High Street, Tonbridge,
Kent, TN9 1JP
Computer Science
The school places great importance on all boys being computer literate.
All boys study ICT in their first three years at Tonbridge.
The Novi Year
Boys follow a scheme of work consisting of 'learning to use our systems', Word, PowerPoint and Excel and finish with creating a movie using our advanced computer animation software. They also spend time in the Media Centre, learning how to create and edit programs.
The Second Year
Boys study a variety of topics from ‘computer hardware’ via ‘health and safety’ to ‘network security’. This course covers important issues, enabling students to be more technologically aware of both the benefits and pitfalls of using ICT. This year focuses on PowerPoint with a view to completing the first BCS ICT Level 2 module at the end of the summer term.
The Third Year
All boys continue working towards the BCS Level 2 ITQ qualification, taking modules in Word Processing, Spreadsheets, and ‘Improving Productivity using ICT’. All boys should have completed the qualification by the beginning of the summer term.
ICT Level 2 ITQ qualification (ECDL Extra)
This course is administered externally by the BCS (British Computer Society). It is a Level 2 certified course consisting of the following modules.
- Word Processing (4 credits)
- Spreadsheet Software (4 credits)
- Presentation Software (4 credits)
- Improving Productivity Using IT (4 credits)
The final unit shown above consists involves scenarios like the candidate compiling a report consisting of data and graphs from other applications. They will be expected to understand which applications they should use and be able to complete the tasks without additional direction.
The Facilities
The Computing department is housed at the heart of the Vere Hodge Centre. There are three computer teaching laboratories, a lecture theatre, and a computing office. All rooms are equipped with PCs which are replaced every three years. The facilities are used by all teaching departments and are open to the boys throughout the week until 10pm.
The department is linked to the rest of the school via a high-bandwidth (1 Gbit/sec) optical fibre connection. Most of our departmental resources can be reached from anywhere within the school, and via the VPN (Virtual Private Network), from anywhere in the World.
All the laboratories are fully air conditioned, and the two main computer rooms have sliding doors enabling them to be arranged in a variety of useful teaching scenarios. All the computer rooms are equipped with modern PCs which are replaced every three years. The variety of software and hardware is both impressive and extensive. Interactive whiteboards, projection TVs and surround-sound systems enhance the teaching experience further.
The facilities are used mainly for teaching Information Systems via the mechanism of the 'ECDL Extra' (level 2 course). A vast range of specialist departmental software from 'Music composition' to 'CAD' is available. E-mail and Internet access is also available from all machines in the department via a fast 30 Mbit/sec link.
Staffing
The department has one full-time member of teaching staff and two tutor-technicians.
Beyond the classroom
Additional help
Staff are available to help with ICT or general computing issues from 8.30am – 9pm Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 1pm Saturday, and 1pm – 4pm on Sundays.
Links with other departments
The ICT department has many links with other departments. Most departments will obviously make use of ICT, (Spreadsheet in Economics, Data logging in Science, Composition Software in Music or CAD in DT for example), but we have also worked on numerous other projects including designing a language course which is delivered in French (written for 'Journée Française'), built programmable robots with the Electronics department, and are currently developing computer-based animation course which will be used in conjunction with the new media centre built in 2008.