Across Business and ICT, we offer 3 option courses at KS4. Students may study any combination of these as part of their options choices.

GCSE Computer Science

OCR’s GCSE (9–1) in Computer Science encourages learners to: 

• Understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms, and data representation
  
  
• Solve problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including designing, writing and debugging programs
  
  
• Think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically
  
  
• Understand the components that make up digital systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems
  
  
• Understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual and to wider society

The course will cover topics including:

Computer systems:

1.1 Systems architecture

1.2 Memory

1.3 Storage

1.4 Wired and wireless networks

1.5 Network topologies, protocols and layers

1.6 System security

1.7 Systems software

1.8 Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns

Computational thinking, algorithms and programming 

2.1 Algorithms

2.2 Programming techniques

2.3 Producing robust programs

2.4 Computational logic

2.5 Translators and facilities of languages

2.6 Data representation

Programming Project

The Programming Project provides an opportunity for learners to demonstrate their practical ability in the skills outlined in the specification, supporting the learning of Components 01 and 02.

Level 2 Cambridge National Award in Creative iMedia

Year 11 students from September 2022 are the last year group to complete the outgoing specification. This course is unit based with each unit counting as 25% of the total grade awarded. We currently deliver the following units:

Unit R081: Pre-production skills (exam unit)

Planning is an essential part of working in the creative and digital media sector. This unit will enable students to understand pre-production skills and techniques used in the sector, as well as gain the knowledge and skills to create digital media products and explore their application. 

Content includes:

• Understanding the purpose and plan the content of pre-production
  
  
• Being able to produce and review pre-production documents. 

Unit R082: Creating digital graphics (coursework unit)

Digital graphics feature in many areas of our lives, and play a very important part in today’s world. The aim of this unit is for students to understand the basics of digital graphics editing for the creative and digital media sector. 

Content includes:

• Understanding the purpose and properties of digital graphics and knowing where and how they are used
  
  
• Being able to plan the creation of a digital graphic
  
  
• Having the knowledge to create new digital graphics, using a range of editing techniques

Unit R087: Creating interactive multimedia products (coursework unit)

Interactive multimedia products are featured widely in everyday life and in the creative and digital media sector. They are used in computer games, mobile phone applications, presentations and many other areas. 

Content includes:

• Understanding the purposes, uses and properties of interactive multimedia products
   
• Being able to plan and create interactive multimedia products to a client’s requirements
  
  
• Being able to review interactive multimedia products, identifying areas for improvement. 

Unit R085: Website design (coursework unit)

Website design is used in a variety of different situations and circumstances.  In this unit, students will learn how to create a multipage website

Content includes:

• Creating page templates
  
  
• Embedding different content and media types 
  
  
• Testing add evaluating website suitability

Students in Years 9 and 10 are working towards the revised specification. This has an exam unit worth 40% of the overall grade and then two coursework units for the remaining 60%.

We deliver the following units:

Unit R093: Creative iMedia in the media industry (exam unit)

Topics include:

• The media industry
  
  
• Factors influencing product design
  
  
• Pre-production planning
  
  
• Distribution considerations

Unit R094: Visual identity and digital graphics (coursework unit)

Topics include:

• Develop visual identity
  
  
• Plan digital graphics for products
  
  
• Create visual identity and digital graphics

Unit R097: Interactive digital media

Topics include:

• Plan interactive digital media
  
  
• Create interactive digital media
  
  
• Review interactive digital media

Level 2 Cambridge National Award in Enterprise and Marketing

Year 11 students from September 2022 are the last year group to complete the outgoing specification. This course is unit based with each unit counting as 25% of the total grade awarded.

The course is comprised of 3 units of work

Unit 1 – exam unit worth 50% of the total grade

The first unit underpins the other learning in this qualification. Students will learn about the techniques businesses use to understand their market and develop products, investigate what makes a product viable and understand how businesses attract and retain customers. They will also learn about key aspects of small businesses, including ownership and functional activities. 

Unit 2 – coursework unit worth 25% of the total grade

In unit 2, students are provided with a business challenge. From this they will create a researched and costed business proposal. Students will need to undertake activities such as conducting market research, presenting data, using idea generation tools, seeking and acting on feedback, and costing proposals. 

Unit 3 - coursework unit worth 25% of the total grade

Students will prepare for and pitch their own business proposal that they developed in unit 2.  Alongside developing a brand identity, students will investigate how to best promote their product and then plan and prepare their pitch. After delivering their practice and professional pitch they will review their own performance and business proposal.

Students in Years 9 and 10 are working towards the revised specification. This has an exam unit worth 40% of the overall grade and then two coursework units for the remaining 60%.

We deliver the following units:

Unit R067: Enterprise and marketing concepts – exam unit worth 40% of the total grade.

Setting up and running a business enterprise is an exciting challenge which lots of people embark on every day. In this unit students will learn about the key factors to consider and activities that need to happen to operate a successful small start-up business.

Unit R068: Design a business proposal – coursework unit worth 30% of the total grade

In this unit students will learn how to develop market research tools and use these to complete market research. They will use these research findings to decide who their customers will be, creating a design mix and producing product design ideas. Students will complete financial calculations to determine whether a proposal is likely to make a profit.

Unit R069: Market and pitch a business proposal – coursework unit worth 30% of the total grade

Following on from unit R068 where students created a design proposal for your product, students will now need to understand how to create a brand identity and promotional plan for their product proposal.