Computer Science is a practical subject where students can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real world systems. It is an intensely creative subject that combines invention and excitement, that can look at the natural world through a digital prism. The course highly values computational thinking, helping learners to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand the power and limits of human and machine intelligence. The subjects explored include: operating systems and data types; algorithm design and efficiency; problem-solving; programming languages; software development; legal, moral and ethical issues.
A positive attitude and commitment to the subject is expected. Students will be expected to demonstrate basic programming skills in at least one high-level language, for example Python. Students should have studied Computer Science at GCSE. A grade 9-6 in Maths is desirable to enable students to access the mathematical aspects of the course.
The course is assessed at the end of two years through two written examinations and a practical project. The programming project component is a practical portfolio based assessment with a task that is chosen by the student. It is produced using an appropriate programming language. The project is worth 20% of the final grade. The computing principles component contains the majority of the content of the course and is assessed in a written exam worth 40% of the final grade. The algorithms exam relates principally to problem solving skills needed by students to apply their theory knowledge; it is very skills-based and is worth 40% of the final grade.
About Education Provider
| Region | West Midlands |
| Local Authority | Staffordshire |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | Unknown |
| Sixth Form Fee | £10,617 - £16,641 |
| Address | The Palace, The Close, Lichfield, WS13 7LH |
Computer Science is a practical subject where students can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real world systems. It is an intensely creative subject that combines invention and excitement, that can look at the natural world through a digital prism. The course highly values computational thinking, helping learners to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand the power and limits of human and machine intelligence. The subjects explored include: operating systems and data types; algorithm design and efficiency; problem-solving; programming languages; software development; legal, moral and ethical issues.
A positive attitude and commitment to the subject is expected. Students will be expected to demonstrate basic programming skills in at least one high-level language, for example Python. Students should have studied Computer Science at GCSE. A grade 9-6 in Maths is desirable to enable students to access the mathematical aspects of the course.
The course is assessed at the end of two years through two written examinations and a practical project. The programming project component is a practical portfolio based assessment with a task that is chosen by the student. It is produced using an appropriate programming language. The project is worth 20% of the final grade. The computing principles component contains the majority of the content of the course and is assessed in a written exam worth 40% of the final grade. The algorithms exam relates principally to problem solving skills needed by students to apply their theory knowledge; it is very skills-based and is worth 40% of the final grade.