News & Updates
Recently published Ofqual report presents several key findings on the state and the future of computer science as a subject within the national curriculum. Let’s look at it one at a time and see how the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) can continue to support you.
19 July 2024
Last week, we saw the strength of collaboration between industry and education at our Computing Ambassadors launch event. Check out our event roundup to understand how the scheme aims to break barriers in tech for young people.
15 July 2024
Welcome to the Established Leader section of the Primary Computing Leadership Pathway. Find out what support is available to you with our CPD and resources.
08 July 2024
Get inspired with Penny, our dedicated Computing Ambassador who ignites a love for STEM and tech through I'm a Scientist's incredible online Chats. Read on to find out how our ambassadors strive to inspire every day, and how they could help ignite that spark in your students.
05 July 2024
Since 2018, the NCCE has been dedicated to improving the way computing is taught across schools in England. From upskilling teachers to inspiring students into the fulfilling careers a high-quality computing education can lead to.
03 July 2024
So you’ve been a computing leader for a while now… what's next? Embark on the ‘Developing Leader’ stage of the Primary Computing Leadership Pathway and find out more about how you can engage and support your staff.
01 July 2024
We have released new materials to support the transition from primary to secondary school, including lessons using the micro:bit. This aims to smooth the transition and foster collaboration between schools, helping students flourish in computing.
25 June 2024
If you are new to leading computing, or perhaps you have been allocated the role and don’t start until September, begin your journey by exploring the teach computing primary leadership pathway.
24 June 2024
As you embark on your Initial Teacher Training (ITT) journey this September, the summer break is an excellent time to get a head start.
20 June 2024
Earlier this year, the local Computing Hub for All Saints RC School in York coordinated the first NCCE Computing Camp at Selby High School, and delivered an AI-focused programme for 20 Year 8 girls.
17 June 2024
We caught up with Andrea Tyrell, who has completed the Key Stage 3 and GCSE subject knowledge certificate, about her experience, what she loves about teaching computer science, and how the certificate has impacted her classroom teaching.
11 June 2024
Over the last few months, you’ve asked us to consider how we share Python programming files within the Teach Computing Curriculum.
10 June 2024
Embark on a journey through our diverse event collections, tailored for students, educators, and industry professionals. From sparking curiosity in computing to fostering professional development, our lineup offers something for everyone.
07 June 2024
Explore the importance of investing in computing education this summer. Learn how it can transform your teaching, enhance student skills, and boost digital literacy. Discover resources and CPD opportunities to get started.
05 June 2024
Meet Tracy, a trailblazing Computing Ambassador advocating for gender diversity in tech. From breaking barriers to empowering girls, her journey is an inspiring testament to the transformative power of mentorship and inclusion.
03 June 2024
Last week we hosted an event at Ada College for students. The day was packed with insights, inspiration, and hands-on learning to help students discover the endless possibilities in the tech world.
31 May 2024
The Summer of Computing is just around the corner! Keep reading to discover how you can make the most out of your summer with our tailored CPD.
29 May 2024
We caught up with Hayley Stapleton, who has completed the Teach primary computing certificate, about her experience and how it has impacted her classroom teaching.
20 May 2024
Among the myriad of computing devices out there, the micro:bit stands out for its versatile and user-friendly features. Read on to see how you can utilise the device and get stuck in with physical computing at primary level.
09 May 2024
Don't miss our upcoming webinar designed for primary and secondary ECT and ITT teachers. Join us online on Monday, May 13th, from 4pm to 5pm, to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in education.
07 May 2024
The I Belong handbook is a great resource for teachers and leaders to understand the barriers to girls’ participation and take steps towards positive change. We have now produced an updated version of the handbook for you to download.
29 April 2024
From teaching classes to participating in school careers fairs and promoting online safety, read on to see how Computing Ambassadors like John can benefit your school and students.
26 April 2024
Daryn Maginnis, Vice Principal at Downpatrick Primary School sheds light on the micro:bit Educational Foundation as they invite school children nationwide to explore their playgrounds with micro:bits.
22 April 2024
This year, International Girls in ICT Day is celebrating leadership, highlighting the need for more women role models in STEM careers. Keep reading to discover ways to inspire leadership among girls in your classroom, and how you can shape their path in the digital age.
