Computer Science qualifications are, above all else, relevant to the modern and changing world of computing and they are also relevant to the Higher Education community. This A Level can be tailored to your individual needs and has an open-source ethos allowing you to use any programming language that you wish to. Whilst we teach the course through Python you may choose an alternative language if you wish. We follow the OCR specification.
“This subject is highly relevant in the continual changing world of technology. It allows you to become competent and able to engage effectively with technology-based industries. The subject has a particular level of appeal as it enables you to understand the ‘magic’ behind everyday use of computing technology. Computer Science appeals to my methodical and analytical thinking. It is clearly structured and Mr Nicholson makes it fun, relevant and engaging. The subject is challenging and really makes me think. As a result, there is a huge sense of achievement and satisfaction when I complete a tricky task.”
Simon
Mr Nicholson
Head of Computer Science
Computer Science is a practical subject where you can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real-world systems. It is an intensely creative subject that combines invention and excitement and can look at the natural world through a digital prism. The course values computational thinking, helping you to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand the power and limits of human and machine intelligence. These are the concepts that lie at the heart of the qualification. They will be the best preparation for students who want to go on to study computer science at a higher level and will also provide a good grounding for other subject areas that require computational thinking and analytical skills. You will also have an excellent foundation to go straight into employment in the industry. The qualification is focused on programming, building on GCSE Computing and has an expanded maths focus.
Content
1. The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices
2. Software and software development
3. Exchanging data
4. Data types, data structures and algorithms
5. Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues
6. Elements of computational thinking
7. Problem solving and programming
8. Algorithms to solve problems and standard algorithms
Assessment
There are two exam papers of 2 hours 30 minutes each and a Programming project.
Paper 1 assesses content on computer systems. It contains a mixture of short answer, long answer and extended response questions.
Paper 2 assesses content on algorithms and programming. It contains a mixture of short answer, long answer and written response questions.
The Programming project will be submitted in the form of a report that will contain the solution to a problem, written in a suitable programming language.
Entry Requirements
Minimum 66555 including 6 in Computing (if taken) and 5 in Mathematics.
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