United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 10 Computing
This course explores the architecture of digital systems and the logic behind modern software. Students develop robust programming skills while investigating the ethical and security implications of a hyper-connected world.
Architecting the Machine
An investigation into the internal hardware components and the Von Neumann architecture that governs modern computing.
Examining the Fetch-Execute cycle and how registers manage data flow within the processor.
Distinguishing between volatile and non-volatile memory and the necessity of secondary storage.
Exploring the specialized computers found within larger mechanical or electrical systems.
Logic and Algorithmic Thinking
Developing the mental models required to decompose complex problems and design efficient step-by-step solutions.
Applying abstraction, decomposition, and pattern recognition to solve non-computing problems.
Comparing the efficiency of standard algorithms like Binary Search, Bubble Sort, and Merge Sort.
Using AND, OR, and NOT gates to create logical circuits and truth tables.
The Art of Programming
Mastering procedural programming constructs to create functional, readable, and maintainable code.
The fundamental building blocks of all programs and how they control the flow of execution.
Working with variables, constants, and arrays to manage and manipulate information.
Ensuring programs are robust through input validation, sanitization, and effective testing.
Data Representation
Decoding how computers use binary to represent numbers, text, images, and sound.
Converting between number systems and understanding the utility of base-16 in computing.
How continuous analog signals are sampled and digitized into discrete binary data.
Exploring character sets like ASCII and Unicode, and the algorithms used to reduce file sizes.
Connected Networks
Understanding the protocols and hardware that allow computers to communicate across the globe.
Comparing Star and Mesh topologies and the roles of routers, switches, and WAPs.
The rules governing data exchange, including TCP/IP, HTTP, and the concept of packet switching.
Identifying threats like SQL injection and social engineering, and the methods used to prevent them.
Impacts of Digital Technology
Analyzing the legal, ethical, and environmental consequences of our reliance on computing.
Reviewing the Data Protection Act and Computer Misuse Act in the context of modern surveillance.
Investigating the carbon footprint of data centers and the ethics of algorithmic bias.
Evaluating the different models of software ownership and their impact on innovation.