16 April 2024
We’re pleased to introduce our new DIY poster template. Created to complement our popular ‘I Belong in Computer Science’ posters, you can put your students and alumni at the heart of inspirational displays in school, promoting computer science to students and families.
10 April 2024
Hear from Martin, Computing Lead at Mildenhall College Academy, to discover how to adopt an inclusive computing approach and encourage the uptake of girls in GCSE Computer Science at your school.
08 April 2024
We caught up with George to discuss why he chose one of our secondary certificates, and what he got from them.
27 March 2024
We are excited to announce Isaac Computer Science’s spring into success giveaway!
19 March 2024
Last year, just 1% of teachers told the NEU their workload was always manageable. The same survey revealed secondary teachers spend 77% of their time on non-teaching tasks. Read on to see how you can reduce your workload and make a difference within your school.
14 March 2024
This year National Careers Week will run from 4 to 9 March 2024. The aim of this week is to spread career guidance and resources for students. This provides an opportunity for students to gain inspiration about their futures and the possible career paths.
01 March 2024
Join Vicky Dodds, Lower Primary Computing Specialist and Primary Hub Lead, as she explores enrichment resources that integrate careers seamlessly into the computing curriculum.
28 February 2024
What motivates students' decisions in computer science? Discover the insights gathered by 'I Belong Champion' Katy as she delves into students' experiences in the subject to understand their choices and promote inclusivity within the classroom.
28 February 2024
Socio-economic and technology trends will shape the workplace of the future. The education system not only needs to provide young people with knowledge and qualifications, but also help them grow into creative and critical citizens.
27 February 2024
The Computing Quality Framework is a tool designed to help primary and secondary schools to track and review their progress in developing an exemplary computing curriculum. Read more to find out how you can join the framework and earn your Mark!
20 February 2024
Dave Gibbs, Education Strategy Lead at the National Centre for Computing Education, discusses the national curriculum and its power in preparing young people for an AI future.
16 February 2024
Yesterday, we were delighted to bring together educationalists, industry and policymakers to champion a shared commitment to removing barriers to participation for females in computing and tech.
07 February 2024
Ruby Brown, Trainee Marketing and Communications Officer at STEM Learning, draws from her experiences to highlight the benefits of apprenticeships as alternative routes into STEM careers.
05 February 2024
Rachel Vidler, National Primary Upper Specialist for Computing at the National Centre for Computing Education, explores the world of data loggers and how you can integrate them into the Key Stage 2 computing curriculum.
24 January 2024
Sarah Zaman, Primary Computing and Cyber Security Specialist, delves into the significance of Safer Internet Day and why this day serves as a crucial reminder to establish a secure online environment for young individuals.
24 January 2024
Computer science opens doors to a vast number of rewarding careers in tech and many more. We have highlighted some of the enrichment activities that can help you interest more girls in the subject of computing and support their future career choices.
19 January 2024
We recently caught up with Laura, who supported her school to complete our I Belong programme, to see how she got on, and why she thinks it's important more students study computer science.
18 January 2024
Roshni Modhvadia, Researcher at the Ada Lovelace Institute discusses current public perspectives on AI and why we need to empower young people in AI decision-making processes.
15 January 2024
We have hand-picked units from the Teach Computing Curriculum across key stage 3 that align with topics and pedagogical approaches most likely to support girls’ engagement with the subject.
11 January 2024
We recently caught up with Pete, who has supported his school to complete our I Belong programme, to see how he got on.
08 January 2024
We recently caught up with Helen, who supported her school to complete our I Belong programme, to see how she got on, and why she thinks it's important more students study computer science.
28 December 2023
Join us in York for a range of primary residential computing CPD this Spring term! Whether you're an Early Careers Teacher (ECT), a new leader or an established computing leader, then we have a course for you.
22 December 2023
Tailored specifically for Early Career Teachers (ECTs) in primary and secondary education, our upcoming webinar series will empower you to confidently navigate the intricacies of teaching computing as you embark on your career.
19 December 2023
Alan Harrison, National Specialist for Secondary Computing Leadership, looks at how we can use the new plethora of Generative AI tools to help with planning, teaching and learning.
