Exam Board 

OCR [GCSE 9-1 J277] 

Specification

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

Systems Architecture

  • Architecture of the CPU
  • CPU performance
  • Embedded systems

Memory & Storage

  • Primary storage (Memory)
  • Secondary storage
  • Units

Assessment

The first assessment will cover all sections within Systems Architecture and Memory & Storage.

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    Curriculum Period 2:

    Curriculum content

    Memory & Storage (continued)

    • Units
    • Data storage - Numbers, Characters, Images and Sound
    • Compression

    Computer networks, connections and protocols

    • Networks and topologies
    • Wired and wireless networks, protocols and layers

    Network security

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

    Assessment

    The second assessment will cover all sections within Memory & Storage (Units, Data Storage and Compression), Computer networks, connections and protocols and Network security.


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      Curriculum Period 3:

      Curriculum content

      Algorithms

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

      Programming fundamentals

      • Programming fundamentals
      • Data types
      • Additional programming techniques

      Producing robust programs

      • Defensive design
      • Testing

      Assessment

      The third assessment will cover all sections within Algorithms, Programming fundamentals and Producing robust programs.


        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]