Year 7 Students Bring Programming to Life with Scratch Pacgirl Projects

Our Year 7 Computer Science students have been showcasing their creativity and programming skills by designing and developing their own versions of Pacgirl using Scratch.

Throughout this project, students have explored the fundamental programming constructs of sequence, selection and iteration. They learned how instructions must be carried out in the correct order (sequence), how decisions can be made within a program (selection), and how actions can be repeated efficiently using loops (iteration). These key concepts form the foundations of computer programming and have enabled students to create engaging and interactive games.

In addition to these programming skills, students learned about variables—what they are, why they are used, and how they can store data within a program. Using variables, students were able to create scoring systems that kept track of points earned as players navigated their Pacgirl games.

What was particularly impressive is the level of creativity demonstrated by the students. Rather than simply following a template, many students developed their own unique interpretations of the game. They designed original characters, customised ghosts and obstacles and created eye-catching backgrounds to enhance the gameplay experience.

Students also developed their digital design skills by creating their own vector graphics for sprites, ghosts and game environments. The variety of ideas on display has been outstanding, with each game reflecting the personality and imagination of its creator. From colourful fantasy worlds to futuristic mazes, the range of designs has been remarkable.

This project has been a fantastic opportunity for students to combine computational thinking, problem-solving and creativity.

 The quality of work produced has been extremely impressive, and students should be proud of how confidently they have applied their newly acquired programming knowledge.

Well done to all the Year 7 programmers for their enthusiasm, perseverance and imagination.

Year 8 Students Develop Their Python Programming Skills

Our Year 8 Computing students have taken the next step in their programming journey by learning how to code using Python, one of the world’s most widely used programming languages.

Building on the key programming concepts introduced previously, students have applied the fundamental constructs of sequence, selection and iteration to create a range of exciting programs. Through hands-on projects, they have developed their understanding of how programs work while strengthening their problem-solving and computational thinking skills.

During the unit, students programmed a variety of applications, including a dice game, a pet age calculator and an interactive quiz. These projects challenged students to think logically, plan algorithms and write code that responds to user input.

Students also expanded their knowledge of iteration by learning how to use ‘while loops’ and ‘for loops’. They discovered how loops can be used to automate repetitive tasks, making programs more efficient and powerful.

One of the highlights of the unit was a debugging challenge involving a sabotaged Friendship Calculator. Students were tasked with identifying and correcting a range of syntax errors and logic errors within the code. This activity helped them develop an essential skill used by all programmers: debugging. They demonstrated great resilience and attention to detail as they worked systematically to find and fix each issue.

The progress made by Year 8 students has been outstanding. They have shown confidence in applying new programming techniques, a willingness to tackle challenging problems and an excellent understanding of how to test and improve their code. Their ability to identify errors, think critically and develop solutions has been particularly impressive.

We are extremely proud of the enthusiasm and determination shown throughout the unit. Year 8 have excelled in developing their coding skills and have laid a strong foundation for more advanced programming projects in Year 9.

Year 9 Explore Digital Safety and Digital Media

Year 9 students have enjoyed a varied and engaging Computing curriculum this term, combining important lessons about online safety with creative digital media skills.

The term began with a focus on digital wellbeing and the importance of maintaining good mental health when using social media. Students discussed the positive and negative impacts that online platforms can have and explored practical strategies for ensuring that their online experiences remain safe, balanced and healthy.

As part of this learning, students were educated about online risks, including sextortion, and how to recognise warning signs and seek help if they ever feel concerned. A key message throughout the unit was that students should never deal with worries alone. They learned about the support available from trusted adults, CEOP, Childline and the wide range of safeguarding support available within school. Students were reminded that they can speak to their Form Tutor, Head of Year, use the Impero Confide button, or approach any member of staff if they have concerns about themselves or others.

Following their work on online safety, students moved on to studying how computers represent different types of media. They explored how sound and bitmap images are stored digitally and developed an understanding of how images are made up of individual pixels. Through practical investigations, students created and manipulated bitmap images to observe how image quality changes as pictures become pixelated.

Students then progressed to creating professional-looking vector graphics using Photopea. They learned how vector graphics differ from bitmap images and discovered why vectors can be scaled without losing quality. Using industry-style design tools, students developed their skills with the Pen Tool, worked confidently with layers, and applied colour effectively to create their own high-quality designs.

The creativity displayed throughout this unit has been exceptional. Students used their new skills to create eye-catching graphic designs, including photo cut-outs and striking glowing text effects. Their work demonstrated both technical understanding and artistic flair, producing some truly impressive results.

Ms Platt

Head of Computing

This term, Year 8 computer scientists are starting their journey into the world of Python programming. Python is one of the most popular programming languages because it’s clear, powerful and great for beginners. Lots of professionals use it every day so students are learning real‑world skills right from the start. 

What will students be programming? 

Lessons will be hands‑on so students won’t just be reading about code, they’ll be writing their own programs, including: 

• A dice game using random numbers 
• A pet‑to‑human age calculator 
• A quiz and friendship calculator that reacts to user answers 

As one famous programmer, Reshma Saujani (founder of Girls Who Code) says: 

“You don’t have to be perfect to be amazing.” 

That’s exactly the message behind these lessons – have a go, make mistakes and learn as you go. 

Students will learn the three key building blocks used in almost every program: 

• Sequence – instructions run in order (using things like print() and input()) 
• Selection – making choices with if, elif and else 
• Iteration – repeating instructions with loops like for and while 

They’ll also learn how to use variables, data types, and maths and comparison operators. 

