Computing

Students will learn how to log onto the school network and discuss the importance of secure passwords. They will then use a range of programs as an introduction to ICT in the school, with an emphasis on saving, retrieving and printing work correctly, and on using technology responsibly and safely. 

Spreadsheets

Students will work through a set of learning exercises in Excel covering cell references, basic formulae ( +, -, /, *) and the SUM and AVERAGE functions. 

Office Applications

Pupils will learn how to log into Office 365, how to use the online applications and how to use email.

Scratch Animation

Pupils will create some simple programs in Scratch. 

Scratch Sequencing

Games Programming

Pupils will create a game in Scratch, using variables to track time and scores.

Spreadsheets and Charts 

Pupils revise the spreadsheet work carried out in year 6.  They then go on to work on profit/loss spreadsheets, absolute and relative cell references and creating graphs for various scenarios. 

Bitmap and Vector Graphics 

Pupils will work on a series of image manipulation tasks. They will gather, input and process both real life and computer created images. Pupils will look at company logos and at what features make a good logo. They will produce logos for specific companies or organisations and evaluate their own work. They will create a portfolio of work in PowerPoint. 

Graphics Programming

Pupils will use LOGO as a method of creating computer graphics and will learn about the use of numeric variables to control the output.

How Computers Work 

Pupils learn about the parts that make up a modern pc. They will revisit the use of 4-bit binary numbers, and extend this to converting 8-bit binary numbers between denary and binary and vice versa. They will look at logic gates and how they can be used to create various outputs from binary inputs. 

Encryption and Code Breaking  

Pupils will look at some simple codes and carry out some exercises to encrypt messages.  They will look at why encryption is important today, particularly in relation to the Internet. Pupils will then learn about the work of Alan Turing and build spreadsheets to break coded messages. They will look at ASCII code and how it is used in a modern computer. 

Animation Sequencing and Control 

Pupils will look at some simple codes and carry out some exercises to encrypt messages.  They will look at why encryption is important today, particularly in relation to the Internet. Pupils will then learn about the work of Alan Turing and build spreadsheets to break coded messages. They will look at ASCII code and how it is used in a modern computer. 

RGB Colour 

Pupils will revisit the RGB colour model, carry out some exercises to revise RGB colour and then take a summative test.  They will complete a programming task in BASIC to animate a sprite and use the RGB colour model to alter the default colours. 

Integrated Project – ‘Sandwich Shop’ 

Pupils complete a project to set up a business selling sandwiches. They will need to create a logo for the company, create a spreadsheet to calculate profit/loss and design a three panel leaflet to advertise the business. Some pupils may go on to create business cards and letterheads for the company.  

Information and Communication 

Pupils will use spreadsheets to enter data, analyse results and produce bar charts and scatter graphs.

How Computers Work 

Pupils will revise binary and denary conversion, learn about hexadecimal numbers and look at how hexadecimal numbers are used in RGB colour codes. They will revise AND, OR and NOT gates and then look at combinations of these.  They will then complete exercises using truth tables for the gates or sequences of gates. Pupils will also learn about computer parts and memory, storage and transfer speeds, and units such as Kb, KB, mb, MB, MiB etc. 

The Maths Machine 

Pupils will create some simple programs to revise the use of variables in BASIC to make the computer carry out basic mathematical functions.  They will revisit the use of IF…THEN…ELSE selection and write a short program using a series of IF…THEN…ELSE decisions.

Programming in BASIC 

Pupils will work through a series of programming problems, creating computer graphics using variables, random numbers, selection and iteration, learning new commands as they proceed.  They will bring these skills together to create a program that simulates the rolling of a die using random numbers. 

Binary, Hexadecimal and Colours 

Pupils will revisit the theory work on binary and hexadecimal numbers and how these are used in the RGB colour model.  They will revisit computer memory and storage units.  They will create programs in BASIC that convert binary data into images on the computer.

Spreadsheets and Selection 

Pupils will revise the work they have previously done using spreadsheets – addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, SUM and AVERAGE, use of absolute and relative cells. They will then go on to learn how to use IF statements and the COUNTIF function. Finally, they will use their knowledge of spreadsheets to create a general knowledge quiz that will automatically give the user their score.  Some pupils will also look at recording and editing macros in a spreadsheet, and using RGB codes to change colours through the use of a macro. 

Databases 

Pupils will look at how databases are used and discuss how their own details are collected and stored on various databases around the world.  Using Microsoft Access, they will learn how to create a new database, create a user form for adding records, add, delete and edit records, import records from a CSV file, and use queries to search a database using multiple criteria. 

The Guessing Game 

Pupils will create a “Guessing Game” in BASIC where the user has a certain number of guesses to find a secret number.  They will create a user interface using custom programmed characters and use RGB codes to create custom colours. 

Sound and Vision 

Pupils will use images, video clips and sound to learn how to use a video editing package.  They will produce a 30 second holiday advert and a 60 second film trailer.