15 December 2023
We’ve created a guidance booklet on the GCSE options process to encourage more students, particularly girls, to consider choosing it as one of their option subjects.
12 December 2023
The long-awaited arrival of the 12 Days of Computing is here! What could be a better way to participate than incorporating some fresh, festive-themed resources into your lessons? Here, you can find all the resources we will go on to share, as and when they are released.
06 December 2023
Alan Harrison, National Specialist for Secondary Computing Leadership and the National Centre for Computing Education, discusses teaching about (generative) AI and what role it should play in education.
06 December 2023
Join the National Centre for Computing Education’s Specialists Claire Garside and Pam Jones during this short webinar, where you’ll be able to explore strategies for your upcoming GCSE option events.
01 December 2023
Join us for 12 Days of Computing! From December 1, we are excited to be showcasing brand-new festive themed resources, exciting upcoming CPD, and (most importantly) a range of prizes for you to get your hands on!
24 November 2023
Isaac Computer Science is the free online platform for students and teachers and is part of the National Centre for Computing Education. Explore the range of events on offer and how both you and your pupils can benefit from the platform.
23 November 2023
The National Centre for Computing Education has appointed leading practitioners and industry representatives from across the tech and digital sectors to support its ongoing strategic direction and aims.
16 November 2023
Simon Roberts, Secondary Computing Lead at the National Centre of Computing Education, discusses how you can maximise your students' success this mock exam season through attending our tailored exam board residentials.
15 November 2023
To mark the start of Green Careers Week, we look at how technological innovation is helping businesses shape sustainable goals and the environmental and social responsibility required to tackle global challenges like the climate change crisis.
06 November 2023
We are very excited to announce that we are expanding our residential offer at the National STEM Learning Centre! Enjoy a visit to the historic city of York and return to the classroom inspired and full of new knowledge.
18 October 2023
Phil Wickins, National Specialist for Primary Computing Leaders at the NCCE, discusses the importance of becoming a primary computing leader, and shines a light on just some of the resources, courses, and events that can help you along the way.
17 October 2023
Ada Lovelace Day celebrates women's achievements in STEM, while also highlighting the social disparities that persist in these fields. It serves as a reminder of the need for diversity and inclusion to create a more equitable future in science and technology.
10 October 2023
Join us as we celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth this October! This year, we are honouring the incredible black women who have made their mark in computing. From self-taught developers to space engineers, their stories will inspire and empower us all.
28 September 2023
We are excited to launch our enrichment offer for the 2023/2024 academic year. Our enrichment offer provides an excellent opportunity for teachers and students to enjoy a dynamic and engaging learning experience. How will you get involved?
18 September 2023
Dave Gibbs, Education Strategy Lead at STEM Learning, explores the digital divide in the UK and how education can play a central role in closing the gap.
12 September 2023
National Coding Week is just around the corner, commencing on the 18 September, and we couldn't be more excited to share our resources and CPD courses to get you inspired! This year’s theme is artificial intelligence, where a focus will be placed on exploring the benefits, concerns,
30 August 2023
We are very excited to announce the launch of our refreshed Physical Computing Kits this Autumn term! Our kits are an amazing way to boost engagement within the classroom for both students and teachers alike. The kits provide students with a hands-on experience of computing using different resources, enabling them
29 August 2023
This year’s GCSE and A level exam results have now been revealed, with some real positives to celebrate for computing and computer science. However, girls heavily remain underrepresented in this high-demand subject.
24 August 2023
Are you looking to capture the Women's World Cup fever whilst developing your pupils’ computational thinking? We’ve collated computing resources you can adapt and use in your classroom to inspire fun, football-themed end-of-term activities!
17 July 2023
Not enough girls study computer science which is holding them back from rewarding technology careers. We're on a mission to change that - will you join us?
22 June 2023
Get ready to make this the summer of computing and supercharge your computer science knowledge and pedagogy.
19 June 2023
The interest for studying computing and computer science is rising amongst the current generation of students - Ofqual's latest report into the number of students studying GCSE, AS and A level shows.
02 June 2023
Richard is the Computing Lead for his primary school which is based in the Isle of Wight, as well as a CAS lead. We spoke with Richard to learn more about his experience with the Primary Certificate and using the NCCE resources within the classroom.
