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The Howard Partnership Trust (THPT) is a Surrey based Multi-Academy Trust, comprising four secondary, six primary and two special schools with two further under development. We are proud of our ethos of collaboration and inclusion, "Bringing out the best" in students of all abilities and backgrounds. Visit website

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Computer Science

Level GCSE
Exam Board OCR
Website www.ocr.org.uk

In Year 11 students will develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of Component 1 – Computing Systems theory. This encompasses areas such as Computer Hardware, Networks, Threats to data, Ethics and Data Representations. Component 2 Computational Thinking and Computer Programming will also be explored carrying on from Year 9. Students will also work on a programming project to enhance their programming skills.

Process
The GCSE Computer Science qualification is split into three components of practical programming, computational thinking and computing fundamentals: 

Component 1 - Computer Systems (50% of qualification)
The first component is an exam focused on computer systems covering the physical elements of Computer Science and the associated theory

Component 2 - Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming (50% of qualification)
This component is focused on the core theory of computer science and the application of Computer Science principles

Component 3 - Programming Project
This component is the non-exam assessment where candidates will be challenged by a range of exciting and engaging tasks to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned 

Component Title

Component Overview

Computer Systems

  • Systems architecture
  • Memory
  • Storage
  • Wired and wireless networks
  • Network topologies, protocols and layers
  • Network security
  • System software
  • Moral, social, legal, cultural and environmental concerns

Computation Thinking, Algorithms and Programming

  • Translators and facilities of languages
  • Algorithms
  • High and low-level programming
  • Computation logic
  • Data representation

Programming Project

  • Programming techniques
  • Design
  • Development
  • Effectiveness and efficiency
  • Technical understanding
  • Testing, evaluation and conclusions

Post-16 Choices
Students may progress on to study A-Level Computer Science where they can further develop their computational thinking and programming skill sets. 

Computer Science as a subject is looked upon highly by many universities and is highly regarded by Russell Group universities for many of their more academic subjects such as Medicine, Physics and of course Computer Science.

 

 

Staff Contact:
Mr L Turner - lee.turner@oxted.thpt.org.uk