In Year 7, all pupils receive two periods of IT a week. This programme of study is aimed at ensuring that all pupils gain a high level of ability and confidence in applications which will be of immediate use to them in preparing work for other subjects.

The topics covered include word processing, desktop publishing, graphics, spreadsheets, the use of e-mail and internet search techniques.

In addition to the IT periods, all Year 7 pupils also follow a touch typing course. This is delivered through the use of an interactive computer-based learning program one period a week. This facility is available to students outside of lessons so that they can develop their skill in their own time if they wish.

In Year 8, the basic skills mastered in Year 7 are developed and the foundation for the GCSE syllabus is established. There is greater emphasis on the use of databases and spreadsheets to ensure that pupils have a sound grasp of the essential concepts that these topics involve.

While there is an element of theory involved in these courses, the emphasis is on the practical skills to ensure that all pupils can gain the maximum benefit from the use of ICT to support their work in all subjects in the Warminster curriculum.

GCSE

In Year 9 the students start the GCSE IT syllabus. This permits students to have the opportunity to sit the GCSE examination in Year 10 and thus reduce the examination workload at the end of Year 11.

At Warminster the GCSE ICT award is a compulsory subject for all students. The OCR ICT syllabus A (1094) short course is taught, and this involves the production of two pieces of coursework to be submitted to the examination board and a written examination paper.

As an option, students may choose to enter for the OCR ICT syllabus A (1994) full GCSE award. This involves a third piece of submitted course work and a second written examination paper.

For further syllabus information visit the examination board website at http://www.ocr.org.uk/

Note

The teaching of ICT at keystage 4 is currently being reviewed at Warminster. The existing programme is to be replaced with an option to take the full course GCSE ICT as a subject option. For students not opting to follow the GCSE IT course, the European Computer Driving Licence will be a compulsory study course.

For further information on the ECDL visit the web site http://www.ecdl.com/

Sixth Form

Warminster School offers ICT at AS and A2 levels.

In a world increasingly dominated by Information and Communication Technology a detailed understanding of the theory and practice of this subject is of great benefit in all walks of life. The OCR ICT specification is followed (3838 / 7838) and this course allows students to develop their understanding of the principles of problem solving using ICT.

The practical elements of the A level are supported through the use of the Microsoft Office suite and the use of Dreamweaver for webpage design, Photoshop for graphics tasks and Visual Basic / VBA for the programming aspects of the course.

The AS course consists of two written papers and a practical assignment set by the examination board. The A2 modules consist of a further two written papers and a project which is chosen by the individual student. This practical project must produce a computer based system for a real customer and so it involves working with people outside of the school environment.

For further syllabus information visit the examination board website at http://www.ocr.org.uk/