Exam Board

OCR [GCSE 9-1 J277]

Specification

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

  • Programming fundamentals
  • Boolean logic

Programming languages and Integrated Development Environments 

  • Languages
  • The Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Assessment

The first assessment will cover all sections within Programming Fundamentals, Boolean Logic and Programming languages and Integrated Development Environments


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    Curriculum Period 2:

    Curriculum content

    Systems software 

    • Operating systems
    • Utility software

    Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology 

    • Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impact

    Assessment

    The second assessment will cover all sections within Systems Software and Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology.


      Curriculum Period 3:

      Curriculum content

      Pupils will revise/revisit all topics for the upcoming Computer Science examinations in the summer.

      Assessment

      Pupils will sit both Paper 1 and Paper 2 examinations in the summer:

      1) Component 01: Computer systems

      2) Component 02: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming

      Both papers are written papers and last 90 minutes each.


        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]