18 May 2023
We are excited to work together with Micro:bit and BBC to provide training to teachers on how to use micro:bits in their primary classrooms. With micro:bits you will be able to enhance pupils' learning of the computing curriculum and support their learning in other subject areas.
15 May 2023
To support secondary computer science teachers’ professional development needs, we have put together lists of our quality assured courses under specific themes.
28 April 2023
Launching electronic versions of the KS2 summative assessments from the Teach Computing Curriculum - now available as both Google and Microsoft Form templates.
19 April 2023
Designed to help teachers track student progress, these quality assured question banks can be used with key stage 3 and GCSE Computer Science students across 10 topic areas.
12 April 2023
It's the start of a new chapter for the National Centre, and to mark this exciting milestone, we are sharing the latest developments from the programme and what you can expect next.
03 April 2023
We are excited to announce that bookings are now available for online courses starting from 3 April 2023, following the transition to where these are hosted and delivered.
13 March 2023
International Women’s Day is a global day to celebrate the achievements of women and call for gender parity. In this blog, we discuss key women in computing over the years and resources to help encourage more girls to choose computer science at GCSE and A level.
08 March 2023
An interview with Allen Tsui who has completed all three of the Teach Computing certificates. In this blog, he discusses his background and how he got into teaching computing, along with his experience on the NCCE CPD.
03 March 2023
ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chat bot which was first developed in late 2022. There is a debate around whether it is beneficial or harmful to learning. In this blog, Adam Little (professional development lead at Stem Learning) discusses the use and effectiveness.
02 March 2023
We are currently transitioning our online CPD programme to the MyLearning platform, where courses will be hosted from 1 April 2023.
24 February 2023
Support SEND pupils in their learning of computer science – join our SEND Computing Conference on Friday 17 March 2023 (9.30am – 4pm) at the National STEM Learning Centre in York.
17 February 2023
The National Centre for Computing Education is going through an exciting period of change. We've been working to evolve our brand to create a cohesive identity that works alongside improvements to the user journey.
06 February 2023
This spring term, we’re excited to be expanding our residential offer at the National STEM Learning Centre in York. Following your feedback to extend our offer beyond the Computer Science Accelerator (CSA) programme, we’ve launched a number of new residentials.
02 February 2023
Safer Internet Day takes place on 7 February and is a chance to highlight how young people can build healthier relationships with online activities such as gaming, messaging and emailing carried out using internet services. We’ve collated a range of useful resources to help you plan your lessons.
25 January 2023
Enhance your computing knowledge by attending one or more of our CPD courses throughout the February half term.
23 January 2023
We're delighted to launch our annual impact report, which showcases how the NCCE has been working to drive forward computing education across England and our key achievements from the last four years.
20 January 2023
We are excited to launch our 2023 spring term residential CPD programme, taking place in York at the National STEM Learning Centre.
13 January 2023
Today, we publish findings from research exploring how Computer Science is presented in options booklets and at options evenings — two key points in the GCSE selection process that may contribute to the gender imbalance in the subject.
14 December 2022
Today we are sharing the results of the Relevance intervention, which was designed to explore answers to this question, and to specifically investigate whether learning about computing in real-world contexts would increase girls’ intention to study GCSE Computer Science.
29 November 2022
Check out our new, downloadable workbooks from Isaac Computer Science, featuring hundreds of GCSE Computer Science questions to test your students' knowledge.
24 November 2022
Are you looking to improve your Key Stage 3 computing curriculum? Join us in York in March 2023 for our two-day residential course, where you will explore the characteristics of a successful computing curriculum.
22 November 2022
When female pupils participate in non-formal computing initiatives, they may not see how this learning relates to them achieving their long-term goals. This intervention aimed to address this barrier by focusing on strengthening the links between non-formal and formal learning within schools.
01 November 2022
Physical computing can promote a broader perspective, bridging learners’ theoretical knowledge of how the hardware works and their program writing skills. It may be something to consider introducing into your school and this blog will explain how and why you should.
24 October 2022
Today we are publishing the evaluation report for the next intervention from a series of interventions designed to address various barriers to girls’ uptake in computing.
14 October 2022
As you enter your career, your first two years as an early career teacher will be heavily underpinned by professional development. Whilst you will receive a great deal of this from your schools, mentors etc, the NCCE is also on hand to help develop your teaching practice.
