Abingdon News No.59

24 January 2022 Taking a look at Computer Science Dr Peter Willis heads up the youthful - it has only been in existence for four years - Computer Science (CS) department at Abingdon. The department has two full time teachers and two members of staff who teach CS alongside Physics and Maths. CS moved into new, purpose- built facilities when Faringdon Lodge opened in 2020. What is CS? The study of computers, computational thinking and programming and their theoretical and practical applications. Why learn CS? Quite simply because CS can change the world! Not a hollow claim, CS combines creativity with the process to bring about change. It holds the answers to myriad problems from climate change to the next Facebook. It is a rigorous academic subject that is growing in popularity as universities and employers recognise its wide-ranging applications. Job prospects are excellent and careers are not limited to engineering; CS is the bedrock of industry from gaming to nuclear, research and education. Is CS available at GCSE and A level? Yes - students begin CS in the First Year and in the Second and Third Years they undertake a compulsory two year engineering course bespoke to Abingdon, which combines CS, Physics and Electronics. Students can opt to take GCSE CS beginning in the Fourth Year. We currently have 87 students taking the GCSE and 29 across the two A level year groups, and interest is increasing. Results are excellent, with 81% grades 7-9 at GCSE and 83% A*/A at A level in 2021. What Other Half activities involve CS? There are clubs and activities for all year groups from programming to Lego Mindstorms and Robotics. You don’t have to be studying the GCSE or A level to enjoy them, and indeed learning programming is an essential skill in many fields today. Can anyone be good at CS? Yes - with commitment and practice and an aptitude for problem solving and computational maths. It requires resilience and you have to learn to cope with frustration and think around a problem to find a solution. Complementary subjects include Maths and the sciences, Economics and Geography, all of which use Python for programming and perhaps less obviously there are increasing links with languages, Art and Psychology. And looking to the future? CS is part of everybody’s everyday lives with limitless applications and immense potential. Our aim is to develop enthusiasm and aptitude, and to promote CS as a force for good in the 21st Century. Abingdon News