ICT

Ethos & Values

• To enhance children's quality of learning through the effective delivery of Computer Science GCSE and Edexcel GCSE ICT.


• To raise attainment by creating a target-orientated highly driven culture based on the enhancement of ICT skills and creative use of them in coursework.


• To have consistently high expectations and match these with high quality resources and learning strategies.


• To provide a range of educational experiences appropriate to the age, ability and needs of our students utilising all the ICT resources to hand.


• To manage and create resources to ensure maximum benefit ensuring all resources are of outstanding quality and are accessible as easily as possible.


• To adopt a philosophy of continuous improvement in all aspects of the delivery of all subjects within the Faculty.


• To be proponents of lifelong learning by continually training and developing new skills using the latest technology.

Knowledge & Skills

Whilst studying ICT students learn to use a wide range of applications and learn how to use these tools to create various products ranging from databases and spreadsheets to complex animations and websites. Students will study in detail many aspects of digital multimedia including web design, graphics, animation, sound production, video production and editing and digital music production.

Computer Science allows students to develop a range of programming skills which are becoming more and more vital in an ever changing world.

Resources & Facilities

There are currently 2 dedicated ICT classrooms equipped for multi-media design and general ICT work. All the classrooms have projectors. Resources are always being reviewed and updated; recently a fully digital recording studio has been purchased along with various music and sound production equipment including a studio quality condenser mike and several Digital Audio Workstations. We also have several digital and analogue cameras for video and still pictures and also have graphics tablets for multimedia and technical drawing packages.

Our main resource is our vast array of software. For instance, we have access to the latest version of Adobe's Creative Studio 4 (CS4) including:

Photoshop: A digital media editing application for editing images.

Flash: An animation application that can be used for creating various multimedia applications such as videos, animations, games, and software which is the industry-leading authoring environment for creating engaging interactive experiences.

Dreamweaver: Used to design, develop, and maintain standards-based websites and applications.

Illustrator: This is a comprehensive vector graphics environment with new transparency in gradients and multiple artboards that invite you to explore more efficient ways to design.

In-design: This is the foundation for dynamic publishing - in both print and digital media.

MS Office: We have the full Microsoft office suite for creating documents, spreadsheets and databases.

Python: Python is the computer programming language students at Somercotes will be using during their time at the academy.

In all the classrooms, wall space is positively used to create informative and stimulating displays that reflect modern practices, support the projects and create an expectation for achievement. Likewise, we make good use of corridor display space and have added several new displays within the last year.

Students follow the national curriculum in ICT using a range of applications such as creating their own websites, recording their own E-Safety movies and constructing applications to use on tablet PC's.

In Years 9 to 11 students study a variety of qualifications including the popular ICT GCSE in which students learn about 'Living in the Digital World' and complete a controlled assessment 'Using Digital Tools'.

It has been our long term strategy across the MAT to teach Computer Science GCSE which has now been realised. This is being delivered at Somercotes Academy using the excellent resources created in preparation for this.

Courses & Qualifications

Key Stage 3

Throughout Y7 and Y8, students will complete a course based around preparing the students for Y9 and Comptuer Science. The students will combined learning about the basic of a computer such as inputs/outputs with programming using programs such as Small Basic.

Key Stage 4

Computer Science

This three unit course is designed to give you an in-depth understanding of how computer technology works and a look at what goes on 'behind the scenes'.

The course will help you learn about critical thinking, analysis and problem solving. We hope you'll find it a fun and interesting way to develop these skills, which can also be transferred to other subjects and even applied in day-to-day life.

You will learn how to:

• Understand current and emerging technologies.
• Acquire and apply knowledge and technical skills.
• Understand the use of algorithms in programming.
• Develop computer programs to solve problems.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of computer programs and solutions.

Learning Outside The Classroom

ICT Club

Students are invited to attend ICT club at break times to do anything from coursework to creating flash games. Students can also receive more in depth tutorials from staff regarding specific skills regarding ICT such as game creation and web design.

Dinner Times Clubs

There are numerous sessions during the year where students are invited to attend Dinner Time catch-up sessions where they can come in and do their work in a relaxed atmosphere with more one to one help from staff.

Programming Club

Students from all years can learn how to program in various programming languages such as Scratch, AppInventer and Javascript. This can develop existing skills or build new ones that will help as they undertake Computer Science qualifications.

Where Does This Take Me In The Future?

After completing this course, you will benefit from:

• Opportunities for students who may wish to be employed in the IT industry or organisations that primarily use ICT.


• Achieving technical and employability skills, knowledge and understanding which are transferable and will enable individuals to meet changing circumstances, whether these arise from a shift in their own status or in employment.


• Motivating students through applied learning and continuous assessment - no external examinations.


• Achieving GCSE qualifications which are recognised by employers and education institutions.


• Having a good progression route to more advanced qualifications, e.g. ICT/Multimedia A Levels and Computer Science courses.


• Having access to extensive resources offered to students who wish to learn about particular ICT areas in more depth such as web design or multimedia and students are encouraged to get involved in extra-curricular activities to use their skills.


• Having the opportunity to gain qualifications can be used as a means to enter industry or university to study any IT related degree such as computer science, graphic design, multimedia or artificial intelligence.

E-Safety

Download the E-Safety document below for more information.