Exam Board : OCR J277 [GCSE 9-1]

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).

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Curriculum Allocation

GCSE Computer Science is taught for THREE 100 minute lessons per fortnight in Year 11.

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Curriculum Period 1:

Curriculum content

Threats to computer systems & networks

• Forms of attack: Malware, Social engineering, e.g. phishing, people as the ‘weak point’ , Brute-force attacks, Denial of service attacks, Data interception and theft and The concept of SQL injection

Identifying and preventing vulnerabilities

• Common prevention methods: Penetration Testing, Anti-malware software, Firewalls, User access levels, Passwords, Encryption and Physical Security

Operating Systems

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

Utility Software

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

Ethical, legal, cultural & environmental impact

• Impacts of digital technology on wider society including: Ethical issues, Legal issues, Cultural issues, Environmental issues and Privacy issues
• Legislation relevant to Computer Science: The Data Protection Act 2018, Computer Misuse Act 1990, Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 and Software licences (i.e. open source and proprietary)
• Impacts of digital technology on wider society AND Legislation relevant to Computer Science

Defensive Design

• Defensive design considerations: Anticipating misuse and Authentication
• Input validation
• Maintainability: Use of sub programs, Naming conventions, Indentation and Commenting

Assessment

The first assessment will cover all sections from above.

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Curriculum Period 2:

Curriculum content

Testing 

• The purpose of testing
• Types of testing: Iterative and Final/terminal
• Identify syntax and logic errors
• Selecting and using suitable test data: Normal, Boundary, Invalid and Erroneous
• Refining Algorithms

Languages

• Characteristics and purpose of different levels of programming language: High-level languages and Low-level languages
• The purpose of translators
• The characteristics of a compiler and an interpreter

The Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

• Common tools and facilities available in an integrated development environment (IDE): Editors, Error diagnostics, Run-time environment and Translators

Practical Programming Skills

Searching and sorting algorithms

• Standard searching algorithms: Binary and Linear Search
• Standard sorting algorithms: Bubble, Merge and Insertion Sorts

Searching and Sorting : Practical Programming skills

Assessment

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

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]