Key Stage 4

All pupils must have the opportunity to study aspects of information technology and computer science at sufficient depth to allow them to progress to higher levels of study or to a professional career. 

All pupils should be taught to: 

• • develop their capability, creativity and knowledge in computer science, digital media and information technology 

  • develop and apply their analytic, problem-solving, design, and computational thinking skills 

  • understand how changes in technology affect safety, including new ways to protect their online privacy and identity, and how to report a range of concerns

Naace and CAS Joint Guidance

Naace and CAS issued joint guidance on the new Programme of Study for Computing in September 2013. Readers may find this guidance helpful when considering an approach to key stage 4.

Specifically, with regard to key stage 4, the guidance states:

There are particular challenges in drafting a programme of study for Key Stage 4.

• By the time they reach KS4 pupils should have the opportunity to specialise somewhat, as they do in Science. By the end of KS3 students should be in a position to make an informed choice about whether and how they want to specialise.

• A range of qualifications may be made available at KS4, ranging from academic computer science, to applied ICT, and combinations of the two, such as Information Systems and Design, which includes a combination of Computer Science and applied ICT; qualifications may include more vocationally-oriented qualifications such as network management or systems/database administration; real project contexts and business/employer requirements will inform the real project contexts within learning takes place.

• It is important that pupils taking such KS4 qualifications (e.g. in Computer Science, or in Digital Media) be considered to be fulfilling the statutory KS4 Computing programme of study, even though it may not cover the whole range of Computing.

• Other pupils will choose to focus their attention elsewhere, and will choose to take no KS4 qualifications in Computing. These pupils should nevertheless develop the creativity, capability and knowledge they acquired in KS1-3. This requirement is stated briefly, and schools are free to deliver is in a variety of ways.

However, there is a real risk that the limited number of points within the KS4 programme of study might convey a message that KS4 is not seen as very important to Computing, so that it can be downgraded or ignored. That is the very opposite of the desired outcome and the programme of study includes a necessity for all pupils at KS4 to access rigorous teaching and learning in computing, whichever route is chosen for specialisation and whether or not it leads to a formal qualification: “All pupils must have the them to progress to higher levels of study or to a professional career.”

Please see the original text for the full guidance.