Computer Science

Staff

Teacher Mrs K. Ward

Teacher Mrs K. Finnegan

Curriculum

GCSE

This course is suitable for young people who want to explore and investigate programming and the more technical use of ICT in every day life. You are most likely to enjoy the subject if you have a real interest in how computers work, you are a logical thinker, you enjoy problem solving and are interested in learning a programming language.

OCR’s GCSE (9–1) in Computer Science will encourage learners to:

understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms, and data representation
analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including designing, writing and debugging programs.
think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically
understand the components that make up digital systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems
understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual and to wider society
apply mathematical skills relevant to Computer Science

The course consists of the following units:

Component 01: Computer systems

Introduces students to the central processing unit (CPU), computer memory and storage, data representation, wired and wireless networks, network topologies, system security and system software. It also looks at ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns associated with computer science.

Component 02: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming

Students apply knowledge and understanding gained in component 01. They develop skills and understanding in computational thinking: algorithms, programming techniques, producing robust programs, computational logic and translators.

Practical programming

Students are to be given the opportunity to undertake a programming task(s) during their course of study which allows them to develop their skills to design, write, test and refine programs using a high-level programming language. Students will be assessed on these skills during the written examinations, in particular component 02 (section B).

Assessment Overview

Form of Assessment

Duration

Weighting

Taken

01 Computer systems.

This paper consists of multiple choice questions, short response questions and extended response questions.

1 hour 30 mins

50%

Summer Year 12

02 Computational thinking, algorithms and programming.

This paper has two sections: Section A and Section B.

Section A contains a range of short and extended questions on algorithms, programming, producing robust programs, conputational logic and translators.

In Section B, questions assessing students’ ability to write or refine algorithms must be answered using either the OCR Exam Reference Language or C#.