Full Time Computing

A Level

In Cambridge

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    A Level

  • Location

    Cambridge

Facilities

Location

Start date

Cambridge (Cambridgeshire )
See map
Cambridgeshire, CB2 8PE

Start date

On request

About this course

with
GCSE grade B in Maths or Science and Additional Science and GCSE grade B in a subject requiring good writing skills, e.g. English or Humanities. You do not need to have studied ICT at GCSE but you do need a logical mind, an enjoyment of puzzles and problem-solving and a passion for computers.

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Reviews

Course programme


Computing

Why choose Computing?
Have you ever wondered how the Web works? Or how anybody can start to develop something as complex as a new computer game? Computing is an exciting and challenging subject in which you will develop valuable skills in problem-solving as well as learning how computers work. The content of the course changes constantly to reflect the rapid pace of development in the field. Many of our students go on to Higher Education courses in Computing but you will gain skills and knowledge which will prove useful in a wide range of other courses and careers.
Is it like ICT?
In a word, no. Many students find school ICT courses unchallenging and unstimulating. A level Computing is a very different subject. It is not about acquiring ICT skills: you will not be taught how to use a word processor or spreadsheet.

Key Features of Computing at Hills Road:
At Hills Road the emphasis is firmly on problem-solving and programming. You will learn how to analyse a problem, consider alternative solutions and use a computer to develop and test a solution. There is a strong element of programming from the start: you will be writing your own programs from the first few weeks of the course! Teaching is centred on Pascal (using Delphi) but other software tools such as mySQL, PHP and ASP are available and students can follow their own interests. The vast majority of students have no previous experience of programming: we teach you from scratch.
Course Outline - (Awarding body: AQA) AS Level Units
Unit 1: Problem-solving, programming, data representation and practical exercise 60%.
Unit 2: Computer components, the stored program concept and the internet 40%.
Advanced (A2) Level Units
Unit 3: Problem-solving, programming, operating systems and networking 60%.
Unit 4: Practical project ? coursework 40%.
A level results for Computing
Resources and Facilities
Facilities are excellent: the College has a modern, robust network and the department has dedicated teaching rooms with data projectors and a 1:1 student to computer ratio. A very extensive range of resources is available via the department?s intranet website. Students are able to use the department?s own servers, providing the opportunity to develop dynamic websites using mySQL, PHP and ASP.

Full Time Computing

Price on request