Computer Science
The computing curriculum encourages students to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has links with mathematics, science and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems.
The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming.
Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content.
Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level that will prepare them for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
The curriculum is designed to enable students to
- understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- be able to evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
- be responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
The curriculum is in three strands: computer science; information technology and digital literacy.
The computer science strand promotes skills in computational thinking and programming, the Information Technology strand teaches students how devices work and how they relate to other technology and the Digital Literacy strand teaches students how to use a combination of software to create a product.