Free A Level Computer Science in Newport – Newport Girls’ High School

CostFREE
Duration2 years
LevelLevel 3
DeliveryClassroom based
Start1 Sep 2026
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyAQA awarding body

About this course

Free A Level Computer Science in Newport. Classes run at Newport Girls' High School. You'll study programming, computer systems, and the principles behind how digital technology works. The course takes two years full-time, with daytime classes. It combines theory with practical problem-solving, applying academic ideas to real computing challenges. A good GCSE grade in Computer Science is required to join. This is an a level computer science course that opens doors to university study and tech careers.

Who this course is for

To succeed in this course, it is essential to have achieved a good grade in Computer Science at GCSE. A keen interest and enthusiasm for this subject, especially programming is also required. Computer Science is a practical subject where students can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real world systems. It’s an intensely creative subject that combines invention and excitement, and can look at the natural world through a digital prism. Computer systems This component will introduce you to the internal workings of the Central Processing Unit (CPU), the exchanging of data, and also looks at software development, data types and legal and ethical issues. The following are tested: The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices Software and software development Exchanging data (How data is exchanged between different systems) Data types, data structures and algorithms Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues.

Content of Algorithms & Programming You will understand what is meant by computational thinking, and understand the benefits of applying computational thinking to solving a wide variety of problems: Elements of computational thinking Problem solving and programming Algorithms

Programming project You will analyse, design, develop, test, evaluate and document a program written in a suitable programming language for real users.

What you will learn

  • You'll write and develop programs using a high-level programming language.
  • You'll understand how computer systems work, including hardware, software, and networks.
  • You'll learn about data structures and algorithms and how to apply them.
  • You'll explore computational thinking and problem-solving techniques.
  • You'll study the theory of computation, including Boolean logic and finite state machines.
  • You'll examine the legal, ethical, and social issues surrounding computing and digital systems.
  • You'll apply academic principles to real-world computing scenarios.

How you will learn

You'll learn through classroom teaching, programming practice, and written work. Assessment is by written exams at the end of the two-year course, covering theory and applied problem-solving. You'll also complete a programming project, which is assessed as a non-exam component. This is a linear qualification, so all assessments are taken at the end of Year 13.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. Newport Girls' High School will confirm anything else you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Software developer: write and maintain applications and systems
  • Web developer: build and manage websites and web-based tools
  • Data analyst: interpret and present data to support decisions
  • IT support technician: troubleshoot hardware and software issues
  • Cybersecurity analyst: protect systems and networks from threats
  • Systems analyst: assess and improve how organisations use technology
  • Games developer: design and code interactive digital experiences

What you could study next

  • BSc Computer Science (degree): the most direct next step after an a level computer science qualification, covering software engineering, AI, and systems design.
  • BSc Software Engineering (degree): focuses on building and testing large-scale software systems.
  • BSc Cybersecurity (degree): for those interested in network security and digital risk.
  • Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Computing: a Level 4 option if you prefer a more applied route into the tech industry.

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