Computer Studies / Computing

Entry Requirements

There are no formal GCSE requirements, though students should note that this is a rigorous academic course, requiring numeracy and strong logical abilities. The emphasis in the teaching is on understanding rather than simple learning, as computing as a discipline is extremely fast moving. You should have good mathematical/ verbal/written skills with an ability to think logically, creatively and critically. Strong candidates are those who can quickly infer patterns from information they are presented with, and then extrapolate these to deal with new situations. Although candidates are taught to write programs in PYTHON, the practical exercise itself is self-led, so a high level of determination is required to complete it to the standard required in the time available. Computer Science is not offered to GCSE, so the level of effort required right from the start of this course is one of the highest. Those aiming to study the subject at university should seriously consider studying Maths to A-Level.