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Computer Science

GCSE and IGCSE Computer Science

GCSE and IGCSE Computer Science

AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE

1) Computer Systems

  • Hardware vs software; system architecture
  • CPU components (ALU, CU, registers) and performance factors (clock, cores, cache)
  • Memory: RAM, ROM, virtual memory, cache
  • Storage types: magnetic, optical, solid-state; capacity & speed
  • I/O devices and device drivers
  • Embedded systems and real-time constraints

2) Data Representation

  • Number bases: binary, denary, hexadecimal; conversions
  • Binary arithmetic: add, subtract; overflow and underflow
  • Character encoding: ASCII and Unicode
  • Images: pixels, colour depth, resolution; file size calculations
  • Sound: sampling rate, bit depth, bitrate
  • Compression: lossless (RLE, Huffman) and lossy (concepts)

3) Networks & the Internet

  • LAN, WAN, PAN; client–server vs peer-to-peer
  • Topologies: bus, ring, star, mesh
  • Network hardware: NICs, switches, routers, WAPs
  • Wired vs wireless; frequency, channels, encryption
  • Protocols: TCP/IP, HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SMTP/IMAP, DNS
  • Cloud computing, hosting, virtualisation
  • Network security measures: firewalls, MAC filtering, VLANs

4) Cyber Security

  • Threats: malware, phishing, pharming, brute force, SQL injection
  • Social engineering and insider threats
  • Authentication & authorisation; 2FA/MFA; passwords & policies
  • Encryption (symmetric vs asymmetric), hashing; certificates
  • Penetration testing and vulnerability assessment
  • Legislation & standards at GCSE level (Computer Misuse Act, GDPR overview)

5) Algorithms & Computational Thinking

  • Abstraction, decomposition, pattern recognition, algorithmic thinking
  • Representing solutions: flowcharts and pseudocode
  • Searching algorithms: linear and binary search
  • Sorting algorithms: bubble, insertion, merge (conceptual and trace)
  • Measuring efficiency: steps, time/space ideas; best/average/worst case (intro)
  • Tracing, dry runs and identifying logic errors

6) Programming Fundamentals

  • Data types, variables, constants; casting
  • Operators: arithmetic, relational, logical
  • Control flow: sequence, selection (IF/ELIF), iteration (FOR/WHILE)
  • Subroutines: functions and procedures; parameters & return values
  • Data structures: arrays/lists, 2D arrays
  • Files: read/write/append; validation and error handling (basic)
  • Testing: normal, boundary, erroneous data; debugging strategies

7) Software Development

  • Purpose of operating systems and utility software
  • High-level vs low-level languages; translators (compiler, interpreter, assembler)
  • SDLC: requirements, design, implementation, testing, evaluation
  • Iterative/incremental development and version control (conceptual)

8) Logic & Boolean Algebra

  • Logic gates: AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR
  • Truth tables and combining gates
  • Boolean expressions and simplification (intro)
  • Simple logic circuits and uses (alarms, control systems)

9) Databases

  • Data, information and structured storage
  • Tables, fields, records; data types and validation
  • Keys: primary & foreign; relationships (1–1, 1–many)
  • SQL basics: SELECT, WHERE, ORDER BY; simple JOIN (intro)

10) Ethical, Legal & Environmental Impacts

  • Social and economic impacts; digital divide
  • Environmental considerations: energy use, e-waste
  • Intellectual property and copyright
  • Privacy & data protection (GDPR concepts)
  • Emerging technologies and AI (opportunities & risks)

11) Practical Programming Project (NEA / Coursework)

  • Problem identification and success criteria
  • Design: decomposition, algorithms, data structures
  • Implementation with traceable commits or logs
  • Testing plans, test tables and evidence
  • Evaluation, reflection and possible improvements

A Level Computer Science

AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge International

1. Computer Systems

  • Structure and function of the processor
  • CPU architecture and the fetch–decode–execute cycle
  • Types of processor (RISC, CISC, GPUs, multi-core)
  • Memory hierarchy: RAM, ROM, cache, virtual memory
  • Secondary storage devices and their characteristics
  • Input/output devices and their uses

2. Software and Software Development

  • Systems software: operating systems, utility programs, libraries
  • Applications generation: compilers, interpreters, assemblers
  • Software development methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, etc.)
  • Writing and following algorithms

3. Exchanging Data

  • Compression techniques (lossy and lossless)
  • Encryption and hashing
  • Databases: relational databases, SQL, normalisation
  • Networks: protocols, layers, client-server model

