Departments

ICT

ICT – COMPUTING

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers"
Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943

Teaching Staff

Mrs ML McCauley (HoD)
Mr C Kinsella

ICT Technical support

Mr J Marks

Aims

To provide pupils with the opportunities to acquire and develop the ICT skills necessary to become confident users of ICT in today's wired world.

Key Stage 3

All pupils in Years 8 to 10 have a timetabled ICT class (two periods per week for Years 8 and 10 with one period per week for Year 9) in which they gain grounding in each of the main packages, i.e. word processing, spreadsheet, DTP, database, web browser, graphic and presentation software. They also have opportunities to use a range of digital hardware including scanners, printers, digital still and video cameras. Skills acquired in the ICT classes are reinforced and further developed across all learning areas.

The four dedicated ICT rooms, which are available for use by all departments, are supplemented by several smaller clusters of computers throughout the school. Pupils also have access to ICT resources after school when they can carry out research for homework and coursework or complete ICT related tasks.

Key Stage 4

Pupils choosing ICT as one of their GCSE options follow the CCEA Full Course GCSE in ICT. This comprises a major practical element with coursework accounting for 60% of the final grade, the remainder being assessed through two written examinations.

AS/A2

Pupils can opt to choose either Computing or ICT as one of their A/S and A2 options.

Computing pupils follow the AQA specification through which they are introduced to the Theory of Computability, gain grounding in the fundamental concepts of computer science and learn the basics of computer programming. This course is particularly suited to those pupils who wish to pursue third level study or a career in a computer science related discipline.

Pupils opting for ICT follow CCEA’s ICT specification through which they gain an insight into the development and use of ICT systems in society and the workplace. This provides pupils with knowledge of the ICT systems which they are likely to use in their everyday lives and careers.

Axios Awards

These Awards, in which Down High School has been a winner at GCSE level, are a major initiative to encourage more girls to study and take up careers in IT and tackle a huge gender imbalance in the industry. Less than one quarter of UK computing professionals are women. Girls sitting the single GCSE in ICT and those taking ICT and Computing 'A' Levels are automatically entered in the competition.