A Level Computer Science helps students understand the core academic principles of computer science. Classroom learning is transferred into creating real-world systems through the creation of an independent programming project. The study of A Level Computer Science will develop the student’s technical understanding and their ability to analyse and solve problems using computational thinking.

• The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices
• Software and software development
• Exchanging data
• Data types, data structures and algorithms
• Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues
• Elements of computational thinking
• Problem solving and programming
• Algorithms to solve problems and standard algorithms

Programming Project (20% of final grade) – students get to create and report on a working project of their choice within Computer Science that is programmed using any approved High-Level Programming language.  Students can opt to design, build and test a game, an app, an aspect of physical computing using Raspberry Pi 400 kits or any other programmed software of sufficient complexity.

2 exams end of Year 13 (total 80% of final grade) – Computer systems (140 mark, 2hr 30 min exam) and Algorithms and programming (140 mark, 2hr 30 min exam)

Learning through Experiences in Computer Science In order to enhance the provision of Computer Science beyond the curriculum, our students benefit from the following experiences:

• British Esports particpation
• Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge
• Cyber Centurion Competition
• Bletchley Park visit

North Liverpool Academy A-Level Computer Scientists also have the option to complete the specialist CyberEPQ during Year 12. This allows students to extend that portion of the KS5 curriculum, and gains the students 28 additional UCAS points upon completion. Students will be able to access practical and theoretical material across the following modules:

• Introduction to Cyber Security
• The History of Computing & Cryptography
• Cybercrime
• Risk Assessment, Management & Governance (Part 1 & 2)
• Security Testing & Vulnerability Assessment
• Digital Forensics
• Incident Response Management
• Identity & Access Management (Authentication, Authorisation & Accountability)
• Security Audit, Compliance and Assurance
• Human Aspects of Cyber Security (specialist topic)
• Pentesting (specialist topic)
• Software Security and Architecture (specialist topic)

For more info, visit: https://cyberepq.org.uk/