Our Courses
Computer Science
WHY STUDY THIS COURSE?
It’s a great way to develop critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills, which can be transferred to further learning and to everyday life. The aims of this qualification are to enable learners to develop:
- An understanding and ability to apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science, including Abstraction, Decomposition, Logic, Algorithms and Data Representation.
- The ability to analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems including writing programs to do so.
- The capacity to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically.
- The capacity to see relationships between different aspects of computer science.
- Mathematical skills.
WHAT DOES THIS QUALIFICATION COVER?
This course covers a comprehensive range of computer science topics, including hardware, software, computational thinking and algorithms. Modules include:
- The characteristics of contemporary processors
- Software and software development
- Exchanging data
- Data types, data structures and algorithms
- Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues
- Problem solving and programming
- Algorithms to solve problems and standard algorithms
WHAT WILL I STUDY?
Unit 1 – Computer systems (40%)
- The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices
- Software and software development
- Exchanging data
- Data types, data structures and algorithms
- Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues
Unit 2 – Algorithms and programming (40%)
- Elements of computational thinking
- Problem solving and programming
- Algorithms to solve problems and standard algorithms
Unit 3 – Programming Project (20%)
- The learner will choose a computing problem to work through according to the guidance in the specification.
- Analysis of the problem
- Design of the solution
- Developing the solution
- Evaluation
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
Two exams in the second year
Unit 1 – 2.5 hours – Worth 40% of final grade
Unit 2 – 2.5 hours – Worth 40% of final grade
The programming project for Unit 3 is submitted and marked during the second year, this is worth 20% of the final grade.
WHERE CAN IT LEAD?
Students who want to go on to higher study and employment in the field of Computer Science will find it provides a superb stepping stone, it will also provide a good grounding for other subject areas that require computational thinking and analytical skills.
COURSE MATERIALS
QUALIFICATION
A Level
EXAM BOARD
OCR
COURSE STAFF
Mr N Lilleker
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A minimum of a 5 in Maths is required, if GCSE Computer Science was studied, you must have achieved a minimum of grade 5.
A-Level Subjects
BTEC & Diplomas
Double BTECs & Diplomas
