A Digital Deep Dive into the world of Computing at Sheffield Girls’
At Sheffield Girls’, our aim to nurture the digital citizens of the future is no better exemplified than in our outstanding Computing programme, both in the classroom and beyond.
Computing is a core strand of our STEM provision, with pupil uptake of GCSE Computer Science and A Level Computer Science growing year-on-year. Computer Science is also growing in popularity as a post-18 destination, with Class of 2022-2024 leavers gaining competitive places on Computer Science degree courses at the University of Manchester, Nottingham University, Newcastle University and the University of Leeds.
In the Autumn Term, we launched an influx of initiatives to nurture this growing passion for Computing amongst our pupils, enhancing their skills across key areas including coding, robotics, problem-solving, space technology and digital engineering.
Curriculum Initiatives
Year 8 - Programming and Engineering with Python and Lego
Year 8 pupils spent the Autumn Term beginning to build and programme computer controlled devices using Lego Spike Prime kits and Python coding. These lessons enable our girls to experience how programming and engineering can combine to create new devices and systems that help to solve real world problems.
The core focus of these lessons is teamwork and problem-solving, helping pupils to enhance their Girls of Steel character education traits such as collaboration, independence, leadership and creativity.
Lego Spike Prime Kits
Year 9 Apps for Social Action
Year 9 - Apps for Social Action
In the Autumn Term, Year 9 pupils worked in teams to develop a mobile application that will help to solve or address a problem they have identified in society.
Over seven interactive sessions, our pupils took part in a series of industry-designed activities in which they identified a problem to solve, developed and refined their solutions and used coding to programme a prototype app to illustrate their solution. This was followed by pitches to industry experts where each group received feedback on their presentations.
The project culminated in the teams creating videos to showcase their ideas and explain how their app would help to address the problem they identified. Check out the videos below created by Year 9 and click to explore their prototype apps.
Co-Curricular Initiatives
CyberFirst Girls’ Competition
This national competition for girls in Year 8 is organised by the National Cyber Security Centre. The challenge involves problem-solving a range of puzzles on cyber-related topics including logic, cryptography, networking and artificial intelligence.
23 of our intrepid Year 8 students took part this year, with a number of teams achieving fantastic scores and enjoying a deeper insight into careers in cyber security.
Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge
Pupils from Year 7 to Year 12 took part in this year’s Bebras challenge which involved completing challenging problem-solving and logical thinking tasks. We are delighted that 16 of our students received the Bebras Gold Award for achieving scores in the top 10% nationally - well done girls!
CyberFirst Competition
GDST Space Tech Diploma
GDST Space Technology Diploma
Nine of our cosmic-minded Sixth Formers kickstarted their GDST Space Technology Diploma in the Autumn Term as part of their Forging Futures enrichment sessions.
This groundbreaking diploma offers our pupils the opportunity to advance their programming skills whilst learning about the space technology industry. So far our Year 12s have completed two modules in long distance image capture simulation and earth data analysis, and they are looking forward to continuing this fascinating work in the terms ahead.
Our Year 12 students also took an inspirational trip to the Harwell Technology Hub in Oxfordshire where they took part in collaborative coding and met leading female figures from the British Space Industry, having the opportunity to chat to them about their roles and careers.
Looking Forward
To infinity… and beyond! The sky’s the limit with our Computing initiatives and we are so excited to see the innovations continue at Sheffield Girls’ as we respond to an ever-changing digital landscape.
Over the next few terms, pupils in Year 8 and Year 9 will take a deeper dive into the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence and learn how to become critical and effective users of AI; Year 9 will visit the Global IT Hub for HSBC in Sheffield and learn about careers in the technology sector; and following meticulous preparation, our senior pupils will take part in the regional heats of the first Lego League competition in March.
Watch this space for all more news from our Computing programme - we can’t wait for what’s next to come!