GCSE Computer Science Masterclasses Taster

GCSE Computer Science Masterclasses Taster

Welcome to GCSE Computer Science! This is a taster lesson for our GCSE level courses for learners considering joining us for weekly group revision.

This is a chance to meet our tutor and see what our courses are like before enroling.

To book a place on the live lesson on 2nd July at 10am please click here

TeachAllAboutIt is a small company with tutors who are also specialist teachers in their field. We’re always happy to listen to your feedback and will try to make our courses as fun and as accessible as we possibly can.

What we learn in Computer Science:

Students can enrol at any time, but we strongly recommend starting in September and following the full course.

Before a Live LessonDuring A Live LessonAfter A Live Lesson
Pre-Recorded topic video (aimed at grade 4-6)
Revision Notes		Further your your understanding with exam style questions & group quizzes (aimed at grade 7-9)Complete tutor marked exam questions

Test your understanding with online quizzes

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

Important note: Our course covers a curriculum in line with multiple exam boards and delivers topics that will help all GCSE & iGCSE Computer Science students make progress. All assessments are against the Nation Curriculum KS4 standards or above.

To reserve your place & enrol onto any of our 2022/23 courses, please use the links below:

Term Dates & Timetables

iGCSE Computer Science Taster

iGCSE Computer Science Taster

Cambridge iGCSE Computer Science Taster – Self Paced or Live

To enrol onto this Free Taster Course, please click the “Enrol” button at the top of the screen & create an account.

A Distance Learning Course Developed for Home Education

Covers both theory of Computing & practical knowledge of Python using the CIE 0985/0478 syllabus

✔ 60 weeks of tutor supported learning

✔ Weekly practice questions marked by your tutor

✔ End of topic assignments with topic progress reports and feedback to help with your EHE reports

✔ Learn the foundations of programming in Python

✔ Maximum class size of 10

✔ Online help from an experienced & qualified Computer Science teacher (and home educator)

✔ Options for Self-Paced recorded or live taught classes

To reserve your place & enrol onto any of our 2023/24 courses, please use the links below:

iGCSE Computer Science – Year 1

iGCSE Computer Science – Year 2

iGCSE Computer Science – Condensed (1 year – time tbc)

Click To See 2023/24 Term Dates

2023

TermDates
Autumn term 2023Starts: Monday 4th September
Half term: Monday 23rd October to Sunday 29th October
Ends: Friday 15th December

2023

TermDates
Spring term 2023Starts: Wednesday 3rd January
Half term: Monday 12th February to Sunday 18th February
Ends: Thursday 28th March
Summer term 2023Starts: Monday 15th April
Half term: Monday 27th May to Sunday 2nd June
Courses end: ** please see your course **
Tuition ends: Friday 19th July (or the date of your final exam)
KS3 ComputingTaster

KS3 ComputingTaster

Welcome to KS3 Computing! This is a taster lesson for our Pre-GCSE courses.

This is a chance to meet our tutor and see what our courses are like before enroling. Please scroll down to access the taster lessons!

TeachAllAboutIt is a small company with tutors who also home educate their own children. We’re always happy to listen to your feedback and will try to make our courses as fun and as accessible as we possibly can.

What we learn in Year 1:

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. Each half term is 5 weeks long with an independent assessment at the end.

Half TermTopicsTutor
Sept – Oct The History of Data (from cave paintings to computers)Holly Billinghurst
Nov – DecWeb Awareness (e-safety & netiquette)Jay Shurey
Jan – Feb Python Turtle ProgrammingHolly Billinghurst
March – AprSpreadsheets (ICT)Holly Billinghurst
Apr – JuneProgramming Concepts in ScratchJay 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 with the added flexibility of home education. A full curriculum is covered each year with extra topics covered over the three KS3 courses.

Attending a single year of KS3 does not prevent students from progressing to GCSE/iGCSE.