4. Data Types, Data Structures and Algorithms

  • Primitive data types and data structures
  • Arrays, records, lists, stacks, queues
  • Trees (binary search trees) and graphs
  • Hash tables and dictionaries
  • Searching and sorting algorithms
  • Graph traversal algorithms

5. Legal, Moral, Ethical and Cultural Issues

  • Computing legislation (Data Protection Act, Computer Misuse Act, etc.)
  • Moral and ethical issues in computing
  • Privacy and censorship
  • Environmental impact of computing

6. Elements of Computational Thinking

  • Thinking abstractly, ahead, procedurally, logically
  • Problem recognition and problem solving
  • Decomposition and abstraction

7. Programming Techniques

  • Programming constructs: sequence, selection, iteration
  • Recursion and use of stack frames
  • Object-oriented programming concepts
  • Exception handling and file operations

8. Data Representation

  • Number systems and bases (binary, hexadecimal)
  • Binary arithmetic and two's complement
  • Floating point representation
  • Character encoding (ASCII, Unicode)
  • Representing images, sound and other data

9. Boolean Algebra

  • Logic gates and truth tables
  • Boolean expressions and simplification
  • Karnaugh maps
  • Adders and D-type flip-flops

10. Communication and Internet Technologies

  • Network topologies and protocols
  • TCP/IP protocol stack
  • Internet structure and services
  • Web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
  • Client-server and peer-to-peer models

11. Big Data and Functional Programming

  • Big data concepts and challenges
  • Functional programming paradigm
  • Function application, composition
  • Map, filter, reduce operations

12. Programming Project/NEA

  • Problem analysis and requirements
  • Design and planning
  • Programming and implementation
  • Testing strategies and test plans
  • Evaluation and improvements
  • Documentation and written report

IB Computer Science

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (SL and HL)

1. System Fundamentals

  • Computer systems and their components
  • Operating systems
  • Resource management
  • System performance and optimisation

2. Computer Organisation

  • Computer architecture
  • The CPU and instruction cycle
  • Primary and secondary memory
  • Input, output and storage devices

3. Networks

  • Network fundamentals
  • Network types and topologies
  • Communication methods and protocols
  • Network security

4. Computational Thinking, Problem-Solving and Programming

  • Problem decomposition and abstraction
  • Algorithm design
  • Pseudocode and flowcharts
  • Programming constructs (sequence, selection, iteration)
  • Data structures
  • Object-oriented programming concepts

5. Abstract Data Structures (HL only)

  • Linked lists
  • Stacks and queues
  • Trees
  • Graphs
  • Hash tables

6. Resource Management

  • Memory management
  • Processor scheduling
  • Virtual machines

7. Control Systems

  • Control systems and feedback
  • Sensors and actuators
  • Simulation and modelling

8. Web Science

  • Web technologies
  • Web architecture
  • Social and ethical implications of the web

9. Databases

  • Database concepts
  • Relational databases
  • SQL queries
  • Database design

10. Object-Oriented Programming (HL only)

  • Classes and objects
  • Inheritance and polymorphism
  • Encapsulation
  • Class diagrams

11. Case Study

  • Analysis of a real-world computing scenario
  • Impact of computing systems
  • Evaluation of solutions

12. Internal Assessment (IA)

  • Identifying a problem
  • Designing a solution
  • Developing the product
  • Testing and evaluation
  • Documentation

Primary Computing

National Curriculum KS1 & KS2 | Ages 5-11

1. Computer Systems

  • Understanding what a computer is and how it works
  • Hardware and software basics
  • Input and output devices
  • Parts of a computer (keyboard, mouse, screen, processor)

2. Algorithms and Programming

  • Understanding what an algorithm is
  • Creating simple sequences of instructions
  • Introduction to visual programming (e.g., Scratch, Blockly)
  • Debugging simple programs
  • Using loops and repetition
  • Making decisions with selection (if/then)

3. Data and Information

  • Understanding data vs information
  • Collecting and organizing simple data
  • Creating simple databases and spreadsheets
  • Searching and sorting data

4. Networks and Communication

  • Understanding the internet basics
  • Safe use of the internet
  • How computers connect to networks
  • Email and online communication

5. Creating and Using Digital Content

  • Word processing and text editing
  • Creating presentations
  • Digital art and drawing
  • Photo and video editing basics
  • Creating simple animations

6. E-Safety and Digital Citizenship

  • Staying safe online
  • Understanding privacy and personal information
  • Recognizing reliable sources of information
  • Respecting others online (cyberbullying awareness)
  • Understanding digital footprints

7. Using Technology to Learn

  • Using technology to research
  • Using educational software and apps
  • Working collaboratively using digital tools

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