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Computing Curriculum Resources

Computing Curriculum Resources

Our Further Learning Recommendations

We have shared additional curriculum resources to help your child excel in their learning.

Year 7 Learning Resources

Doing

Python Develop your Python programming skills by challenging yourself to complete as many tasks on Snakify as you can.

“Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Programming” by Jason R. Briggs 

Why it’s good: This book introduces Python, a popular and versatile programming language, through fun examples and a clear, accessible style. It eases learners into coding concepts, helping them build genuine programming skills beyond simple drag-and-drop environments. 

Cool Scratch Projects in Easy Steps by Sean McManus (Author) 

Millions of children and young people worldwide are using Scratch to make their own games and animations. 

Following on from the success of Scratch Programming in easy steps, 2nd edition, Cool Scratch Projects in easy steps gives you great ideas to create computer games and other projects that’ll impress your friends and family – and you’ll have endless fun creating and playing them! The book provides step-by-step instructions for building projects that show off some of the cool things you can do with Scratch. 

 “Computer Coding Python Games for Kids” by Carol Vorderman 

Why it’s good: Building on their existing knowledge of Python, this book asks them to create more complex and interesting games. It encourages them to refine their code, apply computational thinking, and explore more advanced features of the language. 

https://brilliant.org/s/sem/algorithms/algorithms-basics/ 

Learn how to build algorithms in an interactive way. 

The questions computers have never answered

There are still some problems which computers and their designers are yet to solve.

But what are they? Click here to find out more

Watching and Listening

BBC Click: Watch this weekly BBC television programme covering news and recent developments in the world of consumer technology and innovations.

A comprehensive guide to all the latest gadgets, websites, games and computer industry news.

Reading

Code magazine (subscription needed) 

https://www.magazine.co.uk/computers-and-technology-magazines 

 

Year 8 Learning Resources

Doing

The Internet of Things

Probably the most pervasive trend is the Web of Things, where just about everything we interact with becomes a computable entity. Research how future developments in this area may change or revolutionise our lives even further.

Watching and Listening

Making all Knowledge Computational. Watch the TedTalk on Computing a theory of everything | Stephen Wolfram

BBC Click: Watch this weekly BBC television programme covering news and recent developments in the world of consumer technology and innovations.

A comprehensive guide to all the latest gadgets, websites, games and computer industry news.

Reading 

Code magazine (subscription needed) 

https://www.magazine.co.uk/computers-and-technology-magazines 

HTML, CSS, & JavaScript All-in-One For Dummies by Paul McFedries  

Looking to start an exciting new career in front-end web building and design? Or maybe you just want to develop a new skill and create websites for fun. Whatever your reasons, it’s never been easier to start learning how to build websites from scratch than with help from HTML, CSS, & JavaScript All-in-One For Dummies. This book has the essentials you need to wrap your head around the key ingredients of website design and creation. 

 “Computer Coding Python Games for Kids” by Carol Vorderman 

Why it’s good: Building on their existing knowledge of Python, this book asks them to create more complex and interesting games. It encourages them to refine their code, apply computational thinking, and explore more advanced features of the language. 

 

 

KS4 Learning Resources

Doing

Artificial Intelligence Write a short essay debating the following question: Will artificial intelligence replace mankind?

The Internet of Things

Probably the most pervasive trend is the Web of Things, where just about everything we interact with becomes a computable entity.Research how future developments in this area may change or revolutionise our lives even further.

Bletchley Park Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes. Plan a visit to the home of codebreaking at Bletchley Park

CyberFirst Get hands on with Cyber Security course run by GCHQ. They offer a variety of residential and non-residential courses.

Build your own

Looking to purchase a new computer or laptop?

Well, instead your challenge is to build your own!

Purchase components separately to piece together in creating your own system.

SQL Use these Khan Academy tutorials to learn how to use SQL to store, query, and manipulate data.

Watching and Listening

Making all Knowledge Computational Watch the TedTalk on Computing a theory of everything | Stephen Wolfram

BBC Click: Watch this weekly BBC television programme covering news and recent developments in the world of consumer technology and innovations.

A comprehensive guide to all the latest gadgets, websites, games and computer industry news.

The story of computing – This Guardian blog talks about the Computing universe and the evolution of computers.

Reading

The Pattern on the Stone: The Simple Ideas That Make Computers Work by Daniel Hillis

A short but interesting read explaining the basic concepts of the computer.

Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions by Brian Christian and Thomas L. Griffiths

A fascinating exploration of how computer algorithms can be applied to our everyday lives.

The GCHQ Puzzle Book by GCHQ

Why not pit your wits against the people who cracked the Enigma?

This book will have you scratching your head for hours trying to solve some challenging problems.

The Register: The Register (nicknamed El Reg) is a British technology news and opinion website.

Keep up to date by subscribing and reading news articles regularly.

The questions computers have never answered

There are still some problems which computers and their designers are yet to solve.

But what are they? Click here to find out more