Introduction

Computer Science at Stratford Girls’ Grammar School aims to take initial interest in the tech industry and help students understand the role they can play within this exciting field. From gaming to coding, students of Computer Science have the opportunity to learn and enhance their skills in an ever-evolving area that opens the door to a multitude of modern career paths.

 

Key Stage 5 - A-level Computer Science (OCR H446)

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-and-a-level/computer-science-h046-h446-from-2015/

At A-Level, students go deeper into how computers really work; and how to design and build software from the ground up. OCR’s A-Level Computer Science course blends theory and programming, while encouraging students to think critically and work independently.

We continue the spiral curriculum approach from GCSE, so nothing is taught in isolation. Core concepts are revisited in new contexts - programming structures become full systems, early logic gates evolve into understanding the inner workings of CPUs and memory and simple algorithms turn into more advanced problem-solving techniques.

On the theory side, students learn about systems architecture, networks, databases, software development models, Big O notation and the fundamentals of computation. We also look at the impact of digital technologies on society - AI, ethics, the environment and data rights all feature in class discussions.

Programming remains a core part of the course. Students become confident in object-oriented Python, working with data structures, algorithms and external files. The independent project is a major highlight—students design and build their own software solution from scratch. It’s an opportunity to get creative, solve a real-world problem and apply everything they've learned.

This course suits students who like thinking analytically, building things, and understanding how and why things work. It’s a great foundation for those heading into computing, engineering, sciences or any future where digital skills are an advantage - which, let’s face it, is pretty much everywhere now.

 

Resources

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