Junior House (Key Stage 2)

Throughout their time in Junior House, pupils are given dedicated ICT lessons located in one of the computer suite, where they are taught the basic concepts of ICT. The main objectives of the lessons are:

To introduce all pupils to The London Oratory School networked computer facilities, so all of the boys feel confident using ICT as a tool to support their learning across subject areas.

To provide an entitlement for all pupils to gain the practical experience necessary to follow simple instructions in order to produce ICT outcomes of high quality for their year group.

To encourage pupils to evaluate their own and other people’s work so they are able to become critical users of IT.

To extend the skills and knowledge which enable pupils to begin to understand the advantages and limitations of ICT.

During the course of the four years pupils are introduced to a number of applications including Junior Video Tool Kit in J1 and J2 and Modelling, Handling, Control and Presentations software in J3 and J4.

First, Second and Third-Forms (Key Stage 3)

First Form

In the first-form pupils will be given an introduction to ICT, where they will have the opportunity to build a solid ICT foundation.  The course sits alongside the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) scheme. Topics covered are:   

Basics of ICT, such as file management, printing, using a school IT network and accessing school files from home.

Building a Kiosk Application; Pupils will use presentation software to build an interactive presentation

Using the Internet to search the World Wide Web effectively

Building marketing collateral using a desktop publishing package

Managing data using Spreadsheets and Databases

Advanced functions of using a Word Processors, such as mail merge

Building a small program using a control system

Second Form

During this year, the pupils will extend their ICT knowledge within the English curriculum. A dedicated ICT teacher will work with the class to produce a marketing leaflet, using a desktop publishing package. The leaflet will be based upon the book they are currently studying within the class. The pupils will build a four page booklet to promote the book as if it was a production being held at the school. It will incorporate a short synopsis, character profiles and production details.

During the year the pupils will take a theme and cover many ICT services that surround the topic. This year the pupils had to take their Band or Choir on a global tour. This involves:   

Building a presentation to recruit a tour manager

Building spreadsheets to review expenditure and profit

Producing a poster to promote their tour Producing a mail-shot using mail merge

Building a database to register new fans and ticket sales

Producing a fan website

Fourth and Fifth-Forms (Key Stage 4)

GCSE ICT

The ICT GCSE course follows the Edexcel specification 1185. During the two year course the pupils will produce four pieces of coursework, which contribute to 60% of their final mark. The coursework will cover four scenarios, where each piece of coursework will require the pupils to:   

Identify a problem

Analyse how they are going to resolve the problem by building an ICT solution

Producing a design on paper

Building and implementing an ICT solution

Evaluating and reviewing the solution

In addition, the pupils will cover the theoretical aspects of ICT, such as PC Components, Data Validation, Security, networking, ICT in Society. To assess the pupils knowledge there is a two hour examination, which incorporates a general multiple choice paper, database case study and detailed theoretical questions. The exam paper contributes to 40% of the final mark.

Complementary Studies
As part of the Complementary Studies carousel pupils have a 5 week (fourth-form) and 3 week (fifth-form) programme and follow self-study through ECDL courseware.

Sixth Form

GCE ‘A’ Level ICT

Pupils have the opportunity to either opt for ‘A’ level ICT as part of their chosen options or as part of the Advanced Business course as it is incorporated within the syllabus.

The course extends over a two year period in a Modular form.  There are four Units in total; two written exams of two hours each worth 60% and two pieces of coursework (worth 40%). 

The GCE ‘A’ level course follows the OCR H117 specification.

AS Level

AS G061: Information, Systems and Applications (2 Hr Exam – 30% final ‘A’ level)

AS G062: Structured ICT Tasks (Coursework – 20% final ‘A’ level)

A2 Level

A2 G063: ICT Systems, Applications and Implications(2 Hr Exam – 30% final ‘A’ level)

A2 G064: ICT Project (Coursework – 20% final ‘A’ level)  

G061	data, information, knowledge and processing; software and hardware components of an information system; applications software; spreadsheet, relational database concepts; applications software used for presentation and communication of data; the role and impact of ICT in society; legal aspect moral and social issues.
G062	the tasks are based around a business scenario and cover topics such as: building a website; manipulating graphics; creating spreadsheets to solve business problems; building a database system to cater for orders; producing technical documentation; undertaking mass mailings
G063	systems development life cycle, designing computer-based information systems, networks and telecommunication, real applications of ICT, implementing computer-based systems information systems, impact and implications of ICT
G064	Candidates embark on an independent client-driven ICT project, where they build an ICT solution system. This is based upon a real life organisation which involves following the stages of the “water fall” model life cycle as a framework.  Students have to produce a large report and a well documented advanced piece of software. Concepts covered: problem definition, investigation and analysis of an ICT solution; design and software development; testing and implementation; producing documentation and evaluation

In November 2008, the Programming Club was launched, with the intention of learning and exploring new and different programming languages. We meet every Thursday, after school, in Room 45. It is run by Mrs Alderton .

This year, we have started to learn how to program in Java. We are doing it through a project set up by Kent University and Sun Microsystems, called Greenfoot www.greenfoot.org. Greenfoot is an interactive object world that aims to teach the abstract concepts of object orientated programming through a very visual environment

December 2008:  Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

The theme this year was computing. The lecture we saw was about how software operates within a computer. The lecturer was Microsoft's most senior research scientist in the UK, Professor Chris Bishop. During the lecture, there was also a live video link with Bill Gates.

Contact: prog-club@los.ac

This club will start after Easter. Using Microsoft’s Photo Story for Windows, the pupils will digitally manipulate photographs, apply special effects, bringing photographs to life by adding music and narration and finally sharing their stories by emailing to friends and family, so that they can be viewed on a computer, TV, or portable device

Teaching Staff

Mrs K Alderton (Director of ICT & Learning Technologies) kalderton@los.ac