To reserve your place & enrol onto any of our 2022/23 courses, please use the timetable links below:

Click To See 2022/23 Term Dates

2022

TermDates
Autumn term 2022Starts: Monday 5th September
Half term: Monday 24 October to Friday 28 October
Ends: Friday 16 December

2023

TermDates
Spring term 2023Starts: Tuesday 3rd January
Half term: Monday 13th February to Friday 17th February
Ends: Friday 31st March
Summer term 2023Starts: Monday 17th April
Half term: Monday 29th May to Friday 2nd June
Courses end: TBC
Tuition ends: Thursday 20th July (or the date of your final exam)
Click To See September 2022 Timetable
[my_calendar time=”month” year=”2022″ month=”9″ day=”1″]

KS3 Computing – Group 2

KS3 Computing – Group 2

Welcome to KS3 Computing Group 2! Scroll down to open your lessons for the course.

KS3 Group 2 Classes are Wednesdays at 9am BST (maximum 10 students)

Go to the “Live Lessons” link

Term Dates 2022/23

TermHalf Term 1 DatesHalf Term 2 Dates
Autumn term 2022Starts: Wednesday 7th September
Ends: Wednesday 12th October		Starts: Wednesday 2nd November
Ends: Wednesday 7th December
Spring term 2023Starts: Wednesday 4th January
Ends: Wednesday 1st February		Starts: Wednesday 22nd February
Ends: Wednesday 22nd March
Summer term 2023Starts: Wednesday 19th April
Half term: Wednesday 17th May

Gradebook

[ld_report_card gradebook=”33039″]

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 lesson links below.

To access your live lesson link, please go to the live lessons under Course Introduction.

Message Boards

For help & support in between live lessons, please use the online message boards:

KS3 Computing Message Boards

Click To See Announcements From Your Tutor


[ldc_message_board]

Our Curriculum for Year 2

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 Computer Hardware – what’s inside the box? Group 1: Wednesdays @9am BST Holly Billinghurst
Nov– Dec Web Programming (coding an interactive advent calendar) Group 1: Wednesdays @9am GMT Holly Billinghurst
Jan – Feb More About Malware (e-safety & netiquette) Group 1: Wednesdays @9am GMT Jay Shurey
Feb – Mar /Apr Programming in Python Group 1: Wednesdays @9am GMT Holly Billinghurst
Apr – June Codebreaking with Spreadsheets (ICT) Group 1: Wednesdays @9am BST Holly Billinghurst

*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.

Creative iMedia – Games Design Taster

Creative iMedia – Games Design Taster

iMedia Games Design

Location

Online

Duration

2 Years (full course)

Next Start Date

September 2023

Enrol For The Full
Course Here

This pre-enrolment course has been designed to introduce you to the Cambridge Creative iMedia (Games Design) distance learning course with TeachAllAboutIt. As the course has changed significantly for September 2022 onwards, we require all students to complete this introduction course before enrolling in the full course.

The introduction content in here will introduce you to each unit, exam board advice, and what you need to do as a distance learner to complete the course. Please scroll down to access the taster lessons!

Important Note: The Updated OCR Specification for September 2022 changed significantly to the previous course. Due to the coursework units, we are unable to offer this without live classes.

To reserve your place & enrol onto the 2023/24 OCR iMedia Games Design course, please click here

How you’ll Learn

For the first half term of each unit, you’ll access the course using a week by week set of video and written lessons, supported by a weekly live lesson to help you understand and practice the topic.

After this, you’ll spend the second half term of each coursework unit completing your e-Portfolio and coursework with supervision during each live lesson. For the final exam unit, this second half term includes help with revision and a mock exam.

What Can I Do Next?

As the OCR Nationals are formally recognised as GCSE equivalent qualifications by the JCQ, most colleges will accept these as part of your college application.

Students may go on to A Level Media Studies, Apprenticeships in Digital Media, Cambridge Technicals in IT or Digital Media, or UAL Level 3 Games Design.

Study Hours

You should expect to spend approximately 3 – 4 hours each week on this course over the 32 weeks per year. 1 hour of this will be in your live lesson with the other two working independently.

Marking & Feedback

You will have two large coursework assignments as part of this course. Alongside this, weekly assignments are set to help you prepare for each unit which will be marked and returned to you with feedback from your tutor.

