Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
There are two dedicated IT rooms in the school with 30 networked computers in them. The school library also has 15 networked computers. Computer clubs run every lunchtime for pupils to use for coursework, homework and research. All other departments in the school have computers that are linked via the school IT cabling to a group of server's. Currently 120 networked PC's are available for pupils to use in the school. It can be seen that John Beddoes has striven to maintain and upgrade ICT facilities to provide our pupils with every opportunity to gain the most from using computers.
All pupils receive a personal school email address which they can use both at home and in school. This, and all internet access is filtered as part of our pupil ICT safety policy. Pupils are also able to access their files stored on the school network from home and we encourage parents to use the facility to track progress with their homework.
GCSE Information Communication Technology
The course is aimed at pupils who have specific interest in computing and information systems. The coursework weighting requires a consistent approach to both theory and practical tasks. This course is very demanding and involves a detailed knowledge of application software, for example, in Microsoft Excel you will be required to produce realistic spreadsheets with formula which you have designed and then tested. How good is your maths because you need to understand algebra and binary systems!
You do not surf the net etc because you're too busy working on your portfolio in year 10 and then your project in year 11.
Do you know somebody who runs a small business; you need their help to develop a computer based business system based on an existing real business!
The coursework is your own work with guidance and you need to work with out copying others work because it is individual and the person sitting next to you will be often doing something different.
To gain a C grade at GCSE requires a 65% pass rate this is much higher than many other subjects and reflects the quality and quantity of high quality individual work submitted.
Homework tasks include:
- multiple choice exercises and a lot of background reading
- examination style questions which you need to practise
- terminology spelling and definitions which you need to know
You need to be researching and planning the coursework task you will undertake each term.
While coursework is being carried out, you need to check and record work carried out in lessons and then plan the tasks to be carried out in the next practical session.
The coursework component consists of a portfolio of work which assesses your ability to use communicating information (Word/Publishing/PowerPoint) in term 1 in year 10. Spreadsheet modelling (Excel) is the task in term 2 in year 10 and Information handling (database) is the task in term 3.
The full GCSE course includes a project in which you must submit a report on the solution to a problem that demonstrates your information systems capability, this is mostly unaided and is based on the work covered in year 10.
The overall assessment weighting is as follows:
Coursework 60% (project 30%, portfolio 30%)
Written papers 40% (two papers 20% each)
For Key Stage 3 informaiton please click here.
