KS3 Computing – Year 1

Posted on by Holly Billinghurst
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Price
£11.25 per week
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Welcome to KS3 Computing! Scroll down to open your lessons for the course.

Our KS3 Computing course allows your child to follow a course of study based around the latest British computing curriculum, informed by our work with the National Center for Computing Education. Students learn at their own pace, covering the key aspects of Computing: ICT, Digital Literacy, & Computer Science.

Our KS3 courses are divided into 3 separate courses, allowing student to progress to GCSE/iGCSE at a pace that suits them best. Each of our KS3 courses are aimed at students aged 11 – 14 and are led by a qualified Computer Science teacher (Holly Billinghurst) who specializes in distance learning.

As part of this distance learning course, students have the option to access a weekly live class (term time) covering different aspects of the course. Live classes have been designed to give students the opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback on their progress as well as having an opportunity to work alongside other students.

KS3 Year 1 Classes are : Mondays at 11.30am UK Time (maximum 10 students)

KS3 Year 2 Classes are : Wednesdays at 9am UK Time (maximum 10 students)  

Important note: Our course covers a curriculum in line with year 7 – 9 in British schools. All assessments are against the Nation Curriculum KS3 standards or above. Full curriculum is covered over the three KS3 courses but does not prevent students from progressing to GCSE.

Our KS3 Computing classes run over 5 terms with an additional summer project for students wishing to study past the May half term. Live classes are run in groups of 6 weeks with end of topic assessments set at the end of each. Each topic includes:

  • Pre-Recorded video lessons introducing the key aspects of the topic
  • Downloadable tasks
  • Assignments
  • Quiz / Interactive task to test your knowledge
  • Optional live lessons with a subject specialist tutor via Zoom

Fees above are for one year of study representing £11.25 per week for 5 terms study (September to May/June). Although other courses may be cheaper, we have an absolute maximum of 10 students in a class, allowing Holly to give every child individual attention – every class is fully interactive with activities and notes provided.

Live Classes

Group lessons take place via Zoom with a maximum group size of 10 to allow all students to participate fully. Once courses are full, I am unable to take further enrolments for the live class. Current classes (2nd year remains at the same time as the year 1 class where possible).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does The Course Include Live Tuition?

The course has been designed as a stand-alone distance learning course, but includes access to an optional weekly live class for students our students via zoom. All live lessons are run as an interactive classroom with activities, notes, and help included.

To allow Holly to provide individual assistance and build strong relationships with our students, we limit our group sizes to 10.

How Do I Access The Live Class?

Once you have enrolled for the option which includes live classes, you will be provided a link to our live classes directly through the online course.

When logging into Zoom, we ask that your Zoom name is your child’s first name, or a recognisable username. This helps us to keep classrooms safe. Where someone logs into a Zoom classroom with an unrecognised name, a message will be sent to the waiting room asking them to update their username.

To join a zoom meeting with a different username, click the “Join” button in the Zoom App:

Zoom join

Then enter the zoom meeting ID and update your name on the pop up:

Zoom join meeting

Do I need Any Textbooks / Resources?

There is no need for any additional textbook as all resources for learning are included in your course.

Whilst the course has been designed to include all of the information required to study our units, you will require access to certain software to allow you to prepare for the practical aspects of the exam.

It is assumed that you will have access to Office application (Microsoft or Open Office). And a free account with Scratch.mit.edu and Repl.it will be needed.

Does The Course Include Practical Programming Skills?

Yes. We ensure that all of our courses from KS3 to A Level include practical aspects in both the independent lessons and live classes. You can expect to be guided through practical programming skills through at least two of our topics every year. At the end of the year, an additional Programming Club / Games Jam is run for all students between June & July.

Do You Offer Any Discounts / Taster Lessons?

I am always happy to offer a trial lesson for a one-off payment of £11.25 where spaces permit. Alternatively, you can access a pre-recorded taster course for free here.

Standard fees are through the weekly installment plan, but we do offer a 25% reduced fee for payment in full at the start of the year.

Each year, we offer a small number of privately funded scholarships to students who have reserved a place on our courses. To apply for a 2022/23 scholarship place, please apply here

Do I Have The Option To Cancel?

Your committment to the course is by half term (approximately 6 weeks). Should you find that the course is not for you, your weekly payments will be stopped at the end of the current half term, and a refund will be given for any overpayment where applicable.

Can I Enrol As An Adult Learner?

As live classes are aimed at under 18s, we are unable to accept adult learners in the live classes. However, adult learners can complete the course as a self-paced option with tutor marking, or through individual tuition.

Lessons are set to be live each half term, but you’ll be able to see what’s coming up using the table below.

KS3 Year 1 Classes are Mondays at 11.30am BST (maximum 10 students)

Go to the “Live Lessons” link

Message Boards

For help & support in between live lessons, please use the online message boards or send me a direct message using the “Chat” option at the top of each page:

KS3 Computing Message Boards

Click To See Announcements From Your Tutor


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Your Assessment Progress


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Our Curriculum for 2022/23

Each of our KS3 courses covers a range of topics each year allowing our learners to access the full range of computing – not just programming! (although there is programming included every year)

Students can enrol at any time, but we strongly recommend starting at the beginning of a half term as the course is divided into topics.

Half Term Topics Day of Live Lesson Tutor
Sept  – Oct The History of Data (from cave paintings to computers) Mondays @11.30am BST Holly Billinghurst
Nov  – Dec Web Awareness (e-safety & netiquette) Mondays @11.30am GMT Holly Billinghurst
Jan  – Feb Python Turtle Programming Mondays @11.0am GMT Holly Billinghurst
March – Apr Minecraft Spreadsheets (ICT) Mondays @11.30am GMT Holly Billinghurst
Apr  – May Programming Concepts in Scratch Mondays @11.30am BST Jay Shurey

*please note change of time BST/GMT if you are attending internationally

Important note: Our course covers a curriculum in line with year 7 – 9 in British schools. All assessments are against the Nation Curriculum KS3 standards or above. Full curriculum is covered over the three KS3 courses but does not prevent students from progressing to GCSE.

Course Content

Course Introduction & Information
History of Data (from cave paintings to computers)
Web Awareness (e-safety & netiquette)
Python Turtle Programming
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