GCSE/A level option extra info
2022-23 saw our best ever results, with highlights being 80% grade 9 at GCSE and 54% A* at A level
Extra information when considering GCSE/A level choices
GCSE
We offer GCSE Computer Science, following the OCR J277 qualification.
This covers a range of topics including:
- CPU hardware
- Memory and storage
- Networks
- System security
- Common algorithms
- Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns
- High-level programming techniques (taught through the Python language)
Assessment is through two 90 minute exams.
—Y10 student 2020-21Studying GCE Computer Science has many benefits. It is one of the most interesting and dynamic subjects. It's not just problem solving and challenges, but also learning about the architecture behind computers and the way we get them to function. Additionally, skills you learn in this course can be used in a wide range of professions beyond school.
A level
We offer Computer Science at A-Level, following the OCR Computer Science A-Level Specification (H446). The course focuses on honing students' computational thinking skills and giving them an in depth understanding of how different technologies work. It covers topics such as:
- High-level programming (including object-oriented)
- Low-level programming (using Little Man Computer)
- How the CPU works
- Website technologies (HTML, CSS and JavaScript)
- Algorithms (sorting data, searching data and finding the shortest route)
During the course students will be required to code a system for real users. They demonstrate this through a project (20% of the A level), which can be written in any appropriate high-level language. The majority of the assessment is based on two 150 minute exams covering computing theory and computational thinking.
For more information please see the video below....