For entry into the Sixth Form to study 3 A' Levels, students are required to achieve 5 grades at 9-5 (or where applicable A*-C) including English Language and Mathematics at Grade 4 or above.

In exceptional cases, students that do not reach the entry criteria based on their attainment in English or mathematics will be admitted to the 6th form with the addition of GCSE retake classes in the appropriate subject to their timetable. This based on 6th form discretion.

While we would encourage students to study 3 A levels, in exceptional cases and following conversation at interview we may support a student to study 4. All students will have the option to study for Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) alongside their A levels.

A grade 6 is recommended in any subject that a student wishes to continue at A Level. Students are welcome to discuss entry criteria for specific subjects and to ensure that their subject choices match their goals and aspirations.

Students wishing to study Mathematics require a grade 6 and in Further Maths require a Grade 7 in the subject at GCSE.

A Level Computer Science

AQA 7516 & 7517

This course encourages students to develop:

• an understanding of, and the ability to apply, the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms and data representation
• the ability to analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including writing programs to do so
• the capacity for thinking creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically
• the capacity to see relationships between different aspects of computer science
• mathematical skills related to:
• Boolean algebra
• comparison and complexity of algorithms (A-level only)
• number representations and bases
• the ability to articulate the individual (moral), social (ethical), legal and cultural opportunities and risks of digital technology.

Course details:

Year 1:

The first year provides the foundation knowledge to make the transition from GCSE to A-level, topics include: Fundamentals of Programming; Data Representation; Computer Organisation and Architecture; Problem Solving and Theory of Computation; Hardware and Software; Data Structure.

Year 2:

The second year builds upon the fundamentals gained in year 1 and leads to the A-level assessments (2½ hr on-screen exam 40%, 2½ hr written exam 40%, non-exam assessment 20%). Topics include: Communication: Technology and Consequences; Algorithms; Regular Languages; The Internet; Fundamentals of Databases; Fundamentals of OOP and Functional Programming. Non-exam assessment is an independently tackled project where a student solves or investigates a practical problem using a systematic approach.

To complete an A Level in this subject it is necessary to achieve a Grade 5 at GCSE, although we strongly advise that students should be looking at achieving at least a Grade 6 at GCSE to have a secure platform for entry on to the course.

Where can Computing lead you?

Any career or further education course that involves ICT or a branch of computing will be enhanced by this course. Although many courses do not demand an A level in computing, past experience shows that many students benefit immensely by having this basic knowledge and understanding. In this technologically dependent world any computer skilled student will be highly sought after.