Cambridge Starter Awards

FUTUREKIDS ICT curriculum is recognised worldwide for its high standards and the skills and abilities that it develops in pupils.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has developed to become an integral part of everyday life. The FUTUREKIDS ICT curriculum and Cambridge Starter Awards have been designed as an introduction to the world of ICT. The syllabus provides a framework in which ICT skills and knowledge can be acquired and developed, in an environment tailored to particular age groups and surroundings.

The scheme of work concentrates on the development of practical skills in using ICT and is age related. It allows pupils to develop the ICT knowledge and skills they require, which will then support learning in any other subject area.

The FUTUREKIDS ICT curriculum is recommended by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate and predominantly aimed at those pupils in primary and secondary education.

At each stage of the scheme, pupils will use ICT to:
· Communicate · Model
· Handle information · Measure and control

FUTUREKIDS partnership with Cambridge uniquely facilitates the teaching and assessment of ICT skills. It also recognises the achievement of pupils by issuing a qualification of real value. The Cambridge certificate will boost confidence and provide a platform on which future successes can be built.

The syllabus and assessments provide a framework through which pupils can be assessed reliably against performance standards.

The Curriculum

The unique partnership provides a comprehensive and structured framework through which pupils can be assessed reliably against performance standards. The course subjects are all based on school type projects so children can adapt easily their skills for other curriculum subjects.

All the Levels of the FUTUREKIDS ICT curriculum are taught through a series of self-contained modules, which are designed so as to initially increase the student's confidence, whilst later providing challenging tasks for them. Each module comes complete with step-by-step classroom activities and encourages that ICT teaching is delivered as an integral part of all curriculum areas.

The FUTUREKIDS ICT curriculum includes comprehensive thematic and project-based lesson plans, electronic templates and suggested web-based resources and activities. FUTUREKIDS also provides onsite implementation training for teachers responsible for the teaching of ICT, as well as comprehensive ICT Professional Development for all staff, if required.

Transition Year Students (On Track, Key Stage 3)

Students concentrate on gaining knowledge of advanced skills, in a real-world context. There are 4 core modules to be completed to achieve the first level of certification. The is also an option of 4 extra modules to achieve the full certificate.

Core Modules		Optional Extra Modules
Documents For a purpose Module 1 Pupils create a Wordprocessing document for a specific audience.		Control for a purpose Module 5 The development and use of sequences of instruction to control devices. Building a sequence of events to solve a problem
Multimedia for a purpose Module 2 Pupils create a multimedia presentation for a specific audience		Web Design for a purpose Module 6 Pupils learn how to create a simple website.
Spreadsheets for a purpose Module 3 Pupils learn how to model using a spreadsheet package		Networks for a purpose Module 7 Pupils learn the basics of IT networks.
Databases for a purpose Module 4 Pupils learn how to design and use different database systems		Video or Animation for a purpose Module 8 Students are introduced to either video editing software or to animation software

Course Length
The suggested time required for the 4 core modules is 30 hours including assessments. To complete all 8 modules - a time frame of 45 hours should be sufficient.

Administration
In the case of 100 children sitting exams, then we will require 15 samples per exam to be submitted to us for moderation, which in turn will be submitted by us to Cambridge.

Cost
Depends on student numbers and who will run the programme i.e. School Staff / IT Coordinator or Futurekids instructors.

References:
Can be provided upon request.