Fees & Exams

The course includes everything needed to complete the course aside from exam entry fees. We are currently partnered with Tutors & Exams.

Course MaterialIncluded in Course Fees
Coursework Marking & AuthenticationIncluded in Course Fees
Exam & Registration FeesNot Included
iGCSE Information Technology

iGCSE Information Technology

Our CIE IGCSE ICT course allows you to learn with the flexibility of home education combined with expert tuition & marking every week. Covering the key aspects of both theory and practical papers, supported by a qualified ICT teachers – Holly Billinghurst & Gael Milligan-Grist.

Fees above are for one year of study representing £15 per week for 34 weeks of study (self-paced with marking is reduced to £7.50 per week). Although other courses may be cheaper, we have an absolute maximum of 10 students in a class, allowing us to give every child individual attention – every class is fully interactive with activities and notes provided.

It is assumed that students will be studying over two years, but we are aware that some students may wish to condense their study – and we have provided the option to attend both year 1 & 2 in parallel.

For Term Dates & Timetables, please click here.

Once registered, you will have access to the full course which covers all topics for the iGCSE ICT and is aimed at the full 120 – 180 hours of study required for a full Level 2 course. This includes:

  • Video lessons from fully qualified ICT tutor (Holly Billinghurst)
  • Weekly (term time) live group classes with our qualified Computer Science Tutor (Gael Milligan-Grist)
  • Written content and downloadable tasks / worksheets
  • Student message boards for help between lessons
  • Assessment opportunities
    • On Screen quizzes
    • Practical ICT tasks
    • Regular Tutor Marked Assignments throughout the course
  • Tutor marked mock exam (new each year)

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):

  • Current Groups:
    • Tuesdays 9am – 10am

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Exam Fees & Registration Included?

Our course covers the full course content, however students are responsible for registering with an exam centre and ensuring that they have sufficient time to cover the course content prior to exams. Please ensure that your chosen exam centre is willing to offer the iGCSE ICT practical exams.

Tutors and exams

The exam board recommendation for the iGCSE course is 120 – 180 guided learning hours over two years.

We are an approved partner with the Tutors & Exams private exam centre and as such our students are able to apply to book with the UK centres with preferential rates. Please get in touch with us for our T&E partner code once enrolled should you wish to sit your exams with them. This code will be confirmed with us to enable your partner rate.

All T&E exam centres are able to offer the iGCSE ICT exams and our students have regularly sat exams with them for both November and May sessions.

Changes to the iGCSE Specification

We are aware that CIE, like other exam boards have taken the decision to update their specifications. Your exam codes will remain the same, but students studying specifications where the exams are sat in May/June 2023 or later will be undertaking the updated specification which has been significantly extended.

While it is still be possible to complete this in a year, we strongly recommend that parents plan for students to study across two academic years due to the content which now reflects the UK GCSE specifications. The content for our courses reflects the new specification and is regularly updated.

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/Gael 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). All practical examples are shown using MS Office / Visual Studio Code as this is the most likely program that your exam centre will use. Please check with your exam centre to confirm their choice of software as soon as possible.

Does The Course Include Practical ICT 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 ICT skills through a series of regular Tutor Marked Assignments and exam question walkthroughs.

Should we find ourselves in a situation where exams are cancelled and tutor marked grades are used as a replacement, an additional invigilated mock exam and tutor report will be included at no extra charge.

Do You Offer Any Discounts / Taster Lessons?

I am always happy to offer a trial lesson for a one-off payment of £15 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 using the self-paced option with tutor marking, or through individual tuition.

Our IGCSE ICT course allows you to learn at your own pace, covering the key aspects of each of the three exam papers set by CIE, supported by qualified IT/Computer Science teachers.

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 are run by our IT specialist tutors and have been designed to give students the opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback on their progress.

Important note: Our course covers the course content, however students are responsible for registering with an exam center and ensuring that they have sufficient time to cover the course content prior to exams. It is recommended that you allow 180 learning hours for a GCSE course, usually over the course of 18 – 20 months.

