’ unit-based approach is ideal for a wide range of abilities.
Assessment
The course is all coursework based – no exam. Coursework is based around a variety of units – 1 unit is compulsory then there are another 22 to choose from e.g. creating video, creating sound, website design, creating animation for the web, creating computer graphics, digital imaging, multimedia presentations, desktop publishing, spreadsheets and databases – to name but a few.Other Information
Classes are mixed ability – mainly due to only being one group in each option.
For more information see Miss West.
