Computer Science

Our world is becoming increasingly digital and so a qualification in computer science opens up amazing possibilities for future study and a wide range of careers including software development, cyber security and computer networking. Computer science GCSE offers students the opportunities to gain an understanding of the way computers work and how to create computer programs for real-life purposes.

Assessment is by two written exam papers taken at the end of year 11.

1. Computer systems written exam, this includes a mixture of short and long answer questions about computer hardware, networking and computers in society (50% of total GCSE).
2. Computational thinking, algorithms and programming written exam; this paper assesses your ability to think logically and to plan computer programs (50% of total GCSE).

Students also complete a programming project where they design and code a program using python. Students are not expected to have prior knowledge of programming to study computer science GCSE.

Computer Science is included in the English Baccalaureate measure.