A Level Computer Science
Why Study This Subject?
Are you looking for a challenge? We aim to stretch you and challenge your intellect through real-world problem solving, looking at complex situations and working out how to make computer programs simulate or solve the problems using computational methods. All we ask is that you have some programming experience, are willing to work hard, practice and persevere so that you can enjoy what you do.
You will learn advanced employability skills. The majority of our Computer Science students go on to University after A Levels, and follow computer-related courses, such as computer science, artificial intelligence, software engineering, systems analysis, informatics, web development, networking engineers, games design, games programming etc, or joint courses such as business management with computing or IT. Increasingly this is being seen as a valued A level for STEM based degrees in engineering, aeronautics, astrophysics to name but a few.
Topics you will cover
The A Level Computer Science has topics which are fundamental to Computer Science. The main focus for the A Level specification is the teaching of the constructs of programming languages: procedural, object orientated programming, SQL, HTML, CSS and JavaScript. You will study the underlying data structures and algorithms that support computer programming and the systems architecture and components that provide the computational methods to run. You will learn conceptual and abstract thinking alongside visualisation techniques. We won’t be taking machines apart but we will be looking at how the computer components function – think of it as the ‘biology’ of the computer.
The A Level course is split into three units that are designed to enable you to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. You will also complete a programming project, which will help you to apply knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts of computer science, including how to analyse problems in computational terms and give you the opportunity to analyse, design, program and evaluate computer systems that solve problems, making reasoned judgements about these and presenting conclusions.
Get a Taste For it!
At GCSE you will have probably used PYTHON for procedural programming. At A Level we will use PYTHON for procedural language learning and Java for learning object orientated language learning and a combination of HTML5, CSS, Javascript, PHP and MySQL for web applications. Your project will be developed in a language of your choice or a combination of languages allowing you to develop and program to your strengths.
If you want to learn something BEFORE you start at Greenhead, the best thing to learn is some Python, Java, SQL, HTML5, CSS3 and Javascript. We suggest that you use the W3Schools website for this since it has a lot of great examples (http://www.w3schools.com).
If you want to learn programming in PYTHON then there are plenty of tutorials on the web but we would recommend tutorials through CodeAcademy (https://www.codecademy.com/learn/python)
Entry Guidelines
The admissions criteria for Computer Science A Level is a Grade 4 in English Language, a Grade 6 in GCSE Maths (Level 5 is accepted dependent on programming experience), with some experience of programming being essential.
We also request that students should have attained a Level 6 in Computer Science GCSE and be already programming (if you have not sat GCSE Computer Science or have not attained a Level 6 in GCSE Computer Science, but are already programming – please note this on your application and apply).
This course is about programming and the fundamentals of how a computer system works. It is a science based course with practical and technical aspects, and demands a good level of problem solving skills, mathematical and logical reasoning, and a substantial amount of examined theory.
The Ofqual requirements state that at least 10% of the exam-based assessment must test your ability to use elements of mathematics. Therefore, your mathematics skills should be good. We would recommend that you study A Level Mathematics alongside this subject and A level Physics is also a complementary subject.