Computer Science

Specification: OCR GCSE (9-1) Computer Science (J277)

Our vision is for students to develop a love of technology and acquire the knowledge and skills they need to access the ever-changing world of technology. We aim to develop computational thinking and problem-solving to ensure our students are industry-ready professionals to meet the challenges of the 21st century and create well-rounded and critically thinking individuals.  Thorpe House School follows the National Curriculum, which provides detailed guidance for the implementation of the scheme of work for Computer Science. This ensures continuity and progression in the teaching of the subject.

A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, design, and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils can use information technology to create programs, systems, and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

Course objectives:

The Computer Science Department aims to give the boys the ability to:

•     Understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms, and data representation

•    can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience in writing computer programs to solve such problems

•     can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems

•     are responsible, competent, confident, and creative users of information and communication technology

Assessment:

Paper 1 (Computer Systems) is a written exam and worth 50% of the course total.  No calculators are permitted.  The following topics are covered:

•      Systems architecture

•      Memory and storage

•      Computer networks, connections, and protocols

•      Network security

•      Systems software

•      Ethical, legal, cultural, and environmental

•      Impacts of digital technology

Paper 2  (Computational thinking, algorithms, and programming) is a written exam worth 50% of the course.  The final question is a 15-mark unseen scenario question.  Candidates will be required to write an algorithm using pseudocode, or gram code, for the context provided.  No calculators are permitted.  The following topics are covered: 

The following topics are covered:

•      Algorithm

•      Programming fundamentals

•      Producing robust programs

•      Boolean logic

•      Programming languages 

•       Integrated  development Environments