Computer Science - A Level

Ready to shape the digital future? A Level Computer Science is designed for students who want to progress to higher education or employment where a strong understanding of computing is essential. In our increasingly technological world, knowing how computers are used to solve a variety of problems is a highly sought-after skill. This course provides a fantastic foundation for understanding future challenges, with its focus on data abstraction, problem-solving, algorithms, mathematical reasoning, and scientific and engineering thinking.

What You'll Learn
This A Level encourages you to develop a deep understanding of computer science and its applications. You'll cultivate:

*An understanding and the ability to apply the fundamental principles of computer science, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms, and data representation.
*The ability to analyse problems in computational terms and solve them practically using an object-oriented methodology.
*The capacity for creative, innovative, analytical, logical, and critical thinking.
*The capacity to see relationships between different aspects of computer science.
*Mathematical skills, as computer science uses mathematics to express computational laws and processes (e.g., Boolean algebra, complexity of algorithms, number representations and bases).
*The ability to articulate the individual (moral), social (ethical), legal, and cultural opportunities and risks of digital technology.

Computer Science integrates well with subjects across the curriculum, demanding both logical discipline and imaginative creativity in designing algorithms and writing, testing, and debugging programs. You'll also gain an understanding of the rules of language at a fundamental level and develop an awareness of managing and organising computer systems. You could go on to a career in engineering, business, forensics, games, multimedia, or any type of science with a Computer Science qualification.

Here's how your learning journey will unfold:
*AS Level (40% of full A Level):
Unit 1 – Fundamentals of Computer Science: You'll investigate computer architecture, communication, data representation, data structures, software applications, programs, algorithms, logic, programming methodologies, and the impact of computer science on society.
Unit 2 – Practical Programming to Solve Problems: This unit involves a series of on-screen tasks where you'll apply your knowledge practically, using Visual Basic.Net as your programming language.

*A Level (the above plus a further 3 units):
A2 Level (60% of full A Level)
Unit 3 – Programming and System Development: This unit focuses on algorithm analysis, data structures, algorithms, logic, programming methodologies, and the impact of computer science on society.
Unit 4 – Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications: You'll investigate computer architecture, communication, data representation, organisation and structure of data, programs, algorithms, and software applications.
Unit 5 – Programmed Solution to a Problem: This non-examined unit involves a substantial piece of coursework where you'll discuss, investigate, design, prototype, refine, implement, test, and evaluate your own computerised solution to a problem using original code.
The main programming language for AS/A2 Computer Science is Visual Basic. Net 2015, with a range of different languages supported at A2 Level.