ICT and Computing

Plymouth College makes extensive use of ICT in its activities. The present modern network provides connectivity and broadband internet access for over 300 PCs. Some pupils make use of the College's wireless network to connect their own laptops and PDAs to the Internet.

In additional to four well-equipped rooms for dedicated ICT teaching, there are clusters of PCs in the Sixth Form Centre and in the Learning Resources, Design Technology and Music areas. Some other departments also possess their own ICT resources. Since it is easy for teachers to access these facilities, ICT is used extensively in subject teaching. Additionally a large number of classrooms possess multimedia projectors and many are equipped with interactive whiteboards.

The College Intranet
A growing proportion of the College's communication needs are facilitated by the College Intranet (www.plymouthcollege.net). Pupils are able to make extensive use of the Intranet to find out what's on, receive news and messages, access subject resources, find links to useful externally-hosted material and gain rapid online access to their reports. All pupils have web-based College email accounts. Outside College, pupils and parents have password-protected access to the College Intranet at all times. Parents have their own Intranet area which gathers together relevant information.

Courses
The ICT Department provides many opportunities for the development of ICT and Computing skills throughout Years 7 to Upper Sixth. Years 7 - 9 engage in taught skills courses to prepare them for GCSE ICT and to enable them to use ICT successfully in other subjects. Two GCSE courses are currently available, in ICT and Computing. Similarly, in the Sixth Form there are AS and A level options in ICT and Computing. Pupils in every year group are able to study for the well-known European Computer Driving Licence.

Years 7 - 9:

ICT Skills Course
In Years 7 and 8 pupils engage with ICT for two periods per week, with 1 period per week in Year 9. The teaching is designed to enable all pupils to become competent users of ICT, so that their acquired skills can be applied in subject lessons and elsewhere.

Cross-Curricular ICT
In addition to the specialist ICT courses offered in Years 7 - 9, pupils make considerable use of the ICT facilities in the context of each academic subject.

  Years 10 & 11:

IGCSE Information and Communication Technology
In Year 10 pupils may opt for the two year ICT IGCSE (Cambridge International Examinations). The course follows on naturally from the ICT expertise gained during Years 7 - 9. Pupils study the technology used in the management of information and make extensive use of a range of software in a variety of interesting practical tasks. The course concludes with two practical tests (each comprising 30% of the available marks), the one written theory examination accounting for the remaining 40%.

Computing
This two year OCR course can be studied with no previous computing experience. The course will give learners a real, in-depth understanding of how computer technology works and an insight into what goes on 'behind the scenes', including computer programming. The course provides excellent preparation for higher study and employment in the field of Computer Science.

The Sixth Form:

AS and A level Information and Communication Technology
The AQA AS course consists of modules entitled "Practical Problem Solving in the Digital World" and "Living in the Digital World". The A level course modules are "The Use of ICT in the Digital World" and "Practical Issues Involved in the Use of ICT in the Digital World". This final module is a major coursework project involving the production of an ICT-related system over an extended period of time.

AS and A level Computing
This AQA course is designed to allow students to demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental principles of the subject, develop problem-solving abilities in a computing context using an algorithmic approach, demonstrate knowledge of programming through a problem solving scenario and develop an understanding of the hardware and software aspects of Computing. It requires no prior knowledge of Computing or ICT although that would certainly be helpful. At AS, there are two units which allow candidates to demonstrate their knowledge of the fundamental principles of Computing: Unit 1: Problem Solving, Programming, Data Representation and Practical Exercise; and Unit 2: The Computer Components, The Stored Program Concept and The Internet.

All Year Groups:

European Computer Driving Licence
Any pupil can choose to receive training and testing to gain the ECDL - a basic skills qualification which is recognised in more than one hundred and twenty five countries. Pupils can start working for this at any time in the Senior School.