Using a text editor such as Notepad, pupils are also introduced to computer programming and web site development, including HTML, CSS and JavaScript. The course helps pupils develop critical thinking, analysis and problem solving skills. For many, it is a fun and interesting way to develop these skills, which can be transferred to other subjects and even applied in day-to-day life.

Most lessons contain an element of practicality, centred on a given task. The task may involve the use of one or more applications and should stretch the abilities of each pupil.

The context of the work should be familiar and relevant to the pupils, so that they may concentrate on making good use of the computers. All pupils in a given class complete the work set and produce a verifiable result, which may be a presentation, an interactive web page or a simple calculator programme that can add, subtract, multiply or divide two numbers and that can be run in a web browser.

Where pupils work at a faster rate, the ICT teaching staff introduce additional programming skills or extra features within the software, on an individual basis, or ask the pupil to produce an extra piece of academic work.