Mrs Davina Byrne - Head of ICT
email: Davina.byrne@stcatherines.info
Has taught at St Catherine’s since 2009 but was a pupil at the school from 1988 to 1993. She studied Media Production and Technology for her degree at Farnborough, but then re-trained in ICT a few years later, before progressing into teaching. Prior to teaching at St Catherine’s, she worked as a Deputy Manager of a local community Outreach centre focusing on encouraging adults back into learning how to use computers. Her extra-curricular enthusiasms include: cycling, singing and glass painting.

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Miss Sandra Morris - Head of Computing
email: sandra.morris@stcatherines.info
Joined St Catherine's in 2017, where her main focus is the introduction of GCSE Computer Science. Miss Morris previously worked as Head of Computing in other schools and has taught both GCSE and A-Level Computer Science. Before this she worked in industry, at IBM’s headquarters where her role was within the Network Outsourcing Services team and she developed systems using Lotus Notes. Her extra-curricular enthusiasms include: DIY, cinema and London.

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Mr Will Sage - Computing & ICT
email: will.sage@stcatherines.info
Joined St Catherine's in 2024 as a Computing and ICT teacher, along with supporting the Design Technology department as a technician. He studied Product Design Technology at the University of the West of England, followed by a graduate position at Bradfield College in Design. In his free time he enjoys cycling, card games and 3D printing.

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Mrs Tara Keeble - Computing & ICT
email: tara.keeble@stcatherines.info
Joined St Catherine’s in 2015, where main focus is Management Information Systems manager, responsible for school databases and data analysis.  Studied with the Open University gaining 1^st Class BSc Open Degree, concentrating on aspects of Childhood Psychology and Development.  Previous roles include house tutor as part of pastoral team at St Catherine’s.  In current role has extensive use of Microsoft packages, Power Bi and Management information system.  Prior to joining St Catherine’s coached both gymnastics and trampolining to age groups 5 – 14, taking girls to regional level competitions.  Her extra-curricular enthusiasms include long distance walking, theatre and family time.

Examination Board: OCR 
Course Code: H446

Specification

Why study Computer Science?

Computer Science is all about helping to solve real-world problems through technology. If you're the kind of person who can spot an opportunity and respond to a need, you can help to make the world a better place. In the course, you will learn how to build your skills in logic and problem-solving so that you're able to develop applications that have a really positive impact on people's daily lives.

In the Programming Project, you are encouraged to work on projects that solve problems that are relevant to your local area, home, or classroom. This is a completely independent project, as you get to choose which application you want to build and then decide how you will build it. Students love the opportunity to hone their project management skills and put to good use the techniques they've studied in the classroom.

Computer Science is a widely respected A Level and gives you a great stepping stone on your path. It blends really well with a wide variety of subjects, e.g. Maths, Economics, Psychology, Politics, Physics, and the Sciences. 

Course Content

• Component 01 Computer Systems:
  You will study processors, software, exchanging data, data structures, and the issues surrounding the use of computer systems.
• Component 02 Algorithms & Programming:
  Here you pick apart how to use computational thinking, e.g. abstraction and decomposition, to solve problems and develop algorithms.
• Component 03 Programming Project (Non-Exam Assessment):
  You choose and build a solution to a problem of your choice, written in a language of your choice, and using efficient techniques such as OOP (Object-Oriented Programming).

Assessment

• Component 01 Computer Systems: written exam 2 hours 30 mins, 40% of A level
• Component 02 Algorithms & Programming: written exam 2 hours 30 mins, 40% of A level
• Component 03 Programming Project: non exam assessment, 20% of A Level

Examination Board: OCR
Course Code: J277

Specification

GCSE 

In Lower 5 (Year 10), students can opt for GCSE Computer Science, following the OCR J277 specification.
The aim of the course is for students to:

• understand and apply the fundamental principles, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms and data representation
• analyse problems through practical programming and projects
• think creatively, logically and critically
• understand the components of digital systems and how they communicate
• understand the impacts of digital technology

During the GCSE course students study practical programming tasks, as well as how to design and interpret algorithms.

Assessment:

• Component 01 Computer Systems: written exam, 1hr 30 mins , 50% of GCSE.
• Component 02 Algorithms & Programming: written exam, 1hr 30 mins, 50% of GCSE.

Background of MOS

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification is the world's most recognised ICT qualification for proving a person’s skills and abilities in Microsoft’s Office applications.  After each module is completed, students will be given a digital badge that can be added to their online profile on websites such as Linked In at a later stage.

Qualification Details:

• Qualification Level 2 (GCSE grade 9-4 equivalent) 
• Word exam taken in the summer term of Upper 4
• Excel exam taken in the spring term of Lower 5

Universities & Organisations Offering MOS

The following universities and organisations offer the MOS qualification to their students / employees due to its prestigious nature:

• University of Cambridge
• Durham University
• University of St Andrews
• Lancaster University
• Deloitte
• NHS
• Linklaters

Examples of Skills Covered in the MOS course

Microsoft Word

• Inserting hyperlinks & bookmarks
• Using section breaks
• Inserting bibliography citation sources, footnotes & endnotes
• Inserting a table of contents

Microsoft Excel

• Conditional formatting
• IF formulas and using ranges within formulas
• Dealing with large groups of data - using tables and count formulas
• Filtering data

Key Stage 3 (KS3) Curriculum

The KS3 curriculum studied in Upper 3 (Year 7) and Lower 4 (Year 8) covers the development of skills in both ICT and Computer Science, as well as encouraging students to become competent touch typists by doing regular practise on typing.com.  Students also participate in the Hour of Code.

Extra-Curricular: Coding Club

Coding Club runs weekly during a lunchtime session and is open to students of all years, including Sixth Form.  Coding mainly focuses on Python and there are a range of projects on Code Club that students can choose from.  Also students can follow the course on Codecademy.  Sixth Form mentors supervise the club and are able to help students with their code.  All are welcome!

Trip: SATRO Fest

Every year 12 year 8 students get the opportunity to attend the SATRO Fest event where they can take part in a variety of hands-on activities to introduce them to the extensive  STEM career world.

Competition: MOS UK & Ireland Championships

Every student who completes a MOS qualification is automatically entered in to a competition. Out of approximately 15,000 entries the top 10 students for Word and Excel are invited to take part in the MOS UK & Ireland Championship Final which takes place in June.  Anyone who wins their section then represents UK & Ireland at the MOS World Championships in August in America.  Each year we are very lucky to have students chosen out of the 15,000 to take part.