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Computing Science

Curriculum Intent 

 The intent of the Computer Science department is to introduce and enthuse students about what is for many of them a totally new subject.

As a department we are aware that while schools like Beaconsfield High have for over 50 years enabled and encouraged its students to achieve remarkable results across a huge variety of disciplines. In doing so they have challenged the perceptions of what can be achieved, however we are also aware how the perception of women in technology and the perception of the opportunities for our students in Computer Science and other related fields, still suffers.

Our aim is therefore, to demonstrate to the pupils how well they can achieve in technical industries as well as emphasising the social, economic and cultural shifts that are underpinning the industries burgeoning demand for highly technical, highly capable females.

Pre-GCSE we aim to give the students a solid foundation to the principles of Computer Science, by building on prior knowledge and introducing them to new concepts in innovative, practical and challenging activities.

We continue to encourage students who have demonstrated and aptitude for Computer Science to take the subject at GCSE and beyond.  

Year 10 and 11 GCSE Computer Science  

Examination Board: OCR (J277)

Course content and assessment 

Computer Systems  

Builds on learning from Year 9 relating to the functions of and relationships between physical components of computers and networks including the Central Processing Unit (CPU), computer memory and storage, wired and wireless networks, network topologies, system security and system software. Students will become familiar with the impact of Computer Science in a global context through the study of the ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns associated with Computer Science.

Computational thinking, algorithms and programming 

Student will be challenged to apply their knowledge and understanding of computer systems using computational thinking. They will be introduced to algorithms and programming techniques, how to produce robust programs, computational logic, translators and facilities of computing languages and data representation. Students will become familiar with computing related mathematics.  

Programming Project

Students will undertake a programming task which allows them to develop their skills to design, write, test and refine programs using Python (a high-level programming language). Students will be assessed on these skills during the written examinations, in particular Examination 2 (Section B).  

Examination 1: Computer Systems - 90 Minutes

Examination 2: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming - 90 Minutes