Greetings from the Department of Computer Science, at the University of Oxford.

Please find information below about our Women in Computer Science Day, which is now open for bookings, and about our new Royal Institution Masterclasses in Computer Science.


Women in Computer Science Day

For: Year 10 & 11 girls

Tuesday, 22 May 2018

Location: Mathematical Institute, Oxford

Who the event is for: Year 10 and 11 girls from UK schools who are (planning on) taking Maths A-Level, and who are considering taking a maths/science related subject at university.

The day is designed to raise awareness of what Computer Science is at university level, to meet women (and men) who work in the Computer Science field and find out how they're changing the world. Find out what computer science really is: it's not just ICT and it certainly isn't just for boys and geeks. There will be a visit to a college and the chance to meet some current researchers. Students attending should have a flair for Maths.

Further information: http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/WomeninCS. Bookings are open.

Questions? Email us at outreach@cs.ox.ac.uk




Royal Institution Masterclasses in Computer Science

For: Year 9 students (in the 2017–2018 academic year) at state schools in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Swindon, Gloucestershire, and Buckinghamshire

Saturdays 9 June to 14 July 2018 (inclusive)

The University of Oxford’s Department of Computer Science is pleased to announce its new series of Royal Institution Masterclasses in Computer Science. Year 9 students from state schools in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Swindon, Gloucestershire and Buckinghamshire can be nominated by teachers for these masterclasses. Students nominated should be judged to have potential and interest in the classes, and have a talent for mathematics. The masterclasses are a series of six workshops which are led by experts from industry, academia and education. They offer students in-depth investigations of topics in Computer Science, combining theory with interactive exploration.



Please note that the Department of Computer Science is contacting schools directly for nominations (up to two students per school). We are unable to accept nominations from students or parents/carers without teacher support.



Applications must be submitted by midnight on Sunday 13 May 2018. If your school is eligible and would like to nominate students, please ask a teacher to contact us (using a school email address) at CSRIMasterclasses@cs.ox.ac.uk for details.



Further details: http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/CSRIMasterclasses

Questions? Email us at CSRIMasterclasses@cs.ox.ac.uk





Want to find out more?
Our Computer Science reading list compiles a list of useful books, resources and activities that can help you understand and explore Computer Science.

http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/admissions/under ... ading.html for more information.





Can't visit us in person?

Then why not visit our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DepartmentOfCom ... tyOfOxford
Find us on Twitter: twitter.com/CompSciOxford
Or check out the latest news and activities happening in the department: http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk





Best wishes,
Rosie



Dr Rosanna Cretney

Outreach and Schools Liaison Coordinator

Department of Computer Science

Wolfson Building

Parks Road

Oxford

OX1 3QD



E: rosanna.cretney@cs.ox.ac.uk

T: 01865 283507



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You are receiving this email because you signed up to the Dept. of Computer Science's mailing list for prospective students and their teachers and families. If you no longer wish to receive emails from us please unsubscribe at: http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/mailinglist/

This sounds very interesting, but all year 11 girls will be in the middle of their GCSE exams on May 22nd - this is the date of the English Literature 1st paper which almost every student in the country will be sitting.

Its a shame really...would have been sense to make it yr 10 and 12 perhaps....

It's probably too late for Year 11s anyway as they will already have selected their A levels.

Does seem like a lack of planning to have something in May for Year 11.

A-level choices aren't set in stone though - DD has places at 4 sixth forms and at all of them there are taster days, after which they can change their choices to a certain extent. She has actually applied for 3 different subjects as her 3rd choice at different schools, although I think she is beginning to firm up the 3rd choice now.

Many schools won''t guarantee a place on an A level course if you change your mind and it is already full.

There doesn't seem to be the concept of 'full' in a lot of schools around here - they just keep adding to the classes. One school DD has applied to had 26 in their chemistry class this year, and although it is the only place offering music (which is appealing to DD) the possible size of the chemistry class is putting her off. She asked about class size at all the schools we went around and none of them seemed to have a maximum number above which they would not go.

A bigger issue seems to be the blocks they put the subjects into - so if you change your mind you might find that you can't combine certain subjects, but at least one school doesn't firm that until after the taster day.

Blocks need to be timetabled [I know this as I used to do it] and this is done in June once staffing is complete. Many schools round here do have caps on class sizes [26 is too big imho] so no-one can assume a late change will be OK. I do know of students who have had to either stick with orignal choice or change school come August.

Perhaps someone needs to be in touch with this lady and suggest a different timing for future events? Clashng with a major GCSE exam is a no-no.

I have sent an email to inform of the clash