A Level Computer Science

[Ozzie9523]

DS (year 11) has his heart set on doing A Level Computer Science. However, his school did not offer it at GCSE, instead he has been doing OCR Creative iMedia (which started off as IT but was changed halfway through the course) which he has enjoyed and done well at. He wants to go into computing, possibly programming, and has done a bit of coding. We are currently looking at sixth forms (his current school doesn't have one) and two have mentioned that they are slightly concerned that he will be a fair bit behind other students who have studied the GCSE CS and that he would need to learn a computing language in his own time prior to joining. One last night mentioned that they would consider him on this basis and dependent upon him getting a 7 in maths (which looks hopeful). She said he needed to be realistic tho and accept that he'd be the "boy at the back of the class who didn't know anything" to start with. They've had one student before who hadn't studied GCSE and he got a C at A Level but needed a tutor in Year 13. DS wants to go for it and says he's prepared to put the work in to catch up. I'm a bit worried that he will be taking on too much, especially as he'll obviously also be taking two other A Levels, and feel he might be better doing a BTEC in Computing which another school is offering. I also keep reading the A Level CS is a very hard A Level. Has anyone's DC done A Level CS without doing the GCSE? Thanks

None of ours has opted for CS at either GCSE or A level, I'm afraid, but I've just had a quick look at DS2's school's requirements, also those at the schools where his siblings sat their A levels (all grammar schools).
School A (DS2's school): OCR. GCSE requirement: CS grade 6 (with the comment that although the A level is not heavy on Maths, university CS degree courses may require A level Maths).
School B: OCR. GCSE requirement: Maths grade 6, no requirement to have taken CS at GCSE.
School C: AQA. GCSE requurement: Maths and CS, both grade 7. Must also be taking A level Maths.

DS1 did computer science at GCSE and he found it one of his most difficult subjects. he got an A but he had to work for it, probably more than his other subjects. Only top set Maths were allowed to take it. I could see the disadvantage of going into A level without it especially if others have taken the subject. But in your sons case if it his ambition and has done computing separately then he should have the determination to catch up and succeed. Maybe use the summer holidays to read past GCSE papers and course book to familiarise himself with the topic.

If he's thinking about doing this at uni, he might be better off doing maths, further maths and physics (for example), as universities have to allow for students who haven't had the opportunity to do CS A level and so much of the first year is spent levelling everyone up.
But also, learning a computer language is not impossible on your own if you're motivated.

I would look at the A level spec to see what topics they cover, obviously there is coding but there is also a lot of maths, networks etc. Maths can be improved just by doing 10 minutes a day using an online resource.

Have a look at this GCSE stuff on YouTube to see if he is interested. What I would say is that your son should have about 10 weeks over summer after GCSEs finish and before college starts. If he is motivated then he could easily polish up knowledge on a GCSE he didn't sit.

Ds1 did do CS for GCSE and now does it for A level along with physics, maths and further maths. Some of the children haven't done CS before but are coping okay. Sixth form provide them with wider study that they look at before the lesson so they know where it is going, anything they don't understand gets explained in their lessons.