06 September 2022
As the school term begins and thoughts turn to new classes, here are a few tips for supporting computing teaching and learning in your school.
05 September 2022
We are excited to launch our 2022 to 2023 residential CPD programme, taking place in York at the National STEM Learning Centre.
30 August 2022
Stories around GCSE results are currently dominating the news in the run-up to the new academic year. Several news outlets, including the Guardian, have reported on the popularity of computing - with more students choosing to study computing than PE for the first time.
26 August 2022
Whether you’re just beginning your teaching career or moving into a leadership role, our offer has grown to support your needs and can help as you prepare for September.
25 August 2022
We've published the results of a project that explored the use of a teaching approach called peer instruction in secondary schools with Year 8 (pupils aged 12 to 13), with the aim of increasing girls’ engagement in computing lessons and study choices.
24 August 2022
Are you looking for activities or resources for the Autumn term to bring computing to life? We've collated ten fun and engaging activities and resources to use with your pupils.
24 August 2022
In previous posts, we've argued that practical programming is of vital importance in computing education. This post discusses what good practical programming might look like in primary and secondary schools.
22 July 2022
Are you looking for end-of-term activities to inspire your pupils' computational thinking? We've collated ten, fun and engaging activities to use in the classroom.
19 July 2022
This blog continues the series of blogs on the Practical Importance of Programming in Computing Education by the NCCE Academic Board, based on the white paper, Practical Programming in Computing Education.
14 July 2022
The second interview of our Computer Science Accelerator (CSA) Programme graduate series is with Anna Sessarego-Mercer, a 45-year-old mum of two. She is an early career teacher of science and computer science.
11 July 2022
We look at key points raised in Ofsted’s latest subject research review around factors that influence the quality of computing education in schools in England.
08 July 2022
Our events celebrating Computer Science Accelerator graduate teachers, are well underway - with events in Birmingham, York and London held this week, and more still to come
07 July 2022
Today's evaluation report shares the results of the Pair Programming intervention. It explores whether using a teaching approach called pair programming has a positive impact on girls' attitudes towards computing.
07 July 2022
Over the next few months, we will be sharing stories from our Computer Science Accelerator graduates to learn how they got on with the certificate and how it helped them.
06 July 2022
To make sure that the Teach Computing Curriculum continues to be a useful asset to teachers and learners, we need to hear from as many different teachers as possible to find out how you’re using it and your experiences.
05 July 2022
With the end of the term in sight, now is a good time to update your account profile ready for September. We’ve pulled together some top tips to get you started.
04 July 2022
The huge growth in computing has resulted in data becoming vital across society. The use of data is pervasive across all sectors and economies around the world, to analyse, evaluate, and inform decisions.
30 June 2022
To celebrate we have pulled together a list of resources you can use in the classroom to inspire and teach your students about what a career in gaming could involve.
20 June 2022
In their third blog, based on the white paper, Practical Programming in Computing Education, the NCCE Academic Board members explain why practical programming is key to computer science, not just an optional add-on.
13 June 2022
Are you delivering GCSE computer science for the first time this September? This summer, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join us in York for our three-day Preparing to teach GCSE computer science residential.
09 June 2022
The National Centre for Computing Education is delighted that its Chair, Prof Simon Peyton Jones, is to receive an OBE for his services to education and computing science.
01 June 2022
We're delighted to extend the invite for our Celebration events to all teachers who have obtained certification from the NCCE. Here's a sneak peek of what attendees can expect.
30 May 2022
Here at the National Centre for Computing Education, we're so excited about what we have in store over the next few months to help you make maximise your professional development and get ahead for September.
27 May 2022
In their second blog, based on the white paper, Practical Programming in Computing Education, the NCCE Academic Board explain why practical programming is intrinsic to computer science, not just an optional add-on.
25 May 2022
Starting your first primary teaching post can be an exciting but apprehensive time. Rachel Jackon offers tips to get you off to an early start and help support you in your first year.
24 May 2022
The summer term is finally here and we've collated a few ideas linked to computing to carry out with your Year 6 pupils.
