Computer Science
Pearson BTEC IT Extended Certificate:
The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Information Technology is intended as an Applied General qualification covering 360 guided learning hours and equates to one A Level. This course captures those who are interested in an introduction to the study of creating IT systems to manage and share information alongside other fields of study with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in IT.
Students will develop a core of IT knowledge and study areas such as the relationship between hardware and software that form an IT system, managing and processing data to support business and using IT to communicate and share information. Over the two-year course, students will complete coursework units, a practical exam under examination conditions and a written exam; both the practical and written examinations are externally assessed. These units are carefully sequenced to enable students to claim a BTEC IT certificate at the end of Year 12 if they choose not to continue with the course into Year 13.
By the end of the course, students will have learnt about Information Technology Systems, Creating Systems to Manage Information, Using Social Media in Business and data modelling. Not only will this course equip students with lifelong transferable skills, it will supply them with the knowledge, skills and understanding required to complete a further education degree or at a level suitable for the workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
The course gives students the opportunity to develop employability skills such as cognitive and problem-solving skills, intrapersonal skills including communicating and working collaboratively and interpersonal skills consisting of self-management, adaptability and resilience, self-monitoring and development.
A LEVEL Computer Science:
Students will undertake the OCR A Level Computer Science course in Years 12 and 13. Students will complete two externally assessed examinations equating to 80% of the course and a programming project worth 20%. Paper one focuses on computer systems and paper two on algorithms and programming. Those who studied Computer Science at KS4 will have the foundation knowledge which will enable them to develop a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science.
This is an exciting course that allows students to apply the principles learned to real world systems and gives them the opportunity to be creative and innovative through the independent programming project. This subject has strong links with Science, Maths and DT. Maths is embedded in all three components in the syllabus. In Key Stage 5, the units are carefully sequenced to allow for continued development of knowledge and skills. By the end of the course, students will be able to: analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, have the capacity to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically and have the ability to see relationships between different aspects of computer science.
Not only will this course equip students with lifelong transferable skills, it will supply them with the knowledge, skills and understanding required to complete a further education degree, lead onto an apprenticeship or at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
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