KS4 - GCSE Computer Science
The vast majority of us use computers in our day-to-day lives. Computer Science teaches you the knowledge and understanding to make computers work for you. It gives students a wide range of skills that can even apply in other subjects, opening doorways to many new and emerging career paths.
In KS4, GCSE Computer Science is an optional subject, taught for three lessons per week. We have recently moved to the Edexcel syllabus (1CP2) which is the only exam board that runs a computer based practical exam. This gives a better ‘real world’ experience of coding, unlike the other boards that do paper-based coding examinations. Students will learn about how algorithms, such as flow charts, help to create a working solution. They will also learn the programming language of Python using the techniques of sequence, selection, iteration, storing data in arrays and using procedures and functions and apply their knowledge to real-life scenarios in order to find the solution to a given problem.
The GCSE is assessed with two exams. For the overall grade, each exam is worth 50% of the marks. The first is a written exam, Principles of Computer Science, covers how a computer works, including hardware and software elements as well as networks and security. Students will also gain knowledge on the concepts of Binary and Hexadecimal, including how they are used to represent data and in Boolean logic. They will also study the ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology.
The second is the practical exam, Application of
Computational Thinking, where students use their knowledge of Python, to debug
and correct errors in code given to them, to ensure the code works correctly.
They will also need the skills to write the code to create functional programs
for a given scenario with very little code given to them.
KS5 - A Level Computer Science
In KS5 students can choose to study A Level Computer Science which is taught over five lessons a week in Year 12 and six lessons a week in Year 13. It aims to develop technical understanding and the ability to analyse and solve problems using computational thinking.
We follow the OCR syllabus, assessed by two exams and a coursework submission. For the overall grade, each exam is worth 40% of the marks and the coursework is worth 20%.
For the first exam paper, Computer Systems, students will gain knowledge and understanding of the internal workings of the (CPU), data exchange, software development, data types and legal and ethical issues.
The second exam paper, Algorithms and Programming, teach students to use computational thinking to solve problems and understanding the processes and uses of sort and search algorithms. All teaching is done using Python Programming for examples.
The NEA (Non-Examined Assessment) Coursework expects students to develop a solution to a problem. For this, they can use a programming language of their choosing. They need to propose a problem, develop a design, implement their design, test their system against their success criteria and evaluate their solution.
Both courses encompass key skills which will equip students
for this ever-changing digital society. They will gain confidence in working
independently, show resilience and determination to succeed when the code
crashes (and it will!), to find other solutions.