computer science

Entry Requirements

Grade 6 in Computing GCSE or Grade 6 in Maths and keen interest in programming and computing technologies.

Exam Board

OCR

Why Choose Computer Science?

Computer Science is a modern, exciting subject, which encourages students to think creatively, logically and critically and to develop advanced problem solving skills. Students choose to study Computer Science because they are passionate about computers and want to learn about programming, computer architecture, computer networks and many other areas. Computer Science allows students to develop a working knowledge of the technologies and principles behind modern computer systems. Computer Science provides students with transferrable skills such as analysis, critical thinking and problem solving. Students will learn as part of the course to code in industry standard languages such as Python, PHP, SQL and JavaScript.

What is Involved?

In Computer Science you will study a wide range of topics, divided into three main areas:

Computer Systems (assessed with a 2½ hour written examination paper accounting for 40% of the A-level course) covering areas such as:

• The characteristics of contemporary computer processors and system architectures
• Software and software development methods
• Exchanging data – Data compression, database concepts and transaction processing
• Data Types and data structures
• Computer networks and web technologies (HTML/CSS and JavaScript)
• Boolean algebra – Logic gates and logic circuits

Algorithms and Programming (assessed with a 2½ hour written examination paper accounting for 40% of the A-level course) covering areas such as:

• Elements of computational thinking (decomposition, abstraction, pattern recognition)
• Algorithm analysis and design to solve
• Introduction to programming (using Python)
• Advanced programming – Object Oriented Programming techniques

Practical Programming Project (accounting for 20% of the A-level course).

• Students are to solve a programming problem of their choice and are free to develop a solution in any language(s) they wish.

Key Stage 5 Curriculum Maps