OCR Level 1/2 Creative iMedia (Games Design)

OCR Level 1/2 Creative iMedia (Games Design)

iMedia Games Design

Location

Online

Duration

2 Years

Next Start Date

September 2023

Our Cambridge National Award in Creative iMedia has been developed for home educated students interested in Digital Art & Games Design. The specification was updated in 2022.

The OCR National Award in Creative iMedia is a GCSE equivalent qualification, similar to a BTEC that involves the completion of three assessed units:

R094: Visual Identity & Digital Graphics

This coursework unit covers the foundations of digital graphic design and branding. It’s a chance to be creative with concept art, image manipulation, and idea generation.

R099: Digital Games

Once we have developed our digital artwork skills, the Digital Games unit looks into the creative games industry where students design & develop their own games to a brief.

Learners use the professional tools Krita and Game Maker Studio, developing an e-Portfolio for coursework.

R093: Creative iMedia In the Media Industry

This is a mandatory unit that is completed at the end of the course. This exam unit investigates what it’s like to work in traditional and new media sectors, drawing from both coursework units.

Class sizes for Creative iMedia are restricted to a maximum of 10 students. Once class maximums are reached, enrollment will be closed.

Course costs include coursework authentication & marking – exam fees & registration are not included. Exam registration is through Tutors and Exams Centres.

For a free introduction and detailed information about this course, please complete our Creative iMedia Pre-Enrolment Course

Please note that this course follows the updated iMedia Specification for teaching from 2022 (J834). When registering with your Tutors & Exams exam center, please quote Course Code J834, the unit reference, and our partner code.

How you’ll Learn

For the first half term of each unit, you’ll access the course using a week by week set of video and written lessons, supported by a weekly live lesson to help you understand and practice the topic.

After this, you’ll spend the second half term of each coursework unit completing your e-Portfolio and coursework with supervision during each live lesson. For the final exam unit, this second half term includes help with revision and a mock exam.

What Can I Do Next?

As the OCR Nationals are formally recognised as GCSE equivalent qualifications by the JCQ, most colleges will accept these as part of your college application.

Students may go on to A Level Media Studies, Apprenticeships in Digital Media, Cambridge Technicals in IT or Digital Media, or UAL Level 3 Games Design.

Study Hours

You should expect to spend approximately 3 – 4 hours each week on this course over the 32 weeks per year. 1 hour of this will be in your live lesson with the other two working independently.

Marking & Feedback

You will have two large coursework assignments as part of this course. Alongside this, weekly assignments are set to help you prepare for each unit which will be marked and returned to you with feedback from your tutor.

Fees & Exams

The course includes everything needed to complete the course aside from exam entry fees. We are currently partnered with Tutors & Exams.

Course MaterialIncluded in Course Fees
Coursework Marking & AuthenticationIncluded in Course Fees
Exam & Registration FeesNot Included

Course Fees

The fees for the two year course are £15 per taught week, payable monthly or weekly by direct debit.

As we follow term dates, any breaks are not charged, although the online course remains open & available to use for students.

A Level Computer Science Masterclasses

A Level Computer Science Masterclasses

Welcome to the A Level Computer Science masterclasses. Over the course of 26 weeks, we will take you through the key topics that will help you to get to grips with reaching the top grades in your A Level.

Quizzes & Assessments will show at the bottom of each lesson & be available to click once you have watched the lesson video in full.

Message Board

Expand below to see announcements from your tutor:

Click To See Announcements
[ldc_message_board]

Or click here to open the A Level Computer Science Student Forum

These classes are aimed at students in year 12 & 13 studying the following courses and use a combined learning approach that encourages an understanding of why topics span all exam boards and what their own exam paper or assessments will look like:

  • OCR A Level Computer Science (H406 & H446)
  • AQA A Level Computer Science (7516 & 7517)
  • CIE International A Level Computer Science (9618)

Each masterclass lesson includes:

  • a recorded topic video
  • practice tasks to help with revision
  • exam-style questions
  • an optional live group lesson with a qualified tutor 

Additional tutor marked feedback on exam style assignments is available by request, or a playlist of past paper questions & general advice for A Level Computer Science students is below:

Your Progress

The table below shows your current progress with marked Exam Style Questions – the topics shown are reduced to just those studied up to the current half term.

