ICT Overview

What Will I Learn?
ICT is taught throughout all the year groups at Bower Park School, ensuring that each child
has adequate provision for ICT.
KS3: Key Stage 3 ICT consists of Years 7, 8 and 9 who will follow the National Curriculum
for ICT. The topics that they will cover over the course of 3 years are:
Using ICT to present information
Information sources and presentation
Processing text and images
Models – rules and investigation
Data – designing structure, capturing and presenting data
Control – Input, process and output
Public Information systems
Publishing on the web
Information – reliability, validity and bias
Data – Use and misuse
Systems – Integrated applications to find solutions
KS4: The OCR National in ICT has been developed to recognise learners’ skills, knowledge
and understanding of Information and Communication Technology functions,
environments and operations. Students carry out a range of tasks that have been
designed to recognise their achievements in a modern, practical way that is relevant
to the workplace. Students’ success is measured throughout the course through
practical exercises and they can see their progress rather than waiting for final exam
results. There are no exams and this course is suitable for students of all abilities.
All students have to complete the compulsory unit - ICT skills for business.
Students of core ICT will then complete an additional unit - Desktop publishing.
Students who choose ICT as an option subject complete an additional 4 units.
Unit 4 - Design and produce multimedia products where students will develop
knowledge and understanding of developing and using multimedia products.
Unit 6 - Spreadsheets - students will develop a thorough knowledge and
understanding of how to create and use spreadsheets.
Unit 7 - Databases - Students will develop a thorough knowledge and understanding
of how to create and use a relational database.
Unit 12 - Work experience IT - By completing this unit candidates will develop skills,
knowledge and understanding required to work in a real business environment by
undertaking and learning from a work experience placement. For the candidate to
successfully complete this unit, their work experience placement must be with a
business that specifically uses IT.
How Will I Be Assessed?
KS3: KS3 ICT is assessed through thorough marking of each unit which is given a National
Curriculum Level. Students work is acknowledged through sending postcards home
to parents, informing them of their child’s progression within ICT.
KS4: All units are centre-assessed and externally moderated by OCR. Students must
complete 2 units to achieve the equivalent of one GCSE. There are no timetabled
exams for this qualification; candidates may complete units at a time to suit the
school. The full award and units from this qualification are graded as Pass (Grade c),
Merit (Grade B) or Distinction (Grade A/A*) Completed units will be equivalent to 4
GCSE grades.
Are There Any Learning Opportunities Beyond The Classroom?
Students are able to use any of our three fully equipped ICT suites after school each day to
catch up on course work or do homework.
No trips are directly linked to this course. Students may gather information on work experience
to give a work place insight to their course work.
Do I Need Any Special Equipment To Study This Subject?
ICT is not all about computers! It stands for Information Communication Technology. Which
means that you will be taught the theory behind ICT, therefore you must ensure you bring to
each lesson a pen, pencil, rubber and ruler.
You will be given a Username and a password which you MUST remember too!