Computing Department

Computer Science is central to Corby Technical School's technical ethos, fostering problem-solving skills and a deep understanding of computer systems and software development. These technical skills, combined with our dedication to cultivating transferable skills through collaborative learning and emulating industry practices, prepare our students to be highly employable in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

The department offers various extracurricular activities, including clubs aiming to help students develop transferable technical skills while providing insights into various technical careers.

Our Computer Science department comprises subject specialists with diverse industry backgrounds. We prioritize excellent teaching and accessible high-quality resources. An online resource bank using Microsoft Teams enables students to continue learning beyond the classroom. Lessons are designed to cater to all ability levels, ensuring that every student can experience success and challenge.

Our curriculum is carefully structured to build core knowledge progressively, with each module building on previous learning. Our programming curriculum emphasizes practice in multiple languages, increasing in difficulty and complexity as students advance each academic year. We prepare students to use industry-standard programming languages for applications beyond the classroom, encouraging them to embrace failure as a learning opportunity.

In both our classroom and broader curriculum, we instil in students an understanding of moral and ethical considerations specific to the digital world and technical industries. This focus ensures that our students become responsible digital citizens, upholding core British values both inside and outside of school.

At KS4, students study OCR (J277) GCSE Computer Science. 

At KS5, students study OCR (H446) A Level Computer Science. 

Creative iMedia prepares students for careers in the digital industries. Students are given the opportunity to design and develop games, utilise graphic design applications and design and build websites.

We teach Creative iMedia to ensure that students are prepared for careers which require a working knowledge of digital applications. In a world dominated by social media It is becoming ever more vital for employees to be able to create and edit web content to maintain a strong customer base.

In Creative iMedia students are given the opportunity to explore their creativity through regular chances to design digital products. Bringing their designs to fruition will build confidence and provide a high sense of achievement.

At KS4, students study OCR Cambridge Technical Award Level 2 (J834) in Creative iMedia.

At KS5, students study BTEC Extended Certificate (Level 3) in Creative Digital Media Production. 

This course is ideal for learners who want a career in information technology and want to get a broad taste of digital skills. The BTEC tech award in digital information technology is a stepping stone to careers like IT project management, technical support and cyber security. This qualification will provide you with the opportunity to apply academic knowledge to everyday, and work, contexts and gain a qualification equivalent to one GCSE

The course is made up of three components:

During Component 1

Students will explore user interface design and development principles. Investigate how to use project planning techniques to manage a digital project, and discover how to develop and review a digital user interface.

During Component 2

Students will explore how data impacts on individuals and organisations, draw conclusions and make recommendations on data intelligence. And use these skills to develop a dashboard using data manipulation tools.

During Component 3

Students will explore how modern information technology is evolving, consider legal and ethical issues in data and information sharing. Understand what cyber security is, and how to safeguard against it.

The three components that make up the course : two that are internally assessed, worth 60% of the course. The third component is externally assessed (online exam); worth 40% of the total course. This award consists of the following components:

Component 1

This is an internal assessment that contains 3 learning aims and is worth 30% of the final marks. For each learning aim pupils will need to complete an assignment.

• Learning Aim A- Investigate user interface design for individuals and organisations
• Learning Aim B – Use project planning techniques to plan and design a user interface
• Learning Aim C – Develop and review a user interface

Component 2 

This is an internal assessment that contains 3 learning aims and is worth 30% of the final marks. For each learning aim pupils will need to complete an assignment.

• Learning Aim A – Investigate the role and impact of using data on individuals and organisations
• Learning Aim B – Create a dashboard using data manipulation tools
• Learning Aim C – Draw conclusions and review data presentation methods

Component 3 

This is an external examination that is worth 40% of pupil’s final marks. There are four learning aims that pupils will cover, they are:

• Learning Aim A – Modern Technologies
• Learning Aim B – Cyber Security
• Learning Aim C – Implications of the digital system
• Learning Aim D – Planning and communication

Qualifications in Computer Science and Creative iMedia can lead to a wide variety of careers, including:

• Application analyst
• Applications developer
• Cyber security analyst
• Data analyst
• Forensic computer analyst
• Game designer
• Games developer
• Information systems manager
• IT consultant
• Machine learning engineer
• Multimedia programmer
• Penetration tester
• Software engineer
• UX designer
• Web designer
• Web developer