Computer Studies / Computing
Course summary
This course has been designed for students who wish to go on to higher education courses or employment where knowledge of Computing would be beneficial. You can study Computing and go on to a career in medicine, law, business, politics or any type of science. The course is not about learning to use tools or just training in a programming language, although you will learn how to programme. The emphasis is on computational thinking which is a reasoning used by both humans and machines. Thinking computationally is an important life skill and requires the use of abstraction and decomposition. The study of computation is about what can be computed and how to compute it. Computer Science involves questions that have the potential to change how we view the world. For example, we may be computing with DNA at some stage in the future, with computer circuits made of genes. This leads to the question, does the natural world ‘compute’? Experimental Computer Science can be done with computers, where we can learn more about the natural world by observing the emergent behaviour of a colony of interacting software agentsin a simulation. Computing/Computer Science is about designing new algorithms to solve new problems. In this sense, Computer Science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes. Many great challenges lie in the future for Computer Scientists to solve. This course, with its emphasis on abstract thinking, general problem-solving, algorithmic and mathematical reasoning, and scientific and engineering-based thinking, is a good foundation for understanding these future challenges.
Entry Requirements
Checked against your grades — every rule traces to the school's published source.
| Requirement | Rule | You |
|---|---|---|
GCSE qualifications | 5 gcse qualifications at grade 4.0 or above | — |
Mathematics | Grade 6 in Mathematics | — |
Computer Science | Grade 6 in Computer Science | — |
English Language | Grade 4 in English Language | — |
English Literature Alternative route | Grade 4 in English Literature | — |
As published by the school
• 5 Grades 9-4 • Grade 6 in GCSE Computing/ICT • Grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics • Grade 4 in English Language or Literature If you have a real interest in the subject, but do not meet the entry criteria, please contact Mr Kessler who will arrange an interview for suitability.
Am I eligible?
Eligibility:Sign in to check eligibilitySign in and add your predicted grades to check this course against them — no verdict is implied without your grades.
Assessment
On screen exam: 2 hours 30 minutes 40 % of A Level. This paper tests the students’ ability to programme and their theoretical knowledge. Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes, 40 % of A Level. This paper will test the students’ knowledge of the subject content. Non-exam assessment (coursework): 20% of A Level. This is an opportunity for the student to demonstrate their skills and knowledge, investigating and solving a practical problem.
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