Computer Science empowers students to understand and engage meaningfully with the digital world.
"And say, 'My Lord, increase me in knowledge."
The Noble Qur’an [20: 114]
The curriculum is designed to equip students with essential computational thinking skills, enabling them to thrive in a digital age.
The course encourages students to develop critical problem-solving abilities, logical reasoning, and practical programming skills through engaging and challenging topics.
Students undertake various programming projects throughout the course to solidify their practical coding skills, primarily using Python. These projects help students apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts.
Through this robust curriculum, we aim for our students to become proficient, innovative, and responsible technologists prepared to contribute positively to society.
In 2024, 60% of students achieved between grades 9-5 in Computer Sciencce. You can see our school performance figures for 2024 GCSE exams here.
Throughout Years 7, 8, and 9, students explore a broad range of topics foundational to Computer Science. These include: programming basics, computational thinking, digital literacy, data representation, and an introduction to networks and cybersecurity.
Our aim is to foster enthusiasm for computing, helping students become informed users and creators of technology.
At KS4, students follow the AQA GCSE Computer Science specification. This comprehensive course develops in-depth understanding of core computational concepts and practical programming skills. It prepares students thoroughly for the demands of further education and the modern workplace.
The GCSE exam in Computer Science consists of two components:
Paper 1 – Written examination (2 hours, 50% of GCSE) covering Computational Thinking and Problem Solving, Algorithms, Programming fundamentals, Producing robust programs, Boolean logic, Programming languages and Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
Paper 2 – Written examination (1 hour 45 minutes, 50% of GCSE) covering Computing Concepts, Data representation, Computer systems, Networks, Cybersecurity, Ethical, legal, and environmental impacts of digital technology.
Students are encouraged to participate in computing competitions, workshops, and coding clubs to enhance their practical experience and explore computing beyond the curriculum.
Planned educational visits and workshops are designed to provide experiential learning, including trips to technology exhibitions, coding bootcamps, and industry visits to leading technology companies.
Previous visits have included:
