Students who choose to study Computer Science at Key Stage 5 follow the OCR Computer Science A level course. 

Our A level Computer Science qualification helps students understand the core academic principles of computer science. Classroom learning is transferred into creating real-world systems through the creation of an independent programming project. Students develop technical understanding and an ability to analyse and solve problems using computational thinking.

The course is divided into three sections:

• Component 01: Computer systems - Students are introduced to the internal workings of the (CPU), data exchange, software development, data types and legal and ethical issues. It covers the characteristics of contemporary processors, types of software and the different methodologies used to develop software, data exchange between different systems and more.
• Component 02: Algorithms and programming - This builds on component 01 to include computational thinking and problem-solving. It covers areas including computational thinking, problem solving and programming
• Component 03: Programming project - Students apply the principles of computational thinking to a practical coding programming project. They will analyse, design, develop, test, evaluate and document a program written in a suitable programming language. The project is designed to be independently chosen by the student.

Students will complete two written examinations and a Programming project:

• Computer Systems – a 2 hour 30 minute written examination worth 40% of the final grade. The examination will cover the internal workings of the (CPU), data exchange, software development, data types and legal and ethical issues. Calculators are not allowed in the examination.
• Algorithms and Programming – a 2 hour 30 minute written examination, worth 40% of the final grade, in which students will use computational thinking based on the knowledge they have gained throughout the course to solve problems. Calculators are not allowed in the examination.
• Programming project - Students will be expected to analyse a problem, design, develop and test, and evaluate and document a program based on the knowledge they have gained throughout the course. The program must be to solve it written in a suitable programming language and is worth 20% of the final grade.

Students who study Computer Science can go on to gain employment in occupations such as software applications developers, computer systems engineers, network systems administrators, business intelligence analysts, web developers and computer programmers.

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