A-Level Computer Science

This information aims to allow you to explore each of the subjects we offer here at CSF. Please use the menu on the left hand side of this page to navigate through the A-Level, BTEC and additional study courses available.

On this subject page you will find links/downloads which support admissions along with curriculum information for our current students.  

• A curriculum overview document for each subject which details the sequence of teaching and learning, along with the development of key skills
• An independent learning guide, to support students in each subject with the demands of homework, revision, and their independent learning.
• Each subject also has links to our ‘Super-curricular’ initiative, which aims to develop you wider understanding of academic subjects and support your learning – click here for more information.

Qualification

Advanced Level Computer Science

AQA

Subject Leader

Mr R Potter

rpotter@combertonvc.org

Entry Requirements:

Minimum Entry Requirements: 

5 x 5s

4 in English and Maths 

Subject Specific Entry Requirements:

6 in GCSE Maths

6 in Computing if taken at GCSE

Why study Computer Science?

With exponential growth in the digital economy and the recent explosion of new technologies including mobile, cloud and big data, we have entered an age of unprecedented demand for skilled IT workers, particularly in the application development space.

According to the European Commission, the number of IT jobs is growing at a rate of 100,000 a year.

Computer Science falls into three categories:

1. designing and building software or hardware
2. developing effective ways to solve computing problems, such as storing information in databases, sending data over networks or providing new approaches to security problems
3. devising new and better ways of using computers and addressing particular challenges in areas such as robotics, computer vision, or digital forensics (although these specialisations are not covered at AS/A-Level Computer Science) 

What can I do with Computer Science after A-Level? 

You could study a Computer Science course, Software Engineering or a Web Applications course at university. Other options might be Digital Forensics, Robotics, Game Design, Remote Sensing the list of possible areas of study is long, and growing all the time as new applications for technology are invented.