Is GCSE Computer Science Being Replaced? What Students and Parents Need to Know

Facts checked 12 November 2026

Yes. England plans to replace GCSE Computer Science with a broader Computing GCSE that will still cover programming and algorithms. GCSE Computer Science exams are scheduled for summer 2027. If you’re choosing subjects at school in Inverness, ask about National 5 Computing Science under Scotland’s qualifications system.

What will the new Computing GCSE cover?

England’s Department for Education says programming and algorithms will remain core to the broader qualification, which will also include AI. The wider computing curriculum is intended to build digital literacy, including how to use technology safely and judge the information it produces. The final topic list and assessment format for the new GCSE are still to be confirmed.

The government’s published plan gives September 2028 as the target for teaching the revised national curriculum. It sets out separate first-teaching targets of 2029 and 2030 for groups of reformed GCSEs. As of 12 November 2026, the first teaching year and first exam series for the new Computing GCSE have yet to be confirmed. If you’re filling in an options form, ask which qualification your year group will actually study.

What should students sitting GCSE Computer Science in 2027 revise?

Revise from the specification your school confirms for your exam series. AQA lists summer 2027 as the first exam series for its current GCSE Computer Science (8525) specification, first taught from September 2025. That’s an update to AQA’s existing Computer Science course. The broader Computing GCSE is a separate reform.

If you take AQA, look for the sample assessments marked first exam 2027. AQA used the same 8525 code for its earlier specification, so check the first-exam year as well as the code. AQA says Paper 2 will drop questions on the removed content. Older papers can still help with individual topics. Ask your teacher which questions match the current specification before using one as a timed mock. If you take another board, use its materials for your exam year.

What should families in Inverness look for?

Check the Scottish qualification and level on your school’s options form. Scotland’s senior phase runs from S4 to S6. Inverness Royal Academy’s Computing Science department lists National 4 and National 5 Computing Science under S3/S4 and Higher Computing Science under S5/S6. It’s one local example. Your school can confirm which level fits your year group and timetable.

National 5 Computing Science has its own course specification, specimen paper and coursework materials. Start with those if you’re preparing for the Scottish qualification. If you’re moving between Scotland and England during the course, send your new school your current course title, the topics you’ve covered and any assessment work you’ve completed. Ask which course you can join and what you’d need to catch up on.

Three questions to ask before choosing or revising

1. What’s the exact qualification and level? Ask for the exam board and specification code if it’s a GCSE, or confirm the National level if you’re at school in Scotland.
2. When will I sit it, and what should I practise? Ask which sample papers and any practical or coursework materials apply to your exam year.
3. What can I take afterwards? If you’re interested in Higher Computing Science or A-level Computer Science, ask the school or college offering it about its entry requirements.

If you’re preparing for the GCSE and getting stuck on programming or exam questions, we offer one-to-one GCSE Computer Science tutoring. Book a free 30-minute trial and tell us your exam board and the topic you want to work on.