Specification/Exam Board

OCR [GCSE 9-1 J277]

Component 01: Computer systems

Introduces students to the central processing unit (CPU), computer memory and storage, data representation, wired and wireless networks, network topologies, system security and system software. It also looks at ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns associated with computer science.

Component 02: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming

Students apply knowledge and understanding gained in component 01. They develop skills and understanding in computational thinking: algorithms, programming techniques, producing robust programs, computational logic and translators.

Practical programming

Students are to be given the opportunity to undertake a programming task(s) during their course of study which allows them to develop their skills to design, write, test and refine programs using a high-level programming language. Students will be assessed on these skills during the written examinations, in particular component 02 (section B).

Curriculum Allocation

GCSE Computer Science is taught for three 100 minute lessons per fortnight.

Curriculum Period 1:

Curriculum content

Algorithms

  • Computational thinking
  • Designing, creating and refining algorithms
  • Searching and sorting algorithms

Programming fundamentals

  • Programming fundamentals
  • Data types
  • Additional programming techniques

Assessment

The first assessment will cover all sections within Algorithms and Programming Fundamentals.

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Curriculum Period 2:

Curriculum content

Boolean logic

  • Simple logic diagrams using the operators AND, OR and NOT
  • Truth tables
  • Combining Boolean operators using AND, OR and NOT
  • Applying logical operators in truth tables to solve problems

Operating systems

  • The purpose and functionality of operating systems:
    • User interface
    • Memory management and multitasking
    • Peripheral management and drivers
    • User management
    • File management

Utility software

  • The purpose and functionality of utility software
  • Utility system software:
    • Encryption software
    • Defragmentation
    • Data compression

Producing robust programs

  • Defensive design
  • Testing

Assessment

The second assessment will cover all sections within Boolean logic, Operating systems, Utility software and Producing robust programs.

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Curriculum Period 3:

Curriculum content

Producing robust programs

  • Defensive design
  • Testing

Additional programming techniques

  • The use of basic string manipulation
  • The use of basic file handling operations:
    • Open
    • Read
    • Write
    • Close
  • The use of records to store data
  • The use of SQL to search for data
  • The use of arrays (or equivalent) when solving problems, including both one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional arrays (2D)
  • How to use sub programs (functions and procedures) to produce structured code
  • Random number generation

Practical Programming skills

  • Applying and enhancing pupils ability to programme using Python

Network security

  • Threats to computer systems and networks
  • Identifying and preventing vulnerabilities

Assessment

The final assessment will cover all sections within Programming Techniques, Python Programming and Network/system security.

Revision resources

Knowledge Organisers: endon.fireflycloud.net/computing-and-computer-science/cs-knowledge-organisers

Recommended revision materials: endon.fireflycloud.net/computing-and-computer-science/revision-guides

Subject advice and guidance

If you need any further guidance then please contact your child’s teacher via email:

Mr Plant [r.plant@endon.shaw-education.org.uk]

Mrs Brownsett [g.brownsett@endon.shaw-education.org.uk]