A-LEVEL COMPUTER SCIENCE
IT & COMPUTING
In recent years our students have designed award-winning apps and learned about the very latest in computing . These courses will prepare you for top apprenticeships , university courses and careers in the industry . You will develop technical skills and knowledge that will help you go far .
A-LEVEL COMPUTER SCIENCE
REASONS TO STUDY THIS COURSE
3 Computer Science is directly relevant to the modern and changing world of computing .
3 It is a practical subject where students can apply knowledge gained to write code , design websites and interrogate databases .
3 It combines creativity with opportunities to analyse and make decisions .
3 Emphasis on problem solving using computers , programming and mathematical / logic skills .
WHAT YOU WILL STUDY
Year 1 ( AS ) – characteristics of contemporary processors , input , output and storage devices , software and software development , exchanging data , data types , data structures and algorithms , legal , moral , cultural and ethical issues . Year 2 ( A-Level ) – elements of computational thinking , problem solving and programming , algorithms , project management .
HOW YOU WILL BE ASSESSED
Year 1 ( AS ) - two exams Year 2 ( A-Level ) - two exams , each 40 % plus a project worth 20 %.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO TAKE THIS COURSE
• minimum GCSE Maths grade 5 ( 6 preferred )
• minimum average GCSE pass of 5.5
PROGRESSION
University courses in Computer Science , Software Engineering , Information Systems . Careers as a software engineer , business analyst or web developer .
PRIESTLEY EXTRA
Opportunities to enter competitions such as British Informatics Olympiad and the National Cipher Competition . Visits from Barclays Bank , RAF and local website and app developers . Day trips which include lectures and workshops .
46 See page 24 for vocational qualifications key .