Computer Science

Computer Science at Rugby High School

 

Computer Science vision 
 
Academic Excellence through Outstanding teaching. 
 
To create brave, independent digital citizens 
 
Esafety and the safety of our students is the most important aspect of Computer Science to develop Resilient, Healthy and Successful Students

The curriculum is broken into three strands; Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy.

Computer Science

Computer Science is a practical subject where students can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real-world systems. It’s an intensely creative subject that combines invention and excitement and can look at the natural world through a digital prism.

The primary focus is to develop the students' technical understanding and their ability to analyse and solve problems using computational thinking. Through computational thinking, students will be able to apply the concepts of abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms, and data representation to their daily lives.

Classroom learning is transferred to creating real-world systems through the creation of programming projects. The programming project will give students’ practical experience of solving problems through the capacity to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically.

Teachers are empowered to explore new teaching methods that will enthuse and engage their learners through the practical application of computational theory.

Information Technology

Empowers a student to use professional software correctly. This includes sending an email appropriately to an intended audience, using Office software to write essays and create spreadsheets and to use the computer to create, store and edit digital content using appropriate file and folder names.

Information technology is used to allow students to express themselves through graphic and video editing software, where possible Information technology allows the students to access the latest software available to students to communicate with an intended audience.

Digital Literacy

Digital literacy is the set of competencies required for full participation in a digital society. It includes knowledge, skills, and behaviours involving the effective use of digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop PCs for purposes of communication, expression, collaboration and advocacy. Students are taught how to use computers safely and responsibly. They are given a range of ways to report unacceptable content and contact when online. Digital literacy will provide students with the knowledge of the Laws and ethics involved with using digital devices.

The GCSE Computing course gives students a real, in-depth understanding of how computer technology works. Students will no doubt be familiar with the use of computers and other related technology from their other subjects and elsewhere. However, this course will give them an insight into what goes on ‘behind the scenes’, including computer programming, which many students find absorbing.

The course will develop critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills through the study of computer programming, giving students a fun and interesting way to develop these skills, which can be transferred to other subjects and even applied in day-to-day life. In this respect, the course provides excellent preparation for students who want to study or work in areas that rely on these skills, especially where they are applied to technical problems. These areas include engineering, financial and resource management, science and medicine.

 

 

The A Level Computer Science course at RHS is an exciting and highly sort qualification that gives learners a deep and thorough understanding of the subject. Computer Science is a practical subject where students can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real-world systems. It’s an intensely creative subject that combines invention and excitement, that can look at the natural world through a digital prism. This Computer Science qualification develops computational thinking, helping students to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand the power and limits of human and machine intelligence.

 

A Level

 

Unit 1: Computer Systems Allows students to gain an appreciation of computing principals, including characteristics of contemporary systems architecture using operating systems, software development, introduction to programming, exchanging data, databases, networks and web technologies and computing-related laws

External examination 2 hours and 30 minutes 40% weighting

 

Unit 2: Algorithms and Programming Students gain an appreciation of designing solutions to particular problems, how procedural programs are structured, the types of data and data structures, the common facilities of procedural languages, how to write maintainable programs, and how to test and run solutions using algorithms.

External examination 2 hours and 30 minutes 40% weighting

 

Unit 3: Programming Project Students must select a user-driven problem of an appropriate size and complexity to solve. In this project students must demonstrate their ability to analyse the problem, design a solution, implement a solution and evaluate their development and final solution.

Internally assessed externally moderated coursework unit 20% weighting