Computer Studies / Computing

Course summary

A Level Computer Science is an exciting but demanding subject that will help you develop an analytical, problem-solving approach, which is sometimes called 'computational thinking’. The course will equip you with the fundamentals of problem-solving, which you will put into practice by developing computer programs using Python. It is crucial that you spend time every week developing your programming skills outside lessons. In the second year of the course, you will undertake a significant programming project which you will choose yourself. You will learn about the computer as an electronic device, and some of the core fundamentals of computing such as logic gates, Boolean algebra and number bases. Networks and internet technologies such as encryption are important areas of the course, and you will learn both the underlying theory and recent developments in this fast-changing area. You will also learn about some of the ways that computer technology has made an impact on society.