KS4 - Years 9, 10 and 11

All students continue to study ICT throughout Years 9, 10 and 11. Three qualifications are offered, dependent upon which is most suitable for each student. Some students may complete more than one of these qualifications.

Most students complete the OCR National Certificate in ICT, gaining the equivalent of 1 to 4 GCSEs based upon the quantity and quality of work produced. This is a vocational qualification, based entirely on portfolio work and with no examinations. Students undertake modules such as ICT in Business, Website design, or Video editing. There is an opportunity for students to complete a work experience placement in Year 10 in an ICT-related field and have this counted towards their qualification.

Some students complete the GCSE ICT qualification. This consists of two examinations (20% each) and two pieces of controlled conditions coursework (30% each). Students cover topics such as computer hardware, security, computer legislation and morality, together with software skills such as spreadsheet modelling and relational database design.

A small group of students complete the GCSE Computing qualification. This consists of one examination (40%), one programming project (30%) and one research task (30%). Students are taught to program in a high level language such as VB.Net or Python. They also cover topics relating to computer fundamentals, such as how a processor functions and data structures.

All students also cover computer control work in Technology lessons and data logging in Science lessons.

More in this category: « KS3 - Years 7 and 8 KS5 - Years 12 and 13 »
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ICT News

  • Administrator Painsley Awarded E-safety Mark
    Written by Administrator
    Painsley Awarded E-safety Mark

    Painsley Catholic College is proud to announce that it is the first school in Staffordshire to be awarded the E-safety Mark. E-safety stands for electronic safety and reflects the importance attached to the safe use of the internet and technology The highly prestigious award celebrates the fact that e-safety is embedded into teaching in every department across the school and that students at Painsley know how to stay safe when online.

    Lynne Hynds, lead assessor for the E-safety mark said in her report “It was a privilege to hear the commitment and support from the Headteacher, Subject Leader for ICT, teachers, pupils and technical staff to e-Safety across the whole school. The hard work and dedication by all concerned has fostered a coherent approach to ensure pupils have a clear understanding of e-Safety.”

    • The E-safety mark is awarded by the South West Learning Grid, a not for profit charitable trust company. The trust provides schools and other educational establishments with support and advice in using the Internet safely.
    • The E-safety mark is certified by the University of Plymouth.
    • Painsley Catholic College is an RM Centre of Excellent for ICT and has also achieved the ICT Mark for demonstrating commitment to continual improvement through ICT.
    • Ofsted and the Archdiocese of Birmingham both graded Painsley Catholic College as outstanding in all 38 categories in their last reports, ranking the college as one of the top performing secondary schools in the country.
    Written on Thursday, 21 July 2011 07:52 in ICT Read 1970 times
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