Computer Studies / Computing

Course summary

Computer Science is a challenging and fast-paced subject which considers the way that technology transforms our lives in an increasingly digital world. It has computational thinking at its core, which encourages us to take a complex problem and develop possible solutions using decomposition, abstraction, logical thinking, and algorithms. Computer Science is also a creative subject that involves the innovative thinking and development of ideas through coding. You will learn to become a strong programmer using different programming paradigms. As part of this you will explore many of the standard algorithms used in searching, sorting and pathfinding and will be able to select the most appropriate to use, based on its efficiency and suitability for the problem at hand. A diverse range of theoretical topics are covered, including how computers use logic, number systems, networks, databases and more. The A Level qualification consists of two examined units and one coursework unit. Unit 1: Computer Systems (40%). Unit 2: Algorithms and Programming (40%). Unit 3: Programming Project (20%).