stage 3
Go Behind the Screen
Year 7
3.1 The Art of Textual Programming
Ready to leap from blocks to text-based Python? You will translate known logic into real scripts, mastering variables, loops, and decisions. Expect to build confidence and precision through good coding habits!
Ready to leap from blocks to text-based Python? You will translate known logic into real scripts, mastering variables, loops, and decisions. Expect to build confidence and precision through good coding habits!
3.2 Inside the Machine
Get ready to look inside the machine! You'll move from just using a computer to understanding its fundamental hardware components. We'll explore the CPU, RAM, ROM, and the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle.
Get ready to look inside the machine! You'll move from just using a computer to understanding its fundamental hardware components. We'll explore the CPU, RAM, ROM, and the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle.
3.3 Creating for an Audience
You will combine your multimedia and project management skills to build purposeful digital artefacts. By mastering planning and design, you will complete a creative project tailored for a specific audience.
You will combine your multimedia and project management skills to build purposeful digital artefacts. By mastering planning and design, you will complete a creative project tailored for a specific audience.
3.4 Data Representation and Binary
Explore how computers use binary digits to digitally represent text, sounds, and pictures. You will convert between denary and binary, and learn how character sets like ASCII work.
Explore how computers use binary digits to digitally represent text, sounds, and pictures. You will convert between denary and binary, and learn how character sets like ASCII work.
3.5 Building for the Web
Dive into hands-on web development! You will use a text editor to build a multi-page website from scratch, mastering HTML to structure your content and CSS to control its styling, all with a focus on usability.
Dive into hands-on web development! You will use a text editor to build a multi-page website from scratch, mastering HTML to structure your content and CSS to control its styling, all with a focus on usability.
3.6 Cybersecurity Threats and Defences
Ready to level up? We're exploring cybersecurity - from spotting malware and social engineering to building digital fortresses with firewalls and encryption. Let's learn how to keep your identity and data locked down tight.
Ready to level up? We're exploring cybersecurity - from spotting malware and social engineering to building digital fortresses with firewalls and encryption. Let's learn how to keep your identity and data locked down tight.
End of Year Knowledge Check
Year 8
3.7 Modelling with Spreadsheets
Level up your data game! We're using spreadsheets for advanced modelling and 'what-if' simulations. You'll master absolute cell referencing and conditional formatting to turn raw numbers into powerful insights. Let's see what your data can really do!
Level up your data game! We're using spreadsheets for advanced modelling and 'what-if' simulations. You'll master absolute cell referencing and conditional formatting to turn raw numbers into powerful insights. Let's see what your data can really do!
3.8 Modular Programming with Procedures
Ready to stop writing messy, repetitive code? This module explores decomposing big problems into tidy, reusable subroutines using Python procedures and functions. It’s about building a toolkit to make programs more organised and easier to maintain.
Ready to stop writing messy, repetitive code? This module explores decomposing big problems into tidy, reusable subroutines using Python procedures and functions. It’s about building a toolkit to make programs more organised and easier to maintain.
3.9 Understanding Computer Networks
Ready to connect? Explore network hardware, map topologies, and decode internet protocols - the "rules" of communication. Master how data travels global networks using switches and routers!
Ready to connect? Explore network hardware, map topologies, and decode internet protocols - the "rules" of communication. Master how data travels global networks using switches and routers!
3.10 Vector Graphics and Animation
Ready to make things move? You'll ditch blurry pixels for sleek, scalable vector graphics. You'll then master the magic of keyframes and tweening to bring characters to life with smooth animation. Let's get those designs in motion - it's time to animate!
Ready to make things move? You'll ditch blurry pixels for sleek, scalable vector graphics. You'll then master the magic of keyframes and tweening to bring characters to life with smooth animation. Let's get those designs in motion - it's time to animate!
3.11 Organising the World's Information
Discover how massive systems manage information! We are swapping flat spreadsheets for relational databases. You will learn to link tables, squash data redundancy, and run queries to find exactly what you need. It is time to organise data like a pro!
Discover how massive systems manage information! We are swapping flat spreadsheets for relational databases. You will learn to link tables, squash data redundancy, and run queries to find exactly what you need. It is time to organise data like a pro!
3.12 Thinking with Logic
Ever wondered how computers "think" without a brain? Dive into the formal logic powering every digital decision - from Python code to hardware circuits. Master Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT, build truth tables, and even design your own logic gates!
Ever wondered how computers "think" without a brain? Dive into the formal logic powering every digital decision - from Python code to hardware circuits. Master Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT, build truth tables, and even design your own logic gates!
End of Year Knowledge Check
Year 9
3.13 Data Science Foundations
Ready to dive into data science? Use real-world datasets - like weather or movies - to ask smart questions and scrub "messy" data clean. Uncover hidden patterns and create visualisations that turn raw facts into powerful, storytelling insights.
Ready to dive into data science? Use real-world datasets - like weather or movies - to ask smart questions and scrub "messy" data clean. Uncover hidden patterns and create visualisations that turn raw facts into powerful, storytelling insights.
3.14 Algorithms in Action
Explore the logic behind how computers solve problems! You will implement and compare search and sort algorithms - like Binary Search and Bubble Sort - to find the most efficient solutions. You will even tackle mazes using pathfinding logic.
Explore the logic behind how computers solve problems! You will implement and compare search and sort algorithms - like Binary Search and Bubble Sort - to find the most efficient solutions. You will even tackle mazes using pathfinding logic.
3.15 The Operating System
Meet the manager of your computer: the Operating System (OS). You will explore how it handles memory, processes, and files. Compare the GUI with the command-line (CLI) and use utility tools to monitor and optimise your system's performance.
Meet the manager of your computer: the Operating System (OS). You will explore how it handles memory, processes, and files. Compare the GUI with the command-line (CLI) and use utility tools to monitor and optimise your system's performance.
3.16 Ethical and Societal Impacts
Ready for the big picture? We're moving beyond code to see how tech impacts our planet and society. From hacking laws and e-waste to digital wellbeing, you'll discover what it truly means to be a responsible, informed digital citizen in 2026.
Ready for the big picture? We're moving beyond code to see how tech impacts our planet and society. From hacking laws and e-waste to digital wellbeing, you'll discover what it truly means to be a responsible, informed digital citizen in 2026.
3.17 Introduction to 3D Modelling
Ready to add depth to your designs? Master 3D modelling by combining simple shapes - like cubes and cones - into complex virtual objects. Discover how tools like Tinkercad turn digital ideas into physical reality through 3D printing.
Ready to add depth to your designs? Master 3D modelling by combining simple shapes - like cubes and cones - into complex virtual objects. Discover how tools like Tinkercad turn digital ideas into physical reality through 3D printing.
3.18 Concurrent and Parallel Thinking
Ever wish you could do everything at once? We'll teach your code to multitask! You'll move beyond doing one thing at a time to running processes simultaneously. From busy city animations to dodging "race conditions", you'll make your programs faster.
Ever wish you could do everything at once? We'll teach your code to multitask! You'll move beyond doing one thing at a time to running processes simultaneously. From busy city animations to dodging "race conditions", you'll make your programs faster.
End of Key Stage Knowledge Check
Last modified: May 6th, 2026