This way of thinking helps students break problems down and solve them step by step – a skill that’s useful far beyond computing lessons. 

Python is used in lots of real-world applications: 

• Instagram uses Python to help manage huge amounts of data and recommend content 
• Games developers use Python to test and prototype ideas 
• Streaming platforms use Python to suggest shows based on what you watch 

Computer science pioneer, Grace Hopper once said: 

“The most dangerous phrase in the language is ‘We’ve always done it this way.’” 

Learning to code teaches students to think differently and to imagine better solutions. 

Programming skills can lead to exciting careers, such as: 

• Software or app developer 
• Data scientist 
• AI or robotics engineer 
• Game, web or media designer 

Python lessons aren’t just about computers. They build confidence, creativity and problem‑solving skills, showing students that technology isn’t something that just happens to them, it’s something they can create themselves. 

Ms Platten

Head of Computing

This term has been an exciting and transformative journey for our KS3 students as they embraced the challenges of our newly implemented Computer Science curriculum. Across Years 7, 8 and 9, students have shown impressive enthusiasm, resilience and progress as they explored both the foundations and complexities of modern computing.

Year 7

Our Year 7 students have made a fabulous start. This term, they delved into the world of binary, learning how computers use simple switches to represent information. They confidently mastered binary‑to‑denary conversions, binary addition and explored how text is stored using ASCII.

One of the highlights of the unit was their introduction to encryption, where students experimented with the Cesar cipher to decrypt clues to solve a problem. The students showed genuine enjoyment during the lesson, showcasing their problem-solving skills.  Their curiosity and determination were evident throughout this term.

Year 8

Year 8 built on their prior knowledge and stepped confidently into more advanced territory. They explored hexadecimal, understanding why it is used in computing and how to convert between hex and binary. Students also developed their understanding of how data is shifted using binary shifting, gaining insight into how computers perform operations efficiently.

They then expanded their algorithmic thinking through hands‑on experience with bubble sort, linear search, and binary search—analysing not just how they work, but why different algorithms are used for different data sets. To round out the term, they experimented with logic gates (AND, OR, NOT), discovering how logical decisions form the basis of all computer operations.

Year 8 embraced these challenges brilliantly, showing growing confidence and genuine enjoyment as abstract ideas “clicked” into place.

Year 9

Year 9 took a significant step forward this term as they immersed themselves in Python programming. They have begun to develop robust computational thinking skills programming for a range of mini programming challenges.

Students created programs using inputs, outputs, variables, and constants, and gradually built up to using selection: if, elif, and else statements. They demonstrated impressive reasoning skills while working with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) and even tackled nested selection—a key milestone in programming mastery.

They also extended their understanding of programming logic through arithmetic operators, including MOD and DIV, essential tools for solving real‑world computational problems. Their term concluded with a Practical Programming Skills Check, where students showcased their independence, creativity, and growing fluency in Python.  The maturity, focus, and problem‑solving skills shown by Year 9 this term have been exceptional.

Year 11

Our Year 11 students have demonstrated dedication and resilience this term as they deepened their programming expertise in preparation for their final GCSEs. They have taken on some of the most complex and demanding areas of the curriculum and approached each challenge with maturity, enthusiasm, and an impressive work ethic.

A major focus this term has been the development of advanced coding skills, particularly in handling 2D arrays, a crucial structure that allows programs to store and manipulate more complex data sets. Students also explored file handling, learning how to read from and write to text and CSV files—skills that mirror real‑world programming practice and professional data processing.

Beyond the technical content, what truly stands out is the dedication many students have shown in refining their craft. Countless Year 11s have gone above and beyond in lessons and independent study; one such example was a student’s use of the Turtle module to create 3D animated triangular prism demonstrating programming skill well beyond GCSE level.

Year 11 have shown that with determination and the right mindset, even the most challenging elements of Computer Science can be mastered. They should feel immensely proud of the progress they have made, and we look forward to seeing their hard work reflected in their upcoming Mocks and ultimately their GCSE exams.

Ms Platten

Curriculum Leader for Computing

To wrap up their journey into binary, we explored how computers represent more than just numbers. By utilising the Extended ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) table, students discovered how every letter on their keyboard is assigned a specific 8-bit binary code.    

To bring this theory into the physical world, each student used their skills to convert the first letter of their name into its binary equivalent. They then used this code to design and create binary keyrings, using 1 and 0 beads to represent the ‘on’ and ‘off’ states of their chosen character.   

It has been a joy to see the students engage so enthusiastically with the ‘hidden’ language of technology. 

Ms Platten 

Head of Computer Science 

One of the most impressive feats this term was the students’ mastery of binary and denary conversion. Using the binary place value table, Year 7s learned to translate our everyday numbers (denary) into the language of the computer (binary).

The Year 7s didn’t stop at conversion; they progressed to binary addition.  Seeing the ‘click’ moment when a student successfully calculates 1 + 1 = 10 in binary is always a highlight of the curriculum.   

 Ms Platten 

Head of Computer Science 

Year 10 have almost completed all the theory for paper 1, Principles of Computer Science. This theory consists of systems architecture and software, looking at data representation including binary, hexadecimal and sound.  They have been learning about networks and how different networks are structured.  The final learning will be about looking at the security of networks and ethical and environmental issues surrounding Computer Science, including legislation.  They have also started revisiting Python programming language from Key Stage 3.

You have all worked extremely hard this year. I wish you all the luck in world going into year 11 and I know that you will continue to work hard.

Mrs Bennett

Curriculum Leader for CAT Faculty