11 May 2022
Today we have published the first of a series of evaluation reports for the Gender Balance in Computing programme. This first evaluation report concerns the feasibility of our pilot study of a teaching approach based on storytelling in key stage 1.
10 May 2022
We’re pleased to announce that booking is now live for our celebration events for graduates of the Computer Science Accelerator programme!
09 May 2022
Throughout the May half term, our Computing Hubs will be running a comprehensive range of live remote and face to face courses as part of our primary and subject knowledge certificates.
28 April 2022
It's now six months since the NCCE physical computing kits scheme was launched, so we thought it would be a good time to report on how the scheme is going.
25 April 2022
In their first article, based on the white paper, Practical Programming in Computing Education, the NCCE Academic Board explain why practical programming experience is a vitally important part of any computing education
22 April 2022
This Earth Day, we are celebrating by sharing a collection of computing resources you can use with your students to explore this year’s theme: ‘Invest in our planet’.
22 April 2022
Whether you’re an established subject leader, or excited to be moving into your first leadership post; the Teach Computing offer has grown significantly this last year, meaning we’re on hand to support you and your department's journey.
13 April 2022
It's been a milestone month for the CQF with 1,000 schools now registered users, 25 Computing Quality Marks Achieved, and a packed event at BETT UK
11 April 2022
Following the changes to the assessment of programming, the NCCE has realigned its Python Programming Constructs course to each of the GCSE awarding body specifications.
06 April 2022
We are delighted to launch our summer term residential and intensive CPD programme, which takes place between May and July.
23 March 2022
We are excited to announce an exciting programme of CPD available to book throughout the Easter holidays.
21 March 2022
In preparation for Easter, we’ve collated a range of computing resources that you can adapt and use in your classrooms for a little seasonal fun!
17 March 2022
The NCCE is looking for more teachers to join its Subject Practitioner Panels group. We ensure that we can best meet the needs of computing educators.
16 March 2022
Following the success of our inaugural graduation event at Google Headquarters in 2019, we are pleased to announce that we will be running a series of celebration events in July 2022 for graduates of the Computer Science Accelerator!
15 March 2022
We've got guest speakers, plus an 'After Hours' Computing at School event at BETT 20222 celebration of education and technology
14 March 2022
Are you heading to the ASCL Annual Conference 2022? Come and talk to the NCCE team; find out more about what we do, including our new tool for schools, the Computing Quality Framework (CQF).
08 March 2022
Katharine Childs shares some of our team’s book recommendations that delve deeper into the history of gender balance in computing and may inspire you to consider actions to shift the balance.
08 March 2022
Computing is a relatively new subject in schools but computing in mathematics education has a long history.
07 March 2022
The first ten schools to achieve our new national accreditation which recognises excellence in computing, are celebrating their success; with many more schools set to follow.
01 March 2022
Dave Gibbs looks at what cyber skills mean to school leaders, and how teachers and learners can thrive online.
28 February 2022
Alternate conceptions (often referred to as misconceptions) are learners’ beliefs about a concept that are overly simplified or inaccurate.
24 February 2022
This year National Careers Week will run from 7 to 12 March 2022. We have curated resources from across the NCCE to help you support your students.
16 February 2022
Christian Turton discusses how professional development from the NCCE can support schools to implement the new requirements of the golden thread of teacher development.
15 February 2022
Read our interview with Carrie Anne Philbin, the Raspberry Pi Foundation's Director of Educator Support.
11 February 2022
This week, advance information ahead of the 2022 exam series has been released. We look at what this means for computer science and how the NCCE can help.
08 February 2022
This Safer Internet Day we interviewed Ben a learning manager at the Raspberry Pi Foundation and he used to be a classroom teacher in the North East of England. He spoke about his experience with internet in the classroom.
08 February 2022
This comprehensive report explores the strands of ‘programming’, ‘algorithms’ to emphasise that programming is much broader than simply writing code. It is a fundamental form of expression within the discipline of computing; one that enables learners to build, create, and apply their understanding.
01 February 2022
Are you looking to improve your understanding of student attainment ahead of the GCSE exams this summer? To support you, we have grown our Computer Science Accelerator residential programme.
01 February 2022
We are excited to announce the launch of our brand new two-week CPD programme, Fast-track fortnight!
