Skip to content
referalearnerFind my match

Computer Science

at Rushcliffe Spencer Academy, Nottingham · school or sixth form

Level 3A levelsGCE A level2 yearsFull timeFree

What the college says

Aims of the course This course has been designed for students who wish to go on to higher education courses or employment where knowledge of Computing would be beneficial. Students can study Computing and go on to a career in Computing, Medicine, Law, Business, Politics or any type of Science. What is the outline of the course content? Paper 1 On screen exam: 2hours 30 mins Students answer a series of short questions and write/ adapt/extend programs in an electronic answer document provided. AQA issue preliminary material, a skeleton program (available in each of the programming languages) and, where appropriate, test data, for use in the exam. Paper 2 Written exam 2 hours 30 mins Compulsory short-answer and extended-answer questions. Practical Problem The non-exam assessment assesses student’s ability to use the knowledge and skills gained through the course to solve or investigate a practical problem. Students will be expected to follow a systematic approach to problem solving. What key skills will I learn? Fundamentals of programming Fundamentals of data structures Fundamentals of algorithms Theory of computation Fundamentals of data representation Fundamentals of computer systems Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture Consequences of uses of computing Fundamentals of communication and networking Fundamentals of databases Big Data Fundamentals of functional programming Systematic approach to problem solving Non-exam assessment - the computing practical proj

What you need to get on

Grade 4 GCSE in Mathematics and English Language. A minimum of five GCSEs at grades 5 (C) and above including grade 6 (B) in the subjects selected for A Level. To study Further Maths a grade 7 in Mathematics GCSE is required. A grade 5 in English is essential for accessing Business Studies, Economics, Government & Politics, Media, Philosophy & Ethics, Psychology and Sociology if you have not studied these subjects at GCSE. A grade 5 in Mathematics is essential for accessing Physics/Biology/Chemistry and also Business Studies, Computing, Economics and Product Design- if you have not studied these subjects at GCSE.

How you are assessed

Academic subjects, mostly exams, three or four at once. The traditional route to university.

What this level means

The A-level-equivalent step, and what universities and employers ask for.

Is it open to 16 to 18 year olds?

Approved for 16 to 18 study on the government's Section 96 list.

Where it runs

  • Rushcliffe School

    Boundary Road West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7BW

    DaytimeClassroom based
    Check the journey

Start dates

  • 1 September 2026 · Nottingham

Who else teaches this exact qualification

Same qualification, different college. Entry requirements and how it is taught can differ a lot between them, which is the whole reason to compare.

See all 270 providers teaching it