Computer science sits at the junction of mathematics, logic and engineering. It has been fundamental to many of the most complex products of the 21st century, with exciting new fields such as augmented reality and artificial intelligence providing a wealth of opportunities for future research and development.

At CMS you’ll be studying for an A Level in computer science with OCR, which includes a non-exam assessment for 20% of your grade. This is an exciting programming project of your own choosing. You’ll be taught programming predominantly through Javascript and the various APIs, libraries and environments available within its vast ecosystem. This includes:

• HTML5 canvas: create web-based games and apps using a 2D drawing API, or challenge yourself with WebGL or WebGPU for 3D graphics
• Web Bluetooth: connect devices such as a micro:bit via Bluetooth to act as a wireless controller for your games, and make use of sensors and other inputs and outputs
• Websockets: create real-time multi-player experiences with a websocket client and server
• localStorage, IndexedDB and SQLite: create client-side and server-side databases to enable data persistence
• Web XR: create immersive environments with virtual and augmented reality
• TensorFlow.js: use Google’s machine learning (ML) library to train and deploy ML models
  
  

Computer science is much more than just creating innovative products with code.

The course includes:

• Processors, input, output and storage devices
• Software and software development
• Exchanging data
• Data types and data structures
• Algorithms
• Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues
• Computational thinking
• Problem solving and programming

Assessment

The course includes a non-examination assessment (NEA) for 20% of the total A-Level. Students complete this between the end of the summer term in Y12 and the end of the Autumn term in Y13. This is a significant piece of work that includes both programming and a lengthy writeup.

In June of Y13 students will sit 2 examinations in Computer Science:

• Paper 1: Computer systems (2.5h; 40% of total A Level)
• Paper 2: Algorithms and programming (2.5h; 40% of total A Level)

Super-curricular offer

Students will have the option of engaging with computer science beyond the curriculum. The following challenges are open for students to participate in during the course:

• The Bebras Challenge (November)
• The National Cipher Challenge (November/December)
• Advent of Code (December)
• The British Informatics Olympiad (December/January)

Students develop their knowledge and skills via coding problems on Project Euler and CodeWars.

We arrange multiple classroom visits each year from industry professionals and students visit the Cambridge Centre for Computing History.