AS/A2 Computing

Computing is a rapidly changing area of study and we place a strong emphasis on the basic principles of the subject, which are applicable in times of rapidly changing technology. There is also emphasis on developing the skills that Higher Education or employers need, such as teamwork, problem solving and communication. We offer a practically based course using industry standard hardware and software to give you the best opportunities and still provide a course you’ll enjoy.

What are the entry requirements?

We welcome students from all academic backgrounds and none of our courses require you to have a formal IT qualification or experience in any of the software packages we use. No prior knowledge of Information Technology or Computing is required. All you need is the enthusiasm to work and learn in a constantly evolving subject area where there are always new skills to learn and new applications of technology to understand and experience.

What will I study and how will it be assessed?

We follow the AQA specification. Throughout the course you will cover the essential background of computer hardware, input, storage, retrieval and output techniques along with systems development techniques. You will also cover other topics such as problem solving, logic gates and some elementary Boolean Algebra. Program design and software development skills are taught in a high level language. Ultimately you should be able to develop and generate your own applications software to meet the requirements of a specific problem.

The course is not about learning to use tools or just training in a programming language. Instead the emphasis is on computational thinking. Computational thinking is a kind of reasoning used by both humans and machines.

The AS Course consists of two units, both assessed by examination as outlined below. Note that COMP1 is an on-screen examination based upon pre-release materials.

COMP1 (AS)

Problem Solving, Programming, Data Representation and Practical Exercise.

(60% of AS, 30% of A Level) 2 hour on-screen examination.

COMP2 (AS)

Computer Components, The Stored Program Concept and The Internet.

(40% of AS, 20% of A Level) 1 hour written examination.

The A2 Course also consists of two units, COMP3 is an examination and COMP4 is a practical project (see below).

COMP3 (A2)

Problem Solving, Programming, Operating Systems, Databases and Networking.

(30% of A Level) 2 hour 30 minutes written examination.

COMP4 (A2)

The Computing Practical Project.

(20% of A Level) Coursework, internally assessed, and moderated by AQA.

This unit is a ‘free choice’ project where the candidate solves a real world problem using a high level programming language. This includes the full systems life cycle. Original ideas for projects are encouraged.

Does Computing link particularly well with other subjects?

Computing links well with many subjects. The algorithmic and problem-solving aspects link well with Decision and Discrete Mathematics. The study of logic gates links well to Electronics. The practical project includes a different range of skills, including verbal and written communication and an understanding of business processes.

Where may Computing lead me?

Many computing students go on to study Computer Science or similar subjects in Higher Education.

Finally

A successful Computing student will have demonstrated a broad range of transferable skills that would be considered valuable to universities and employers. It is also likely that the learner would have derived a good deal of enjoyment, satisfaction and empowerment from their studies.