31 January 2022
This February half term, we have a wide range of live remote and face to face courses on offer as part of our primary, secondary and subject knowledge certificates, all available to book now.
24 January 2022
The NCCE's new CQF is an online resource which enables schools to review and develop their computing provision - and recognises excellence
13 January 2022
We are very excited to announce a new way to take our online courses. Instead of our online courses being scheduled in runs, from today you will be able to join them all at any time you want.
05 January 2022
We’ve released 8 new topics of GCSE Computer Science content through the Isaac Computer Science programme.
04 January 2022
We're delighted to launch our new spring term residential programme, which is available to book now!
27 December 2021
As educators, it is important that we have a shared understanding of the knowledge and skills we’re teaching, and are able to prioritise the key concepts. There are a number of approaches that teachers can use to organise and represent knowledge
16 December 2021
This month, we've selected some sparkling, seasonal resources to help you and your pupils celebrate the festive period. From Christmas coding and digital cards to making scarf designs for snowmen, these fun-filled resources can help you to bring festive joy to your classroom this December.
29 November 2021
Culturally relevant pedagogy is a framework that emphasises valuing all learners' knowledge, heritage and ways of learning. By drawing on students' own experiences and cultural knowledge you can ensure that the computing curriculum is relevant, engaging and accessible to all.
25 November 2021
Dave Gibbs and Carrie Anne Philbin look at how the NCCE can help schools ensure all students build the knowledge and skills needed in the digital age.
24 November 2021
We spoke to Sophie Hudson, who teaches at Linton on Ouse Primary School and Nursery, about her experience of leading primary computing and how she’s benefiting from the NCCE’s support.
15 November 2021
Yesterday marked the third birthday of the NCCE. So let's look at how Teach Computing has contributed to our work with its extensive training, resources and guidance for teachers at key stages 1 to 4.
08 November 2021
Computing is a discipline rooted in three main traditions: engineering, maths and science. Depending on our own experience, we’re each likely to favour one or more of these perspectives, which can have an impact on how we present computing to our learners.
04 November 2021
Hayley Leonard shares how we can demonstrate the importance of computing for helping others and improving society, with the aim of keeping more girls and women engaged in the subject.
03 November 2021
Whether you’re brimming with ideas of how to lead primary computing or new in post and not knowing where to start, we can help you support colleagues and ensure computing is taught effectively in your school.
02 November 2021
How can industry and education work to boost the numbers of girls studying computing and women working in tech? Register now for this free event
28 October 2021
Following the success of our Summer pathway courses, we are delighted to be launching a year-round residential CPD programme, starting this November.
27 October 2021
Last year 2.5 million students from 56 countries took part in the annual Bebras Challenge, including nearly a quarter of a million from the UK. Chris Roffey tells us just what is so great about Bebras.
21 October 2021
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi recently announced that GCSE and A level grades in England will return to pre-pandemic levels over the next two years. So what does this mean for GCSE computer science?
11 October 2021
On 20 October, FutureLearn will be making some changes to their data retention processes, and which course activity records they store, as part of UK GDPR compliance.
05 October 2021
The Computer Science Student-Centred Instructional Continuum (CS-SCIC) was created for professional development to help teachers understand their choices when designing learning activities for teaching programming (Waite & Liebe, 2021). As shown in Figure 1, CS-SCIC presents teaching approaches ranging from copy code to tinkering in a simple linear form. The
30 September 2021
This October half term, we have scheduled a spellbinding collection of live remote and face to face courses as part of our primary, secondary and subject knowledge certificates, all available to book now.
28 September 2021
Book now to join us at the NCCE's next Digital Skills Forum - a lively free online event looking at ethics and education, with speakers Prof Andy Phippen, Kate Arthur and Sharon Cromie.
27 September 2021
Children in primary and secondary schools across England can access the latest technology to learn how to control objects by computers, thanks to a new initiative from the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) and its supporters.
27 September 2021
Physical computing kits are now available to borrow free of charge from all 34 NCCE Hubs!
27 September 2021
Students at NCCE Hub school, Saffron Walden County High, discussed getting more girls involved in tech, with the Government Equality Hub
24 September 2021
Support learners to develop and apply programming skills and comprehension by applying them to a real-world, tangible project.
