The Computer Science specification will above all else be relevant to the modern and changing world of computing. The specification will: - Focus on programming and emphasise the importance of computational thinking as a discipline. - 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. - Allow students to develop an understanding of and ability to apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science including; abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms and data representation. - Give students a clear progression into higher education, as the course was designed after consultation with members of BCS, CAS and top universities. - Learners will develop an ability to analyse, critically evaluate and make decisions. The project approach is a vital component of ‘post-school’ life and is of particular relevance to Further Education, Higher Education and the workplace. Each learner is able to tailor their project to fit their individual needs, choices and aspirations.