Computer Science

Course summary

To succeed in this course, it is essential to have achieved a good grade in Computer Science at GCSE. A keen interest and enthusiasm for this subject, especially programming is also required. Computer Science is a practical subject where students can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real-world systems. It’s an intensely creative subject that combines invention and excitement, and can look at the natural world through a digital prism. Computer systems This component will introduce you to the internal workings of the Central Processing Unit (CPU), the exchanging of data, and also looks at software development, data types and legal and ethical issues. The following are tested: 1. The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices 2. Software and software development 3. Exchanging data (How data is exchanged between different systems) 4. Data types, data structures and algorithms 5. Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues. Content of Algorithms & Programming You will understand what is meant by computational thinking, and understand the benefits of applying computational thinking to solving a wide variety of problems: 1. Elements of computational thinking 2. Problem solving and programming 3. Algorithms Programming project You will analyse, design, develop, test, evaluate and document a program written in a suitable programming language for real users. OPPORTUNITIES AFTER THE COURSE This A-level will give you a significant advantage if you decide to read Computer Science or a related degree at university. It is also a good base for several other degree areas such as Engineering or Digital Media, where the ability to program will be very useful. It is also recognised by the Russell Group as being useful in a wide range of subjects including mathematics, geography and several science degrees. Some universities also require a good grade in a mathematics A-level in order to progress onto their Computer Science courses.