Computer Science

Thank you for choosing to apply for Attleborough Sixth Form - for further information about our courses, please refer to the course guide on our website.

Applications made before 01 January will be considered while blocking subjects for our timetable. If you apply after this date, the blocking for subjects will have already been determined. If the subjects you have chosen do not fit into the blocking, you will be notified as soon as possible, to arrange a conversation with our Sixth Form team in order to discuss alternatives.

A Computer Science A-Level prepares you for the future in a way that most other subjects don’t. Throughout the A-Level, you will develop thinking skills that allow you to solve problems. You will learn skills, such as programming, that are incredibly valuable in very well[1]paid job roles. It will also give you transferable skills are needed and indeed, control, many other sectors. At A-Level, we teach the AQA specification deliberately to give you an experience which is true to life. 60% of the course is examined through real life programming applications, where you will improve and fix pre-released code and complete a programming project of your own choosing. Many other Sixth Forms in the area don’t offer this. We do as we believe this is much better in preparing you for a career in Computer Science, whether down the academic or applied pathway

You will also further your knowledge on how computers, networks and databases work, including the theory of computation, data representation and data structures. The A-Level in Computer Science truly sets you up for further applied or academic study in Computer Science, and many other Science and Technology based subjects. For more information contact the course leader, Mr Frost: sfrost@Attleboroughacademy.org

A Level Subject content: (Year 1 units in Bold)

• 1 Fundamentals of programming
• 2 Fundamentals of data structures
• 3 Fundamentals of algorithms (AS - Software Development)
• 4 Theory of computation
• 5 Fundamentals of data representation
• 6 Fundamentals of computer systems
• 7 Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture
• 8 Consequences of uses of computing
• 9 Fundamentals of communication and networking
• 10 Fundamentals of databases
• 11 Big Data
• 12 Fundamentals of functional programming
• 13 Systematic approach to problem solving
• 14 Non-exam assessment - the computing practical project

Assessment
Paper 1 : On-screen exam : 2 hours 30 minutes : 40% of A-level

Short questions and write/adapt/extend programs in an Electronic Answer Document provided. This assesses the ability to program, as well as theoretical knowledge of Computer Science from subject content 1-4 above and the skills required from section 13 above.

Paper 2 : Written exam : 2 hours 30 minutes : 40% of A-level
Compulsory short-answer and extended-answer questions. This assesses an ability to answer questions from subject content 5-12 above.

Non-exam assessment : 75 marks : 20% of A-level
This non-exam assessment assesses an ability to use the knowledge and skills gained through the course to solve or investigate a practical problem. You will be expected to follow a systematic approach to problem solving, as covered in section 13 above

GCSE Mathematics 5 | ICT or Computer Science qualification 5 (or equivalent)

Progression into the second year of the course is reliant on students achieving a minimum D grade in the End of Year 1 Exam.

Please note: There is a clear distinction between GCE ICT and GCE Computer Science.

University Courses include, but are not limited to: • Computer Science • Business Information Systems • Graphic/Computer Game Design • Electronic Engineering • Actuarial Science • Robotics • Data analysis • Machine Learning • Artificial Intelligence

Apprenticeships include: • IT/Network/Infrastructure • Technicians • Digital/Social media marketing Website development • Content Management • Graphic/Computer Game Design and Programming