Mr P Cook - Head of Department
Mr A D Cadle
Mr J Kennedy

The friendliness and hard working approach of both students and staff in the department have resulted in some excellent examination results. The recognition that ICT skills and knowledge are important in today’s society together with the recent major improvements in the facilities and examination results have made ICT one of the most popular GCSE and A level choices within the College.

Courses

In Years 4, 5 and 6 the students follow a Key Stage 2 course based on the QCA scheme adapted to suit the skills and resources present in the Junior School.

In Years 7 and 8 the course builds upon the skills acquired in the previous years with an emphasis on research and production. The aim of these courses is to equip students with the ICT skills needed for Key Stage 4 courses across their individual curriculum.

In Years 10 and 11 there are three GCSE ICT classes (about 65 students). The course follows the Edexcel 1185 specification. The assessment includes four systems analysis projects worth 60% of the total marks and one written 2 hour examination paper.

In Year 12 about 35 students follow the AQA AS specification and approximately 30 students continue their studies to A2. At AS level the students carry out four tasks set by the board and these are worth 40% of the assessment, whilst at A2 a major systems analysis has to be completed for the same proportion of the marks.

Accommodation

The lessons are taught in the Senior School ICT suite consisting of two fully equipped rooms and the Junior School ICT suite:

• Junior ICT suite 26 machines, networked printer and interactive whiteboard.
  
• IT1 30 machines, one scanner, two networked printers, DVD Rom drives, projector linked to the teacher’s machine for demonstration purposes.
  
• IT2 18 machines, one scanner, two networked printers, DVD Rom drives, projector linked to one of the machines for demonstration purposes.
  
• Digital camera and digital camcorder.

We have developed a Department Intranet containing all course notes required for GCSE, AS and A2 level, together with current marks and other information regarding coursework.

Since all courses have a large practical assessment, both IT1 and IT2 are open upon request during lunchtime and after school until 5.30pm. This is only for the production of coursework. During each session the rooms are manned by a sixth form student currently doing AS or A2 and a member of staff. They are there to assist students with their projects. It is insisted that the rooms are maintained as an office-like environment at all times.

We are developing a resource library available to all students doing ICT courses. This will contain a copy of all the latest textbooks, which will then be available for research.

Mr P Cook