This course is designed for students who wish to further their knowledge of computer science. It is designed to teach students logical problem solving and develop their practical programming skills.

Course content:

Year 12

In the Lower Sixth, students will build upon their knowledge gained at GCSE. They will explore the fundamentals of programming using the C# programming language. Students will delve deeper into more complex programming concepts and techniques such as object-orientated programming (OOP). Students will learn about the different data structures and algorithms, preparing them to solve real-world problems. Alongside this, students will study database design and the SQL programming language.

Year 13

In the Upper Sixth, students will examine the social, moral and ethical issues of technology. Students will also delve deeper into the fundamentals of computer systems, including binary, Boolean algebra and systems hardware. They will also have the opportunity to put all their learning into practice by completing the NEA programming project. Students will research, design, develop and test a software solution of their choosing.

Assessment criteria:

2 externally-assessed written papers worth 40% each (one of which is a practical programming paper completed on the computer) and a NEA project worth 20%.
Both examination papers are 2 hours 30 minutes long.