Computing

The Computing department has four air-conditioned ICT suites alongside their four subject specialists.  The department is supported by the school ICT technicians.

The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
• can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
• can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

Across the curriculum we aim to support pupils in developing their knowledge and logical skills by solving a variety of problems using technology.  Throughout all key stages we focus on building resilience and educating pupils about potential IT/Computing career paths through cross-curricular project-based work using a variety of IT skills.   The computing curriculum develops the knowledge of our learners in the ever more important skills of algorithm design and graphical coding culminating in expertise in high level text-based programming languages.  Numeracy & Literacy are explicitly taught throughout KS3 and KS4 via technical terminology, number conversions and base calculations.

At Philips we follow the National Curriculum in Computer Science which enables our pupils to access either GCSE Computer Science or a vocational qualification in IT or Business.

Our KS4 curriculum enables students to access college pathways in A-Level Computer Science & Level 3 qualifications in IT or T-Levels in Digital Products, Design and Development or Digital Support and Services.