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Notre Dame High School

Notre Dame
High School

Computer Science

Why study Computer Science?

 

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Our Computer Science qualification will be relevant to the modern and changing world of computing and the higher education community.  It will have an open-source ethos allowing you to use any programming language that meets the needs of the course.  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 intervention and excitement, that can look at the natural world though a digital prism.  Computational thinking, helping students to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand the power and limits of human and machine intelligence.  These are concepts at the heart of our qualification.

Advances in computing are transforming the way we work and our new and exciting Computer Science A-Level are changing with the times.  The new specification will: 

Focus on programming, building on our GCSE Computing and emphasise the importance of computational thinking as a discipline.

  • Have an expanded maths focus, much of which will be embedded within the course.
  • Put computational thinking at its core, helping students to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand human and machine intelligence.
  • Allow students to apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real world systems in an exciting and engaging manner.
  • Give students a clear progression into higher education, as the course was designed after consultation with members of BCS, CAS and top universities.

Entry Requirements
A GCSE in this subject

Exam Board
OCR

Course Structure 

Year 12 Component 1: Computer Systems Component 2: Algorithms and Programming
Autumn 1 Components of a computer and their uses  
Autumn 2 Systems Software  
Spring 1 Software Development  
Spring 2 Exchanging Data*  
Summer 1 Networks and web technologies* *Legal and cultural issues
Summer 2 Data Types*  

 

Year 13 Component 1: Computer Systems Component 2: Algorithms and Programming
Autumn 1   *Data structures
Autumn 2   *Data Structures/ Algorithms
Spring 1   *Programming Techniques
Spring 2   *Computational Thinking
Summer 1   *Boolean Algebra
Summer 2    

*Programming Project is worked on alongside the theory.

Where will this subject lead me? 

This qualification will be the best preparation for students who want to go on to study Computer Science at a higher level or even walk straight into a job and will also provide a good grounding for other subject areas that require computational thinking and analytical skills.

You can watch a great series of videos of people who are working in jobs that use Computing on  icould.

For example university degree courses and careers that lead from this subject click here.

Green Careers: This is a significant growth sector with a wide variety of roles.  Check out our webpage to find out more.

Creative Industries: explore a wide selection of creative careers

Apprenticeship courses: Info on what an apprenticeship is and courses available

Contact a Teacher 

If you have any subject specific questions that you'd like to ask.  You are very welcome to contact the relevant Head of Subject.  To find their email address click on Teaching Staff.  For general enquiries, contact the 6th Form Team.