KS3 Computing scheme of work
A free three-year KS3 Computing scheme of work mapped to the national curriculum programme of study. Each unit lists its lessons, outcomes, key vocabulary and curriculum links, with a direct link to the matching Teach io learn guide.
Three-year overview
The plan gives each unit a term, leaving the rest of each year for projects, programming practice and online safety lessons. Adjust the order to suit your timetable.
National curriculum, RSHE and careers links
Online risks, personal data and privacy are reinforced in these units. The full RSHE 2025 mapping is in the online safety lessons.
Every unit names jobs it leads to, so teachers can link curriculum learning to careers in each topic.
All units
The national curriculum statements are summarised from the KS3 Computing programme of study.
Units in teaching order
Computing Fundamentals
Pupils cover hardware, memory, storage, operating systems, the CPU and the fetch-decode-execute cycle, with assessments.
Lessons
- Computer systems
- Computer hardware
- Memory in computer systems
- Storage in computer systems
- Year 7 recap – computer systems
- Operating systems
- Utility software
- Virtual memory and storage
- Impacts of technology
- Year 8 recap
- Von Neumann architecture
- The fetch-decode-execute cycle
- CPU performance
- Embedded systems
- Bringing it together
By the end, pupils can
- Explain what a computer system is and describe the input–process–store–output cycle.
- Identify the main hardware components and explain what each does.
- Compare RAM and ROM, and volatile and non-volatile memory.
- Describe solid-state, magnetic and optical storage and choose suitable storage.
- Explain the functions of an operating system.
Key vocabulary
Curriculum links
- NC KS3 EHardware, software and how instructions are executed
- CareersIT support technician, hardware engineer
Assessment: end-of-guide assessment (80% to pass each step) with exam-style questions and model answers.
Data Representation
Pupils cover binary, denary, hexadecimal, units of data, characters, images and sound, with assessment and feedback.
Lessons
- Why computers use binary
- Data units
- Binary and denary
- Binary addition and overflow
- Hexadecimal
- ASCII and Unicode
- Images
- Binary shifts
- Sound
- Compression
- Calculating file size
- Bringing it together
By the end, pupils can
- Explain why computers store all data in binary.
- Use data units and convert between them.
- Convert between binary and denary.
- Add binary numbers and recognise overflow.
- Convert between hexadecimal, binary and denary, and read hex colour codes.
Key vocabulary
Curriculum links
- NC KS3 DBoolean logic and binary
- CareersData engineer, digital media technician
Assessment: end-of-guide assessment (80% to pass each step) with exam-style questions and model answers.
Computational Thinking
Pupils cover micro:bit, flowcharts, Flowol, searching and sorting algorithms, Boolean logic and logic circuits, with activities throughout.
Lessons
- Meet the micro:bit
- Buttons and sensors
- Decisions on the micro:bit
- Year 7 recap – micro:bit programming
- Thinking like a computer scientist
- Flowcharts
- Control systems with Flowol
- Year 8 recap
- Searching and sorting algorithms
- Boolean logic
- Logic circuits
- Bringing it together
By the end, pupils can
- Program a micro:bit using inputs, outputs, events and sensors.
- Use selection, variables and loops in MakeCode.
- Use decomposition, abstraction and pattern recognition to solve problems.
- Draw and follow flowcharts that use decisions and loops.
- Design control systems with inputs, outputs and sensors in Flowol.
Key vocabulary
Curriculum links
- NC KS3 AAbstractions that model real-world problems
- NC KS3 BKey algorithms, including searching and sorting
- CareersSoftware engineer, data scientist
Assessment: end-of-guide assessment (80% to pass each step) with exam-style questions and model answers.
Practical Programming
Pupils cover Scratch games, then Python from variables and loops to lists, subroutines and files, with code tasks after every bite-size.
