Network protocols lesson for AQA GCSE Computer Science (8525), with editable PowerPoint slides, a student worksheet and full answers. A protocol is an agreed set of rules for communication; students meet common ones such as HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, IMAP and TCP/IP.

Written for Paper 2 Computing concepts, section 3.5 Computer networks (spec 3.5.1.6, 3.5.1.7). Everything is editable, so you can adapt it to your class.

What’s included

• PowerPoint lesson (13 slides) with teacher notes on every slide
• Student worksheet (Word), ready to print or edit
• Answer sheet (Word) with mark-scheme style answers for every question

AQ2.35 Network protocols

By the end of the lesson students can:

• Define the term network protocol
• Explain the purpose of TCP, IP, HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP and IMAP
• Choose the protocol used at each step of a real task, such as sending an email

Worksheet sections: A. Match the protocols; B. Buying concert tickets; C. Correct the mistakes; D. Exam-style questions; E. Challenge

Every lesson includes

• Learning goals and a starter question
• Clear explanations, diagrams and worked examples (Python 3 throughout, with AQA pseudo-code alongside so students can read exam algorithms)
• A quick check and a “your turn” task linked to the worksheet
• Exam-style questions with marks, and an exit ticket

Format

• PowerPoint (.pptx) and Word (.docx), fully editable
• Works in PowerPoint and Google Slides
• Bright, clear GCSE design, consistent across the whole course

These are independent resources written for the AQA GCSE Computer Science specification (8525, version 1.3), for exams from 2027. They are not produced or endorsed by AQA. Spec point numbers are our own numbering of the specification statements.

More lessons in this series

• Previous lesson: Wired and wireless networks – AQA GCSE Computer Science lesson
• Next lesson: The TCP/IP model – AQA GCSE Computer Science lesson
• Save with the bundle: Computer networks – AQA GCSE Computer Science (5 lessons)

Last updated: November 2026.