National Centre for Computing Education announces first Computing Hubs to improve computer science education in England

The National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) has announced 23 schools and colleges who will be leading Computing Hubs in their area. The Hubs will support its vision of a world-leading computing education in England. As the first successful wave of the national network, they will provide a range of support for primary and secondary computing teachers in schools and colleges in their area, including teaching, resources and CPD activities.

Each lead school went through a rigorous selection process and has demonstrated expertise and commitment to computing education. The tendering process for the next wave of Hubs is underway. All Hubs will offer regional, responsive and tailored support to schools.

The Hubs will be the focal point for local computing CPD, supported by a strong National Centre for Computing Education, covering practical and theoretical aspects of teaching computing, within a reasonable day’s travel. They will also facilitate strong links with industry and engage with university expertise.

The National Centre for Computing Education was established in November 2018 with up to £84 million of Government funding and was supported by a further £1 million from Google to develop training for secondary school computing teachers.

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb, said:

“The National Centre for Computing Education, led by some of the UK's leading tech experts and backed by £84 million of Government investment, will give teachers the subject knowledge and support they need to teach our new, reformed computing curriculum. Appointing the first group of lead schools, to support local counterparts and deliver specialist training and development, marks an important step in making the aims of the NCCE a reality.

“As our digital industry makes an increasingly significant contribution to our economy, it is important that our teachers have the expertise to teach computer science with confidence and ensure young people leave school prepared for life in the 21st century.”

Welcoming the launch of the Hubs, chair of the NCCE Professor Simon Peyton Jones said:

“It’s exciting to be announcing the first Hubs. They will be the local face of the National Centre, providing tailored support to all computing teachers (primary, secondary and colleges), to equip them to make the new computing curriculum into an inspirational reality in every classroom in the land.

“Our partnership with teachers is vital to our mission. A single inspired, equipped, valued and supported teacher will influence tens or hundreds of children every day, and thousands over their career.”

The 23 new Computing Hubs are:

· All Saints RC School, North Yorkshire

· Beauchamp College, Leicestershire

· Bingley Grammar School, West Yorkshire

· Bishop Challoner Catholic College, West Midlands

· Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Tyne and Wear

· Carmel College, County Durham

· Chesterton Community College, Cambridgeshire

· City of Stoke-on-Trent 6th Form College, Staffordshire

· Dartford Grammar School, Kent

· Dereham Neatherd High School, Norfolk

· Exeter Mathematics School, Devon

· Harrogate Grammar School, North Yorkshire

· Kings Priory School, Tyne and Wear

· Langley Grammar School, Berkshire

· Newstead Wood School, Kent

· Pate's Grammar School, Gloucestershire

· Saffron Walden County High School, Essex

· Sandringham School, Hertfordshire

· St Clements Danes School, Hertfordshire

· The Chase, Worcestershire

· Truro and Penwith College, Cornwall

· West Suffolk College, Suffolk

· Westcliff High School for Girls, Essex

The National Centre for Computing Education is a consortium of STEM Learning, Raspberry Pi Foundation and BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, set up to increase the number of pupils in schools and colleges who study computer science at GCSE, AS and A level, particularly girls and in disadvantaged areas, and ensure that there is a strong pipeline of digital skills in England.

Notes

· The Government’s decision to substantially invest in computer science in schools followed a Royal Society report, After the Reboot, which showed computing education across the UK was patchy and fragile. It called for action to be taken in a swift and coordinated way by government, industry, and non-profit organisations.

· The NCCE aims to increase the number of pupils in schools and colleges who study computer science at GCSE, AS and A level, particularly girls and in disadvantaged areas, and ensure that there is a strong pipeline of digital skills.

· The NCCE is funded by the Department for Education and is being delivered by a consortium of STEM Learning, Raspberry Pi Foundation and BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

· STEM Learning is the UK’s largest provider of education and careers support in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It has a mission to improve lives through world-leading STEM education. For more information, visit www.stem.org.uk

· The Raspberry Pi Foundation creates world class educational resources for computing and computer science used by millions of people each year, and has developed online courses that have supported tens of thousands of computing educators. For more information, visit www.raspberrypi.org

· BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT is the professional body for computing and, as part of its Royal Charter, sets and maintains academic and professional standards in computing. For more information, visit www.bcs.org

· Interview opportunities are available.