Lessons
- Algorithms and Scratch
- Sequence and events
- Loops in Scratch
- Variables in Scratch
- Selection in Scratch
- Planning a game
- Building the game
- Testing and improving
- Year 7 recap – programming with Scratch
- From Scratch to Python
- Output and variables
- Input and data types
- Operators
- Selection in Python
- Count-controlled loops
- Condition-controlled loops
- Debugging and testing
- Year 8 recap
- Working with strings
- Lists
- Subroutines
- Modules and random numbers
- Files
- Searching and sorting in Python
- Robust programs
- Programming project
- Bringing it together
By the end, pupils can
- Explain what an algorithm is and follow and write algorithms as sequences of steps.
- Build Scratch programs using sequence, events, loops, variables and selection.
- Plan, build, test and improve a Scratch game.
- Write Python programs that use output, variables, input and data types.
- Use arithmetic, comparison and logical operators, including DIV and MOD.
Key vocabulary
Curriculum links
- NC KS3 CTwo or more programming languages, one text-based
- CareersSoftware developer, games programmer
Assessment: end-of-guide assessment (80% to pass each step) with exam-style questions and model answers.
Networks and Systems Security
Pupils cover LANs, WANs, hardware, the internet, protocols, threats, protection and computing law, with activities after every bite-size.
Lessons
- What is a network?
- LANs and WANs
- Network hardware
- The internet and the web
- Year 7 recap – networks
- Network topologies
- Data packets
- Protocols
- Network performance
- Year 8 recap
- Cyber threats
- Cyber attacks
- Protecting systems
- Computing law and ethics
- Bringing it together
By the end, pupils can
- Explain what a network is and why we connect computers.
- Compare LANs and WANs and describe the internet as a WAN.
- Describe the job of routers, switches, NICs and wireless access points.
- Explain how the web works, including URLs, DNS and web servers.
- Compare star and mesh topologies.
Key vocabulary
Curriculum links
- NC KS3 EHardware, software and how instructions are executed
- NC KS3 GSafe, respectful and responsible use of technology
- RSHEOnline and media: online risks and protecting personal information
- CareersCyber security analyst, network engineer
Assessment: end-of-guide assessment (80% to pass each step) with exam-style questions and model answers.
Data Modelling and Big Data
Pupils cover formulas, functions, charts, IF, lookups, dashboards and big data, with activities after every bite-size.
Lessons
- What is a spreadsheet?
- Formulas
- Functions
- Charts
- Year 7 recap – spreadsheets
- Absolute references
- Making decisions in spreadsheets
- Spreadsheet models
- Sorting, filtering and validation
- Year 8 recap
- Lookups
- Dashboards
- Big data
- Data and ethics
- Bringing it together
By the end, pupils can
- Explain how spreadsheets store data in cells, rows and columns.
- Write formulas using cell references and the correct order of operations.
- Use functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX and COUNT.
- Create and choose suitable charts.
- Use absolute references and the IF function.
Key vocabulary
Curriculum links
- NC KS3 AAbstractions that model real-world problems
- NC KS3 FCreative projects using a range of applications
- CareersData analyst, database administrator
Assessment: end-of-guide assessment (80% to pass each step) with exam-style questions and model answers.
Frequently asked questions
Is this KS3 Computing scheme of work free?
Yes. The scheme of work is free to use and adapt. Pupils need a Teach io plan for the full learn guides and assessments; the first lesson of every guide is a free sample.
Does it cover the whole KS3 Computing programme of study?
Yes. The six units together cover every statement in the KS3 Computing programme of study. The coverage section shows which unit covers each statement.
Where is online safety taught?
Online safety is reinforced in the networks and security unit, and taught in full in the Year 7, 8 and 9 online safety lessons, which are mapped to RSHE 2025.
How are pupils assessed?
Each learn guide ends with an assessment that gives feedback on the misconception behind each wrong answer, so teachers know exactly what to reteach.
More schemes of work
Use this scheme with your department
Teacher and School plans give every pupil the learn guides and assessments above, with results by class so you can see which units need reteaching.