1. Overview: Exam board is Edexcel
2 Units: Living in a Digital World & Using Digital Tools
40% Exam - externally assessed
60% controlled assessment – teacher marked and then moderated by Edexcel
Exam board chooses topic/scenario for C/A and then the C/A consists of 4 large activities
Spreadsheet activity has been found to be most challenging – if your child chooses this option it is advisable for them to continue practicing the Excel skills they have been taught in class over the summer holiday
Lots of review based tasks– critical analysis/ independence
Majority of coursework in school – 40 hours.
Usually 1 homework is set per week – type of homework varies
Class sizes approx. 20, compared to 31 at KS3

2. UNIT 1: Living in a Digital World
Students explore how digital technology impacts on the lives of individuals, organisations and society. Students learn about current and emerging digital technologies and the issues raised by their use in a range of contexts (learning and earning, leisure, shopping and money management, health and well-being, on the move). Students develop awareness of the risks that are inherent in using ICT and the features of safe, secure and responsible practice.
In this unit, students explore how digital technology impacts on the lives of individuals, organisations and society. Students learn about current and emerging digital technologies and the issues raised by their use in a range of contexts (learning and earning, leisure, shopping and money management, health and well-being, on the move). They develop awareness of the risks that are inherent in using ICT and the features of safe, secure and responsible practice.

3. UNIT 2: Using Digital Tools
This is a practical unit. Students broaden and enhance their ICT skills and capability. Students work with a range of digital tools and techniques to produce effective ICT solutions in a range of contexts. Students learn to reflect critically on their own and others’ use of ICT and to adopt safe, secure and responsible practice. They put into practice what they learned about digital technology in Unit 1.
UNIT 2: Using Digital Tools This is a practical unit. Students broaden and enhance their ICT skills and capability. They work with a range of digital tools and techniques to produce effective ICT solutions in a range of contexts. Students learn to reflect critically on their own and others’ use of ICT and to adopt safe, secure and responsible practice. They put into practice what they learned about digital technology in Unit 1.

4. Controlled assessment?
Skills are taught first using scenarios, so that students can improve their knowledge, confidence and problem solving skills.
These are assessed by the teacher so that when the students start the coursework they are better prepared.
During the GCSE coursework teachers are allowed to give feedback, which is recorded by the students.
The students will have specific accounts on which to carry out the work.

5. Content OF THE C/A
Emphasis is on self evaluation and collecting information
Create promotional material for a community event including:
Logo
Interactive Quiz
Database
Sources Table
Podcast
Website
Show some examples of coursework from e-portfolio
Show the spreadsheet of my marking, so they can have an idea of the feedback their children will receive

6. Exam – 90 minutes Topic 1. Personal digital devices
Topic 2. Connectivity
Topic 3. Operating online
Topic 4. Online goods and services
Topic 5. Online communities
Topic 6. Issues (Security, Privacy, Health and safety, Legal and ethical, Environmental)
EXAMPLE EXAM PAPERS
Topic 6:  Security
 Privacy
 Health and safety
 Legal and ethical
 Environmental
Show exam paper

7. Grade boundaries These change each year.
Both pieces of assessment are worth a maximum of 80 marks.
In June the grade boundaries where as follows:
Exam
C/A
Mark
Grade 53 A* 49 A 45 B 41 C 35 D 29 E
Mark
Grade 68 A* 59 A 50 B 41 C 35 D 29 E
EXAM
53 A* 66% 49 A 61% 45 B 56% 41 C 51% 35 D 44% 29 E 36%
C/A
68 A* 85% 59 A 74% 50 B 63% 41 C 51% 35 D 44% 29 E 36%