Year 11 Computing

Students will explore the four pillars of computational thinking: decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms, applying them to everyday problems.

Students practice breaking down large, complex problems into smaller, more manageable sub-problems, identifying inputs, processes, and outputs.

Identifying repeating patterns in complex problems to create generalized solutions through abstraction.

Students will learn to define algorithms and represent them using flowcharts, understanding sequential, selection, and iteration constructs.

Students will implement and compare linear and binary search algorithms, analyzing their efficiency based on data structure properties.

Students will implement and trace bubble and insertion sort algorithms, understanding their step-by-step process and relative efficiency.

Students will explore more advanced sorting algorithms like Merge Sort and Quick Sort, focusing on their divide-and-conquer strategies.

Students will be introduced to Big O notation as a way to describe the efficiency of algorithms in terms of time and space complexity.

Using formal methods to verify the correctness of algorithms and understanding hardware logic through Boolean algebra.

Students will explore different programming paradigms, including imperative, object-oriented, and event-driven programming, understanding their core principles.

Students will learn about different data types, how to declare and use variables, and apply various operators in programming.

Students will implement conditional statements (if/else) and loops (for/while) to control program flow and create dynamic applications.

Students will learn to create and use subroutines and functions to promote modularity, reusability, and maintainability in their code.

Implementing input validation, sanitization, and authentication to protect programs from unexpected user behavior.

Designing comprehensive test plans using iterative, terminal, and boundary data to ensure software reliability.

Students will learn common types of errors (syntax, logic, runtime) and strategies for debugging code effectively.

Examining the differences between assembly code and high level languages, including the role of compilers and interpreters.

Students will master converting between denary (base 10) and binary (base 2) number systems.

Students will learn hexadecimal (base 16) representation and its practical applications in computing, such as memory addresses and colour codes.

Mastering binary addition, shifts, and understanding the consequences of overflow errors in calculations.

Students will explore how text characters are represented digitally using character sets like ASCII and Unicode, understanding their differences and evolution.

Exploring sampling rates, bit depth, and resolution in the conversion of analogue signals to digital formats.

Analyzing lossy and lossless compression methods and their applications in streaming and storage.

Students will be introduced to relational databases, primary/foreign keys, and basic SQL commands for data manipulation.

Students will learn about fundamental data structures like arrays (lists) and records (objects), understanding how they organize data in memory.

Students will explore the fundamental concepts of computer networks, including their purpose, types (LAN, WAN), and basic components.

Comparing Star, Mesh, and Client-Server architectures in terms of cost, performance, and reliability.

Students will compare wired (Ethernet, fibre optic) and wireless (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) network technologies, focusing on speed, security, and range.

Understanding the function of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, and the four layer TCP/IP model.

Students will learn about IP addresses (IPv4, IPv6), MAC addresses, and the Domain Name System (DNS) for locating resources on a network.

Students will be introduced to basic network security concepts, including firewalls, encryption, and user access control.

Identifying social engineering, SQL injection, and DDoS attacks, and implementing multi layered defense strategies.

Students will learn about different types of malware (viruses, worms, ransomware) and common methods for prevention and removal.

Studying the roles of the ALU, CU, and registers like the PC and MAR within the CPU.

Students will delve deeper into the Central Processing Unit (CPU), examining the roles of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit (CU), and registers.

Students will trace the steps of the fetch-execute cycle, understanding how instructions are retrieved, decoded, and executed by the CPU.

Differentiating between RAM, ROM, Virtual Memory, and secondary storage types like SSD and Optical.

Students will investigate the role of cache memory (L1, L2, L3) in improving CPU performance by reducing access times to frequently used data.

Examining the role of the OS in memory management, multitasking, and peripheral control.

Students will explore various input and output devices, understanding their functions, characteristics, and how they interact with the computer system.

Students will learn about embedded systems, their characteristics, and their widespread applications in everyday devices.

Investigating AI bias, the digital divide, and the impact of social media on privacy and mental health.

Analyzing the Data Protection Act, Computer Misuse Act, and Copyright Designs and Patents Act.

Reviewing the lifecycle of hardware, from rare earth mineral mining to e-waste management and energy consumption.

Students will explore the basics of AI and ML, understanding their applications, ethical considerations, and societal impact.

Students will investigate the concept of the IoT, its underlying technologies, and its implications for privacy, security, and daily life.

Students will learn about responsible online behavior, identifying and mitigating risks such as cyberbullying, misinformation, and online scams.