ICT

Summary of courses in S1 – S3 (Broad General Education - BGE)

All pupils from S1 to S3 will be taught Computing Science in rotation with Business Education. In the Computing Department they will cover aspects of Computer Systems, Programming, Web Design, Computer Animation and Information System Design. The level of complexity will increase from one year to the next. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is now delivered across the school by departments that make use of ICT in their normal every day teaching.

 - the S1 Computing course consists of units in Internet Safety, Games Programming and Computer Animation. S1 pupils come to Computing for half of the school year and Business Education for the other half.
 - the S2 Computing course consists of units in Computer Systems, Scratch Programming and Web Design. S2 pupils come to Computing for half of the school year and Business Education for the other half.
 - the S3 Computing course consists of units in Programming in Scratch, Programming in Python, Information Systems, Database, HTML coding, Algorithms and App creation. This course is an excellent preparation for Nationals 4 and 5.

In S3, pupils make course choices and can elect to study Computing Science as an option when the timetable changes in the first week in May. The structure of the BGE Computing course from S1 to S3 has been carefully designed to give all pupils an indication of the nature of the National 4 and 5 Computing Science courses.

Courses in S4 - S6

Pupils in S4, S5 and S6 have the choice to study National 4 & 5, Higher or Advanced Higher Computing. Each of these courses would be undertaken over a one year period allowing pupils to do one course in S5 possibly followed by another in S6. We are now also offering a National Progression Award (NPA) in Web Design for a number of our senior pupils.
National 4/5
The National 4 and 5 Computing Science courses consists of units in Information Systems Design and Development and Software Design and Development. The programming language used in the latter unit is Python. For National 4, there is no exam. Pupils complete a coursework task which is internally assessed. National 5 also has an assessable coursework task as well as a written exam.

Higher
The Higher Computing Science course offers continuity from the National 5 course with units in Information Systems Design and Development and Software Design and Development. The language used in the latter unit is Python. Assessment at Higher level is a combination of a coursework task and a written exam

Advanced Higher
The Advanced Higher Computing Science course offers continuity from the Higher course and again consists of units in Information Systems Design and Development and Software Design and Development. In this course there is a much greater emphasis on the independent project which is worth 60% of the final mark.

Alongside the National certificate courses above, we offer National Progression Awards at Level 4 and 5 in Cyber Security and Computer Games Design. 

All these courses allow pupils to gain skills linked to a growing global sector.

All ICT classrooms in Wallace High School are equipped with 20 flat screen PCs, one colour laser printer, flatbed scanners and Promethean interactive panels.