DS and Computer Science GCSE

[TheWonderhorse]

DS14 has just chosen his GCSE options, but one of the subjects he wants to do as a potential career option, is Computer Science.

His school, regrettably, can't offer the GCSE because they can't find a teacher.

I'm considering enrolling him in an online GCSE course to study from home, but it's so much money! So as a cheaper option, do you think the school would enrol him in the exam? Then I could source the course materials and a tutor/online lessons.

Can this be done? He's a bright kid and I have no concerns about this academically, I'm just trying to figure out what his options are.

Just buy him the books and he can learn independently and instead of being forced to follow the curriculum can go off and focus on his own interests. He won't need a GCSE in it to take it at A level.

He doesnt need a GCSE in Computer Science to study it at A level or University. Dont make him do another GCSE alongside the ones he is doing at school as he will be busy enough with those. If he is in to computers/coding etc he will have a lot of skills and knowledge anyway.

He doesn't need the GCSE to study it at A level and he doesn't need an A level to study it at degree level.

But yes if he really wants to study it for GCSE it can be done.

Is he strong in maths?

Thank you for your response. He's the sort of child that enjoys working from a plan and having a goal and I think giving him a structured course will benefit him. Plus he'll have something to show for it.

It might come to that, but I do want to try and get him a GCSE course.

He is excellent at maths, and keen to do this himself.

This was my idea, but in response to his disappointment. But when I mentioned the possibility of maybe doing the course a different way his face lit up.

Does it have to be a GCSE course? My son did quite a few of the free Open University courses during lockdown which he enjoyed due to the structure and the reward of getting certificates when he completed them. It might be more manageable with a full GCSE timetable as he can pick it up/pit it down as and when it suits him.

there are lots of online coding courses he could do that might well be more fun and useful than doing CS GCSE.

Look up courses in Python and also Scratch which lets you build little computer games

Thanks all, I'll investigate alternatives and speak to his school tomorrow.

Look at the GCSE specs to see if he'd like do it. There is a coding element, usually an NEA project (not sure how that works as private candidate) and the theory which includes stuff about data types, security, FDE cycle, the law, networks etc.
Like pp have said he doesn't need the GCSE to do the A-level. He also doesn't need the A-level to do a CS degree.
The MOST important things are maths and an interest in coding.

Perhaps you could get him the GCSE text book for him to look at to see if he wants to try to do the exam or if he's interested he could just learn the content.

This lady get’s recommended in the home Ed groups she runs distance learning for computer science igcse.
worthing.teachallaboutit.uk/

I think it is beneficial for a gcse to be done in computer science if he wants to do the alevel. It gives a good foundation that isn't taught at Alevel.

I think if he's dedicated enough he could learn the course himself. Maybe a tutor if there is areas he's struggling with? Hopefully the school agree to let him sit the exam.

Pick an exam board that has no course work element. OCR currently don't have coursework at GCSE.

The actual exam cost will be less than £100 probably if he just teaches himself from books / online resources .

My son didn't and was absolutely fine for A Level. Only about half the class had.

OP - I wouldn't worry, just do some coding courses during school holidays and look to move him for A levels to somewhere who has a teacher.

Super helpful, thank you.

Try Learntec - but finding a suitable tutor will depend on which exam boards the school use for their CS.
The syllabus can be quite different depending on board.

Edexcel is the best exam board but it might be harder to take as an independent candidate as one of the exams is on a computer.

None of the gcse exam boards have course work for computer science. It was stopped after widespread cheating. Unfortunately that can make it a bit dry as it's a subject that ought to have a big practical element. Luckily at least Edexcel have a practical coding exam.

The first year of Alevel computer science is more or less a repeat of GCSE content so if he self studies he should be fine at college.
There were lots of kids on my son's course who'd not done GCSE computer science but we're taking it at college.

You don’t need to do a GCSE to learn about computer science, there are loads of great free online ones.

For example this one by Harvard

DS2 went to a computing club that also ran GCSE computing exams. They all got level 9.

Thanks all, I've enrolled him on a Cambridge IGCSE distance learning course.

His school offered to enter him in the exam for two different exam boards, but neither of them had just straightforward exam assessment so weren't workable.

He absolutely could learn without a GCSE but he thrives on structure so will benefit from that, and the fact he's done it might well look favourably on him as a university candidate if he chooses to go down that route.

I really appreciate your help with this, all of you.