Hartismere School

Est. 1451. An outstanding coeducational secondary school & sixth form college and England's first academy

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A Level Computer Science

What is it all about?

A level Computer Science builds upon the knowledge and skills developed at GCSE by going into greater depth, particularly with the workings of the CPU, operating systems, web technologies and programming. We have had many successful students who have studied this without taking GCSE computer science, but it would be a steep learning curve.

What do we study?

The course is split into two units at AS (year 12) and three in year 13 for the full A level: 

1. Computer systems: What we learn about includes the workings of the CPU, how software is created and the different types of software, how data is stored and represented in computers, how data is transferred between computers and the impacts of technology.

2. Algorithms and programming: This is all about understanding computational thinking and programming. We do quite a bit of programming using C# to develop experience coding.

3. Programming project: In year 13, students have the opportunity to develop a piece of software of their choice for an end user. They will use an Agile methodology to design, implement and test the program. This is a substantial bit of work but allows students to massively develop their programming ability.

Why would it be useful?

Students have expressed how the problem solving they have developed in computer science has complimented work in other subjects. Even if not actively pursuing a career in the industry, knowledge of how computers operate can only help in the modern world. Every year we have students go on to study computer related subjects at university, degree apprenticeships or straight into employment. The range of careers in the computing industry is massive. There are industries within industries! You have software development, hardware development, database management, web development, cyber security, network management, and many more.

 

We follow the OCR specification

Taking A Level Computer Science

A Level CS: Algorithm Assembly Instructions

Toyota Virtual Plant Tour

How robots are taking over warehouse work

Coding Challenges for GCSE and A Level Computer Science

In this section...

Essential programming skills to learn

C# Cook Books

Sorting Visualiser

Online Little Man Computer - CPU simulator

Programming software

GCSE Computer Science

CPU Fetch-Decode-Execute Animation

C# Yellow Book

See also...

50 Things to Learn for Creative iMedia

Apprenticeships

Design and Technology: Literacy

Mathematics

Higher Education

Business and Media

Sixth Form

Binary addition 1

Key Stage 4 Practical lessons

History

Explore...

Candidate Information - Written exams

Candidate Information - Non-examination assessments

External private candidates

MegaProcessor - the largest CPU in the world

Year 9 One Lesson Task :: Goal Seek [Spreadsheet]

Candidate Information - Coursework Assessments

unifrog

theoutdoorscompany Kit Order form

Completing the Award

Information for Employers

New...

Learnit Physics Unit 7: Magnets

Admissions and Application Forms :: Main School and Sixth Form

School Policies

Teacher of Health & Social Care

Teacher of Sociology

Subject Lead - Health & Social Care

Useful Careers Websites

Parents Evening :: Year 8

Discover...

ICT Computer Science A Level CS Student Information A Levels A Level C# Revision Technology Year 9 Options Year 11 Algorithms Health and Social Care Vacancies Archive GCSE Year 11 Revision Ethics exhibition Link Physics Programming Evening

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