KS3 Computer Science Topics

Abstraction — keeping the important detail and removing the rest

• Abstraction in computational thinking

Algorithms as a step-by-step set of instructions

• What is an algorithm?

Comparing sorting algorithms — bubble vs insertion sort

• Comparing sorting algorithms

Comparing the efficiency of linear vs binary search

• Linear vs binary search

Decomposition — breaking a problem into smaller parts

• Decomposition: splitting problems up

Drawing algorithms as flowcharts

• Flowcharts for algorithms

Searching: linear search

• Linear search

Sorting: bubble sort at a Y8 level

• Bubble sort

Binary addition

• Adding binary numbers

Boolean logic: AND, OR, NOT

• Boolean logic: AND, OR, NOT

Charts, summaries and answering questions from data

• Visualising and interpreting data

Collecting and recording data accurately

• Collecting and recording data

Compressing data — why and how (lossy vs lossless overview)

• Compressing data

Converting between binary and denary (decimal)

• Binary to denary conversion

Hexadecimal — what it is and why we use it

• Hexadecimal numbers

Modelling data with spreadsheets — cells, formulas, basic functions

• Modelling data in a spreadsheet

Representing images in binary — pixels and colour depth

• Representing images in binary

Representing sound in binary — sampling and frequency

• Representing sound in binary

Representing text in binary using ASCII

• Representing text with ASCII

Representing whole numbers in binary

• Representing numbers in binary

Training a simple machine-learning model on the micro:bit

• Training a micro:bit ML model

Truth tables for simple Boolean expressions

• Building truth tables

Using data science to ask and answer questions

• Asking questions with data

Using data science to investigate a real dataset

• Investigating real datasets

What is machine learning?

• What is machine learning?

Why computers use binary

• Why computers use binary

Copyright, attribution and using digital content responsibly

• Copyright and using digital content fairly

Defending against cyber threats: firewalls, antivirus, updates, MFA

• Defending against cyber threats

Designing a vector graphic for a purpose

• Designing a vector graphic

Designing and animating a 3D scene

• Creating a 3D animation

Designing clear digital messages and posters for an audience

• Designing clear digital messages

Ethics in computing: bias, accessibility and responsible design

• Ethics in computing

Malware: viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware

• Malware and how it spreads

Protecting your online identity, privacy and digital footprint

• Your digital footprint

Recognising inappropriate content, contact and conduct online

• Spotting and reporting harmful content

Recognising misinformation online

• Spotting misinformation online

Social engineering: phishing, pretexting and tailgating

• Social engineering attacks

Strong passwords and basic account security

• Password security

Using digital media to make a case for a cause

• Making a case using digital media

Using technology safely, respectfully and responsibly online

• Staying safe online in Year 7

Vector graphics and how they differ from bitmap images

• Vector vs bitmap graphics

What is cybersecurity?

• What is cybersecurity?

A short history of communication — from semaphores to the internet

• From semaphores to the internet

Client-server vs peer-to-peer networks

• Client-server vs peer-to-peer

How data is broken into packets and sent across networks

• Packets and how networks send data

How the internet routes data — IP addresses, DNS and routing

• How the internet routes data

How web pages are built — HTML basics

• Introduction to HTML

Styling web pages with CSS basics

• Introduction to CSS

The internet vs the World Wide Web

• Internet vs World Wide Web

What is a computer network?

• Introducing computer networks

Wired vs wireless connections; common network hardware

• Connecting devices — wired and wireless

Building and testing a simple mobile app

• Building a simple mobile app

Designing a mobile app for a user need

• Designing a mobile app

Designing and building a small game in Scratch

• Building a Scratch game project

Designing modular programs with functions in Python

• Functions in Python

Iterating over sequences in Python

• Iterating over sequences in Python

Iteration (repeat / forever / repeat-until) in a block-based language

• Iteration: repeating actions in code

Iteration in Python: FOR loops

• Iteration: FOR loops in Python

Iteration in Python: WHILE loops

• Iteration: WHILE loops in Python

Lists in Python — creating, indexing, modifying

• Working with lists in Python

Parameters, arguments and return values

• Parameters and return values

Physical computing with the BBC micro:bit — inputs and outputs

• Programming the micro:bit: inputs and outputs

Python output, input and variables

• Python: output, input and variables

Reading and understanding Python error messages

• Understanding Python errors

Recap of Python basics from Year 8

• Python recap from Year 8

Selection (IF / IF-ELSE) in a block-based language

• Selection: making decisions in code

Selection in Python — IF / ELIF / ELSE

• Selection in Python: IF, ELIF, ELSE

Sensing the environment with the micro:bit

• Sensing with the micro:bit

Sequence in a block-based language (Scratch / MakeCode)

• Sequencing instructions in Scratch

Strings as sequences in Python

• Working with strings in Python

Variables in a block-based language

• Variables: storing and changing values

Why move from block-based to text-based programming?

• Why we use text-based programming

Input, process, output, storage — the four-stage model

• The input-process-output model

Inside the CPU: fetch–decode–execute (Y8 level)

• The fetch–decode–execute cycle

The CPU and main memory at a Year-7 level

• What the CPU does

The four layers of a computer system: hardware, OS, application, user

• Layers of a computer system

Types of storage: RAM, ROM, secondary storage

• RAM, ROM and storage

What is hardware? What is software?

• Hardware and software