Information and Communication Technology (ICT) prepares pupils to participate in a rapidly changing world in which work and other activities are increasingly transformed by access to varied and developing technologies. (ICT) is taught throughout Key stages 3, 4 and 5 at Sedgehill.  The department aims to offer students a wide experience of ICT covering all aspects of the National Curriculum.  It is intended that all students will become independent users of ICT and will be able to make informed judgements about when and where to use ICT to best effect, and to consider its implications for home and work both now and in the future.

Key Stage 3

Year 7

In Year 7 ICT will be taught as a cross curricular subject within the school’s Baccalaureate system. Students will be using ICT to enhance the learning of other subjects, whilst developing their ICT skills.

Years 8 & 9

Every student has a one hour lesson of discreet ICT in Years 8 and 9.  Year 8 lessons are designed to give the students a sound skills base, knowledge of ICT applications namely word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, desktop publishing, graphic and web authoring software. Students also gain an understanding of moral and ethical implications of ICT use within society. Year 8 lessons prepare the students’ basic coverage before they move on to higher levels of learning.

By the time students have reached Year 9 the focus is on more advanced skills leading to major projects.  Students cover the skills and knowledge of ICT, and are then given open-ended tasks to solve using the skills acquired.   Within the major projects students are expected to make independent decisions regarding how to solve the problems set, and apply all the skills and knowledge they have at their disposal. It is expected that by the time students graduate from Key Stage 3 they are able to use the skills and knowledge learned to support ICT independently at examination level, and also many of the other examination courses they follow at Key Stage 4.

Key Stage 4

Key Stage 4 students are able to select ICT as one of their examination choices.  The course offered is the Certificate in Digital Applications (CiDA).  This course is part of the Diploma in Digital Applications (DiDA) range of qualifications.  The course will cover 2 options and is worth 2 GCSEs. However some students will be given the opportunity to complete extra units to gain additional qualifications. Students can gain grades from A*-G, depending on the level of entry.
The course provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to design and produce effective publications for print and screen, which are fit for audience and purpose.  The students also have to create graphic and multimedia products.

The course is very practical, covering main areas of ICT, giving students experiences that will be valuable in the world of work and in further/higher education and training.

There are no examinations to sit at the end of Year 11 as assessment is based purely the completion of coursework units.  The course is demanding but students appreciate the useful skills they are acquiring whilst following the course, as well as, of course, the final qualification they achieve.

KS5

Sedgehill belongs to Hillsyde Federation where we alongside 2 other lewsham schools have an impressive 6th form.  A range of ICT courses are taught across all schools in the federation.

The ICT Department at Sedgehill

Ms S Folkes – Subject Leader for ICT
Mr J Armstrong – Teacher of ICT (NQT)
Ms J Bygrave - Teacher of ICT (NQT)
Ms A Croce - Teacher of ICT (NQT)