[ld_report_card gradebook=”24159″]

Due to the limitations of the current gradebook code – grades are shown in percentages. Please use the tool below to convert your grade (you will need to select your exam board as these will be different).

Enter your grade percentage as an integer :
Select your exam board :

A Level Grade is:


GCSE Computer Science Masterclasses

GCSE Computer Science Masterclasses

Welcome to the GCSE Computer Science masterclasses. Over the course of 34 weeks, we will take you through the key topics that will help you to excel in your GCSE.

Your lessons are all shown below and will become available to you 7 days before the live lesson date – to check the dates & join your lesson, please go to the Live Lessons page

Quizzes & Assessments will show at the bottom of each lesson & be available to click once you have watched the lesson video in full.

Message Boards

For help & support in between live lessons, please use the online message boards:

GCSE Computer Science Message Boards
Click To See Announcements From Your Tutor
[ldc_message_board]

These classes are aimed at students in year 10 & 11 studying the following courses and use a combined learning approach that encourages an understanding of why topics span all exam boards and what your own exam paper or assessments will look like:

What You Should Do Each Week:

Before the live lesson:

  • Watch the recorded topic video
  • download & try the exam-style questions
  • print the note-taking sheet
  • Check your progress using the “My Progress” Lesson

During the live lesson:

  • Use the notes sheets to record your progress
  • Join in with the activities

After the live lesson:

  • Complete the practice tasks to help with revision
  • Try the quiz for revision
  • Rewatch the video for areas that you missed
KS3 Computing – Group 1

KS3 Computing – Group 1

Welcome to KS3 Computing! Scroll down to open your lessons for the course.

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)

Due to Bank Holidays In May, Week 3 – 5 will take place on Thursdays at 11.30am 

Go to the “Live Lessons” link


It’s Half Term 5!

This is the final unit for this year’s KS3 Computing Course and we will be learning how to use a spreadsheet to create a version of the popular game Wordle.



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.

 

Term Dates 2022/23

Term Half Term 1 Dates Half Term 2 Dates
Autumn term 2022 Starts: Monday 5th September
Ends: Monday 10th October		 Starts: Monday 31st October
Ends: Monday 5th December
Spring term 2023 Starts: Monday 9th January
Ends: Monday 6th February		 Starts: Monday 20th February
Ends: Monday 20th February
Summer term 2023

Starts: Monday 17th April
NO LESSON ON 1st May
Half term: Monday 22nd May

  

 

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 Programming Concepts in Scratch Mondays @11.30am GMT Holly Billinghurst
March – Apr Games in Spreadsheets (ICT) Mondays @11.30am GMT Holly Billinghurst
Apr  – May Python Turtle Programming Mondays @11.30am BST Holly Billinghurst

*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.

iGCSE Computer Science

iGCSE Computer Science

Our IGCSE Computer Science course allows you to learn at your own pace, covering the key aspects of both theory and programming papers, supported by qualified Computer Science teachers.

The most important part of your course is the:

Week By Week Study Plan
Year 1 Live Lessons
Year 2 Live Lessons

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 are run by Holly, a qualified Computer Science teacher and have been designed to give students the opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback on their progress.

Important note: Our course covers the course content, however students are responsible for registering with an exam center and ensuring that they have sufficient time to cover the course content prior to exams.

Quizzes & Assessments will show at the bottom of each lesson & be available to click once you have watched the lesson video in full.

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Your Progress

Click for a preview of the new Student Progress Reports

The new student progress reporting system is currently in Beta. Please continue to use your gradebook below until September 2023.

[student-progress]
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Syllabus Updates

There has been a significant change to the specification for students sitting exams from the summer of 2023.

Sections on lessons shown with a Yellow Heading are updates for the new 2023 specification (this is also highlighted in the lesson title). This specification contains considerably more content and we strongly advise students & parents to complete the course over the recommended full 2 years.