IT & Computer Science

Head of Department:  Mrs K Cheetham kcheetham@prsbucks.com 

• Link to the Examination Board for Years 10 and 11 Digital Information Technology (BTEC Tech Award)
• Link to the Examination Board for Years 10 and 11 Computer Science
• Link to the Examination Board for Year 12 Information Technology (AAQ BTEC National)
• Link to the Examination Board for Year 13 Information Technology (BTEC National)

“Students who study computer science unlock a world of opportunities for themselves.”
- Dr. John Deasy, Former Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District

Computer Science and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability are essential skills for life and should enable all learners to actively participate in our rapidly changing world.  They are at the heart of modern life and are constantly evolving and expanding the role that they play in society.  In 2024, approximately 2.18 million people were employed in the UK tech sector, making it a critical component of the UK economy.

In Computer Science and IT, it is our intent that through our curriculum we will support and help our students to be positive, responsible and successful digital citizens.

Positive - to foster a growth mindset where students embrace challenges in technology with enthusiasm.  They will develop a proactive approach to problem solving, staying curious and optimistic about the evolving digital world and their role in shaping it.

Responsible - to guide students in becoming ethical digital citizens who understand the societal impacts of technology.  They will critically assess data privacy, cyber security and environmental sustainability, making informed decisions that benefit communities locally and globally.

Successful - to equip students with the technical skills and computational thinking needed to thrive in a digital age.  They will gain proficiency in coding, system design and emerging technologies, empowering them to achieve their aspirations and contribute meaningfully to the tech-driven future.

 The IT and Computing Curriculum Maps below describe the journey our students take from Year 7 to Year 13. 

 Our curriculum at Princes Risborough School is an intellectually challenging yet very practical and rewarding discipline with its own body of knowledge that is designed to enable students to become independent learners, evaluators and potentially designers of new technologies. By studying Computer Science, students gain not only knowledge but also a unique way of thinking about creating solutions to real world problems using computational thinking. It will give students an understanding of the digital world in a deeper way, which will allow them to adapt more quickly to the consequences of technological change, develop new technologies themselves, or even to work in jobs that haven’t yet been invented!

Computer Science and ICT are taught as a compulsory subject to all students in Years 7 , 8 and 9. At Key Stage 4 we currently offer both the BTEC level ½ in Digital Information Technology and GCSE Computer Science.  These are offered as separate options depending on whether a student decides to take the rigorous academic Computer Science route or a more vocational pathway via the DIT application based route.

At Key Stage 5 we offer the BTEC National (AAQ) qualification in Computing (equivalent to a single A level qualification).  This not only ensures that students are taught current and up to date sector technical content but also develops the skills and personal attributes students need to navigate their future.