Computer Science

Subject Overview

Developing on from their Computer Science skills learnt in primary school, students will go on to learn the theory and practical sides of the subject. We aim to prepare our students for GCSE Computer Science (optional) by introducing them to website creation, physical programming with BBC micro:bits, Python and much more.

What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?

You should be interested in computers and programming. It is an advantage to have some programming experience, such as using Scratch or Python, however it is not essential for the course. You will be keen to find out more about how computers work, how software is designed, written and tested, and how computers are protected from threats such as viruses and hackers.

Is this subject right for me?

Computer Science has an impact on almost every aspect of our modern lives. Understanding how computers work, and how they can be used, is a vital skill for today and for the future. If you want to learn more about how computers are used in everyday life, and how you could be one of the people who designs new computer systems, services and applications, then a Computer Science GCSE is a great place to start.

What will I learn?

The ability to create solutions to problems, and to write computer programs to implement these solutions in an effective way, plus a firm grounding in computing theory and an appreciation of the huge role that computers play in modern life. You will be develop valuable problem-solving and programming skills that will be useful in other subjects as well as in future studies and employment.

Topics

Computer Systems

• How computers work

• Computer networks, the internet and Cloud technologies

• Cyber security

Computational Thinking

• Problem-solving

• Designing algorithms

• Boolean logic

Programming

• Programming languages

• Software development

• Data types and databases

Where could it lead?

Computer Science skills are in high demand across a very wide range of fields, from banking and finance to computer game design, cyber security to web site design, and from aerospace and military applications to healthcare and education.

A Computer Science GCSE can be used as a stepping stone to A Level or other Computing Level 3 qualification or, if you are unsure what you want to do in the future, it can support developing your problem-solving and creative skills whether you choose the Arts or Sciences Post-16.

Assessment Summary

The Examination Board used is OCR and there are two exam papers at the end of the course, one focusing on Computer Systems and one on Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming. Each paper lasts 1 hr 30 mins.

You will also be required to complete a programming project in the final year of the course. Following recent changes this project is not assessed separately, but questions related to practical programming will feature in the second exam paper.