ICT is an essential skill needed to survive in our rapidly-changing lives. Our aim is to equip all learners at High Tunstall College of Science to be able to participate fully in a world of technology.
Our philosophy is excellent teaching combined with e-learning to enhance learning and personalise each student’s experience of their course. We have very high expectations for our students to meet and exceed their potential in their ICT course.
We aim to provide a quality and interactive learning experience, which is free from disruption and in a secure environment. Consistency of expectations and standards is of up-most importance within the subject area and all students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately while using the college resources.
Most of the courses we offer are accompanied by e-learning resources that are accessible from outside college.
We have 7 fully equipped and networked computer rooms used for delivering ICT as a discrete subject as well as ICT in other curriculum areas.
Staffing structure September 2008/09
Teaching staff:
Miss C Arthington Faculty Leader Technology & ICT
Miss S Noble Joint ICT leader
Miss Z Craven Joint ICT leader
Mr S W Ho
Technicians:
Mr K Galloway Computer Systems Manager
Mr S Tingle Computer Technician
Key Stage 3:
Years 7 – 9 are taught in ability groups and have two lessons per fortnight of ICT. The students study the following units:
Unit 1 – Developing word processing skills & E-Safety
Unit 2 – Data handling
Unit 3 – Control technology Presenting information
Unit 4 – Modelling
Unit 5 – Searching for and presenting information
Unit 6 – Public Information Systems
Unit 7 – Data handling
Unit 8 – Control technology
Unit 9 – Modelling
Unit 10 – Searching for and presenting information
Unit 11 – Data handling
Unit 12 – Control technology
Unit 13 – Modelling
Unit 14 – Searching for and presenting information
Through these units students will become familiar with a number of applications including Microsoft Office software – Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint & Publisher. They will also use a variety of applications for Control Technology, image editing and animation creation.
Key Stage 4:
OCR Nationals – Award
The OCR Nationals suite of qualifications provides candidates with high quality, industry-relevant qualifications geared to the specific requirements of key sectors. They are vocationally-related qualifications that provide valuable opportunities for individuals to develop skills and gain underpinning knowledge and understanding which will support entry into work or progression to further studies through Further Education or Higher Education. The OCR Nationals are attractive, practically-based qualifications intended to stimulate and interest candidates.
This is a 100% coursework qualification made up of units that can be combined to offer qualification equivalent to 2 GCSE’s. The first compulsory unit is ICT and Business and the following units to be delivered allow students to study and demonstrate a range of multimedia skills, including developing graphics and animation.
Course materials are available
Grade range A*-C
OCR Nationals – First Certificate
The OCR Nationals suite of qualifications provides candidates with high quality, industry-relevant qualifications geared to the specific requirements of key sectors. They are vocationally-related qualifications that provide valuable opportunities for individuals to develop skills and gain underpinning knowledge and understanding which will support entry into work or progression to further studies through Further Education or Higher Education. The OCR Nationals are attractive, practically-based qualifications intended to stimulate and interest candidates.
This is a 100% coursework qualification made up of units that can be combined to offer qualification equivalent to 3 GCSE’s. The first compulsory unit is ICT and Business and the following units to be delivered allow students to study and demonstrate a range of multimedia skills, including developing graphics and animation.
Course materials are available
Grade range A*-C
Key Skills
A number of students follow the Key Skills qualification, attending 1 lesson a fortnight. This course is suitable for those students who would like a basic practical experience of ICT. Students are entered for either the Level 1 or Level 2 qualification. Students need to be able to use ICT software packages in more sophisticated ways as they move through the levels.
Key Skills ICT deals with the application of ICT to specific purposes, students use their knowledge about ICT to find, develop and present information, whether it be text, image or numbers, or all of these in an integrated task.
Students must demonstrate that they have covered a range of IT skills internally before being entered for an externally set and marked exam.
Candidates must achieve a pass in both parts to achieve their qualification.
Course materials are available
Grade range Pass/Fail
Functional Skills
This new course is replacing the Key Skills qualification, attending 1 lesson a fortnight. This course is suitable for those students who would like a basic practical experience of ICT. Students are entered for either the Level 1 or Level 2 qualification. Students need to be able to use ICT software packages in more sophisticated ways as they move through the levels. Students will complete an online exam; printing the results of the tasks they are set. This work is then sent away for external assessment by the exam board.
Grade range Pass/Fail
GCSE ICT
Following the System Life Cycle, students will develop ICT systems for a specific user by taking a project through the design, implementation, testing and evaluation processes. Students learn how to present information to others by creating effective paper based publications and graphics and in the two compulsory projects they will store and handle data using spreadsheets and databases.
Students benefit from good levels of literacy as communication and project write up are integral to their success in the course
Assessment of GCSE ICT is in two parts:
Externally moderated coursework 60%
Externally set and marked exam 40%
Grade range A*-G
