Full Marks in UK Beaver Computing Challenge

Published on isbi School News dated Thursday 12th of December 2013

In November, all pupils at Oundle School who study ICT or Computer Science from the First Form to the Sixth Form (Years 7-13) participated in the inaugural UK Beaver Computing Challenge along with 21,000 other pupils from across the country.

The competitors were entered in three different age bands and were tested on computation logic. There were 15 questions to solve in a 45 minute time limit with a maximum score of 180 points.

Oundle had some exceptionally good results, with 14 pupils achieving the top 25 scores and making the National 'Hall of Fame' in their respective age groups.

Head of ICT, Rob Cunniffe commented, 'Particularly impressive were the scores by Intermediates George Garber (13) and Arthur Thomson (14), who were two of just 18 in the whole country across all age ranges who scored full marks.'

George Garber (13) commented, 'The challenge was difficult and I was not expecting to get full marks. I am planning to get a job involving ICT; it is very important these days to have a good knowledge of computers.'
Oundle's computing department is spread between the Gascoigne and the newly refurbished Adamson buildings, with one room of 24 machines in each building, and an additional computing lab in Adamson with state-of-the-art equipment.
The Computing Department is supported by Computing Services Department who are responsible for supporting the use of computer technology and to that end there are other suites of computers installed in various parts of the School. They are all interconnected on a site-wide network which links all major buildings including the boarding houses, enabling staff and pupils to access their work files from anywhere in the School.

Every study desk in boarding houses has a thin client computer on it, and study rooms in the day house also have suites of networked computers.

First to Third Form pupils study Computing with a Computing Science additional optional course in Third Form. Oundle offers the OCR GCSE in Computer Studies as part of the GCSE options scheme. This exciting course introduces students to the fundamentals of computer programming, teaching logic, and fostering problem-solving skills. Whilst there is a sizeable practical content, there is a requirement to learn applications of computing in industry, business and commerce.

At A Level, the School offers the WJEC A Level Computing, a natural progression from the GCSE. The course focuses on system production to solve problems, using a programming language, but also looks at the architecture of computers, algorithms and health and safety.