Key Stage 4

All students study this subject at Key Stage 4 because…

GCSE (Short Course) ICT will help pupils to prepare for the world of work and our continual changing society. The world is becoming increasingly dominated by technology and today’s citizens need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to enable them to participate in it. To meet career challenges pupils must be self reliant as well as good communicators and problem solvers. They must be able to apply their knowledge and skills in ICT. It is hoped that the skills and knowledge gained from this course will provide pupils with a level of information that can form the basis for higher studies in ICT or a related discipline.

What will you study?

The course has a vocational nature to it. It has been developed to explore the use of ICT in a commercial setting. It differs, therefore, from other GCSE ICT specifications that focus primarily upon ICT use in schools. It aims to develop practical capability through a series of teacher set practical tasks. Pupils then demonstrate their ability to analyze, design and implement ICT systems for use in a range of environments including those of industry, commerce and the community.

Course structure

The specification has been designed with flexibility in mind to allow schools to structure individual pupils’ ICT experience for success. At the moment the current Years 10 and 11 are looking at health centres/surgeries six years ago in comparison with today’s health centres i.e. looking at the problems with paper-based systems, the benefits of ICT systems and the drawback of ICT systems. Hence, balance is given between hands-on experience and the need to spend time away from the computer to develop ideas and research workplace contexts.

Homework

Assessment

The specification offers a flexible, unitized format. Short Course pupils take the first 2 units only. Overall 60% of the assessment is based on coursework. The course uses the Key Skills test which is 40% to ensure maximum flexibility and candidate choice for awarding IT Key Skill units.

Support

For further information please see Mrs Odukoya.