Technology & ICT
| Mr A McMahon | Head of Technology & ICT |
| Ms S Peters | |
| Mrs L Stainer | |
| Mrs G Medlicott | ICT |
Intent of the Technology Curriculum
Our intent within the design and technology department at the Community College is to offer equal opportunities to all students and the opportunity to enjoy and excel within their studies. We aim to achieve this by offering a broad balanced curriculum, which allows students from all backgrounds and groups to achieve their maximum potential. We strive to stimulate a lasting interest in learning through creativity, problem solving and technological activities.
Technology has an important part to play in helping all students to acquire the knowledge and skills that will be needed for them to take an active role in the current century. We aim to ensure that students are well equipped for both their personal life and potential career paths linked to design and technology.
It is our aim that time spent within our department fosters a wide range of desirable qualities, which we value. Students will learn to cooperate with one another and have a responsible attitude for health and safety. Students should develop lively, enquiring minds, the ability to question why we do what we do in a rational manner and apply themselves to creative tasks and physical skills, both on their own and in groups.
Implementation of the Technology Curriculum
As a department, we promote high standards of academic achievements through investigation, designing, making and evaluating. We work together as an enthusiastic team and promote an environment where all students develop personal responsibility and self-motivation but consider the needs of others on a local, national and global level.
At KS3, students are given the opportunities to study a range of material areas such as resistant materials, electronics, food technology and graphics. At KS4, students can opt to undertake GCSE’s in Design & Technology and Food & Nutrition or a vocational opportunity by undertaking a technical award in Engineering.
Students are taught in mixed ability groups and rotate around a carousel at KS3 during various times of the year. The department follows schemes of work developed by each teacher that have been designed to engage and stretch student’s investigation, designing, evaluating and practical skills within a number of different material areas, each containing their own specialist knowledge which will support future study at KS4. The work undertaken at KS4 is based upon the requirements of the examination courses being offered and consists of a split between controlled assessment tasks and examination content.
Impact of the Technology Curriculum
The impact of creative, problem solving and technological activities students undertake builds up their skills, knowledge and understanding sufficiently well to enable them to approach the man-made world as active participants in future developments whilst showing care and sensitivity for the environment.
Our learning environment instils within students the attributes of creativity, equality, cooperation and resourcefulness. Students become capable at working independently and can actively participate in teams, attributes, which will serve them, well in future life. Students leave school with an appreciation of the role design and technology plays within the world and the potential career opportunities that exist within the industries attached.
The impact of design and technology based experiences leaves students with the ability to be open-minded and utilse an investigative approach when tackling problems. They develop clear communicative techniques whether oral, written or in graphical form and appreciate the social skills needed when working in a team. Students also establish good working practices and an understanding of technical concepts and systems and their safe application, which will support future employment in many industries. Students can appreciate appropriate cross-curricular links and also use ICT as a means of communication, learning and as a design tool.
Intent of the ICT Curriculum
At The Community College in Computing/ICT we like keep the subject relevant, stimulating and motivating. Within the curriculum time we cover a broad curriculum which allows students to enhance the knowledge and understanding within computing. Whilst doing this we are very conscious of making sure every student has the opportunity to develop key life skills.
Computing /ICT offer a broad curriculum which aims to enrich and challenge pupils in multimedia, programming, real-world software. The curriculum endeavours to prepare students to aspire to the demands of modern Computing/ICT technology’s in all aspects of life.
Some of the key skills students will learn include problem solving, confidence and creative users of information and communication technology.
Implementation of the ICT Curriculum
At key stage 3 students have one lesson a week. Students are all taught by a specialist teacher in mixed ability groups.
Key Stage 3 students use a variety of software including the Serif suite which includes graphic package, desktop publishing, web design, video editing and animation. We also use the Microsoft suite, sound editing software, Kodu, Scratch and Python.
Key Stage 4 equips learners with a range of creative media skills and provide opportunities to develop, in context, desirable, transferable skills such as research, planning, and review, working with others and communicating creative concepts effectively. Through the use of these skills, learners will ultimately be creating fit-for-purpose creative media products.
Students in Key Stage 4 will be studying the BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Digital Information Technology is an introduction to vocational learning. The qualification gives students the opportunity to build skills that show an aptitude for further learning, both in the sector and more widely. The approach to the suite is based on well-established BTEC assessment approaches that are proven to be successful in building skills and motivating learners to engage fully with challenging study.
Impact of the ICT Curriculum
The Computing/ICT lessons are ever changing to keep up with the real world and technology. We aim to develop students with creative minds, are keen problem solvers, creative thinkers, know how to be safe in an online world, and able to make the right choices and achieve their full potential to name just a few. To achieve these key tools for life we encourage growth mind set.
Previous students have gone on to have exceptional successes in a variety of industries. To name some of the success we have two students who are computer programmers. Other students have used their key skills to advance in their chosen fields. One of our passions is to help every child to use technology in their chosen careers.
Extra curricula activities include an enrichment programme where students create their own computer games and graphic interfaces. The ICT room is open during break and lunchtimes to give students who have limited or no access to IT at home the opportunity to use a computer.