Computing curriculum: primary to GCSE and BTEC
How computing builds from Reception to Year 11: the primary phases, the seven-unit KS3 spiral, the Year 9 choice between GCSE Computer Science and the BTEC Tech Award, and where each leads next.
EYFS · KS1 · KS2 Primary computing, Reception to Year 6
Four phases mapped to the KS1 and KS2 national curriculum: giving instructions, debugging simple programs, using technology safely and starting to understand networks and data.
KS3 · Years 7–9 · 38 weeks a year KS3 Computing: a seven-unit spiral
The same seven units are taught in the same order every year. Year 7 introduces each idea, Year 8 deepens it and Year 9 extends it towards GCSE, with an assessment window at the end of each term.
KS3 Computing units by year Unit Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 1 Introduction and skill building Introduction to computing, online safety Bebras-style thinking, online safety How AI works, online safety 2 Computing fundamentals Computing components Computing systems 1 Computing systems 2 3 Data representation Data representation 1 Data representation 2 Data representation 3 Assessment window 1 · units 1–3 4 Data modelling and big data Data modelling in Excel 1 Excel 2 Data dashboards – big data 5 Networks and security Networks 1 Networks 2 Systems security Assessment window 2 · units 4–5 6 Computational thinking Micro:bit programming Algorithmic thinking 1 (Flowol) Algorithmic thinking 2 (Boolean logic) 7 Practical programming Programming 1 (Scratch game) Programming 2 (Python 1) Programming 3 (Python 2) Assessment window 3 · units 6–7 Careers in computing lessons
Coming soonThree 20-minute careers lessons a year, each linked to that term’s unit, with a self-marking check for pupils (Gatsby Benchmark 4).
Careers in computing lessons by year and term Year Autumn Spring Summer Year 7 Game designer IT support Web designer Year 8 Cyber security Data analyst Robotics technician Year 9 Software apprentice AI specialist Network engineer Year 9 options GCSE Computer Science or BTEC Digital IT?
Both build on KS3. GCSE Computer Science suits pupils who enjoy programming and problem solving; the BTEC Tech Award suits pupils who prefer applied, project-based work with digital tools.
GCSE Computer Science compared with BTEC Digital IT GCSE Computer Science BTEC Tech Award DIT (2022) Focus How computers work, algorithms and programming User interfaces, data dashboards, modern technologies and cyber security Assessment Two exams at the end of Year 11 Components 1 and 2 assessed in school (PSAs); Component 3 external exam Programming Central, in Python Not required KS3 units that matter most 3 Data representation, 6 Computational thinking, 7 Practical programming 4 Data modelling and big data, 5 Networks and security KS4 · Years 10–11 · four boards GCSE Computer Science schemes of work
Pick your exam board. Each scheme of work covers every unit in a two-year teaching order, with a learn guide and assessment per unit.
OCR · J277 · 11 unitsOCR GCSE Computer SciencePaper 1 computer systems; Paper 2 algorithms and programming.AQA · 8525 · 11 unitsAQA GCSE Computer ScienceThe 2025 specification, including relational databases and SQL.Edexcel · 1CP2 · 10 unitsEdexcel GCSE Computer ScienceSix topics, with on-screen Python for Paper 2.Eduqas · C500 · 11 unitsEduqas GCSE Computer ScienceComponent 1 theory plus Component 2 programming.How KS3 feeds OCR J277
- KS3 2 Computing fundamentals→ J277 1.1 Systems architecture, 1.5 Systems software
- KS3 3 Data representation→ J277 1.2 Memory and storage
- KS3 5 Networks and security→ J277 1.3 Networks, 1.4 Network security
- KS3 6 Computational thinking→ J277 2.1 Algorithms, 2.4 Boolean logic
- KS3 7 Practical programming→ J277 2.2 Programming fundamentals, 2.3 Producing robust programs
KS4 · Pearson 2022 specification BTEC Tech Award in Digital Information Technology
All 11 learning aims across three components in a two-year order: Component 1 in Year 10 autumn to spring, Component 2 in Year 10 spring to summer, Component 3 in Year 11.
C1 · A–C · PSAUser interface design, project planning and interface development, reviewing a user interface.C2 · A–C · PSACollecting and using data, creating a dashboard, drawing conclusions from data.C3 · A1–D · ExamModern technologies and their impact, cyber security, wider implications, planning and communication.Post-16 and careers · coming soon Where computing leads after Year 11
A level Computer Science, Level 3 IT qualifications, T levels in digital and apprenticeships. Post-16 computing courses on Teach io are coming soon. Every unit in the schemes of work names the jobs it leads to.
Software engineerCyber security analystData analystUX designerNetwork engineer
Computing curriculum FAQ
What should pupils study in KS3 Computing before GCSE?
Data representation, computational thinking and programming in Python matter most. The KS3 spiral revisits each one in Year 9 at GCSE depth.
Can a school offer both GCSE Computer Science and BTEC Digital IT?
Yes. Many schools run both as separate options, and both schemes of work are on Teach io.
Which GCSE Computer Science exam boards are covered?
OCR J277, AQA 8525, Edexcel 1CP2 and Eduqas C500, each with a scheme of work, a learn guide for every unit and assessments.
Other subjects
Use the whole curriculum with your school
The School plan gives every teacher and pupil every learn guide and assessment, with results by class.