16 September 2021
As Isaac Computer Science enters its third academic year since launching in 2019, we felt this was a great opportunity to take stock of our achievements over the past year.
09 September 2021
Paul Hipperson reflects on moving from teaching MFL to computer science and how his passion for learning new languages helped ease the transition.
07 September 2021
Henna Gorsia explores gender differences in computing anxiety and discusses how interactivity can help ease performance anxiety and how coding challenges can help ease cognitive overload. The blog post also provides useful resources which can be used in the classroom to help ease computing anxiety.
02 September 2021
We spoke to Computer Science teacher Leroy David, who recently attended one of our face to face events in York, about his experience of attending CPD over the holidays.
01 September 2021
Are you looking for computing inspiration to help you hit the ground 🏃running🏃 this Autumn term? We’ve collated some quick and easy welcome back ideas for primary and secondary teachers from our comprehensive range of support to help you start the new school year off right.
26 August 2021
We have created a flexible package of CPD to support teachers from other subjects who are new to teaching computing, to help them prepare for the year ahead.
18 August 2021
How can education meet the demands of the future of work? The work-place is changing fast and employers predict a shortage of digital skills in the future – but also new opportunities. Our Digital Skills Forum brought together experts to discuss these issues. Read more and watch the webinar here.
20 July 2021
Congratulations to everyone who’s “dived right in” to our Computer Science Accelerator programme, says NCCE chair, Prof Simon Peyton Jones.
16 July 2021
A new report exploreing the importance and progression of the computer systems and networks strands of the English computing curriculum, and how these strands are covered in the Teach Computing Curriculum.
15 July 2021
All this week, we’re shining the spotlight on the 4,500 teachers who have now engaged in the CS Accelerator. Today we speak to Heather Whittle about how the CSA has benefited her teaching and the NCCE’s provision for dyslexia.
15 July 2021
All this week, we’re celebrating the CSA Class of 21, shining the spotlight on the teachers who’ve completed our CSA programme. Today we speak to Simon Wheatcroft, a storyteller, technologist, adventurer, inclusivity consultant and an ultra-runner.
14 July 2021
Pupils and teachers at North East primary schools are the first to benefit from a collaboration aimed at ensuring young people are equipped for the digital future. STEM Learning partnered with The Society for Entrepreneurial Education and Development (SEED), after the charity provided technology to school pupils in the Aim
13 July 2021
NCCE physical computing Hub kits, coming soon to a Hub near you. Looking to teach physical computing in your classroom next year but not sure where to start? Do you need free guidance, training, and access to the latest physical computing equipment? Then read on…
13 July 2021
"We’re thrilled that nearly 40 teachers are taking part in the CSA. We know that our young people will benefit from that enhanced training." The team at Delta Academies Trust, tell us more about their CSA Class of 21
13 July 2021
This week, we're celebrating the success of teachers who have completed the Computer Science Accelerator in 2020/21 and explaining how you can be part of this year's cohort.
12 July 2021
Katharine Childs examines some of the misconceptions that pupils face about what it takes to be a great computing student, and separates the myth of brilliance in computing from the reality of real-world computing success.
07 July 2021
For subject leaders, getting ready for September always brings fresh challenges. Dave Gibbs, Senior subject specialist at STEM Learning, explains how support from NCCE can help you ensure you’ve got everything in hand.
01 July 2021
The work-place is changing fast - and the needs of employers and the economy are evolving rapidly. Our Digital Skills Forum brings together speakers from industry and education for a lively discussion.
30 June 2021
How can education shed light on the ‘magic’ of AI? This was the theme of the first NCCE’ Digital Skills Forum which brought together experts from industry and education for a webinar, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Education.
23 June 2021
Paul Thornton, Network Education Lead at STEM Learning, discusses why teaching is about meeting standards at various stages of your career and how the NCCE can help.
17 June 2021
James Robinson provides a summary of 'What should every child know about AI?'. In this position paper, researchers explore the increasing importance of AI education for young learners.
08 June 2021
This month, we interviewed Dr. Alfredo Carpineti, Founder of Pride in STEM, an astrophysicist, activist, and science journalist.
07 June 2021
How can education, the economy and employers work together to deliver the computing skills and opportunities for our post-Covid future?
28 May 2021
We are excited to bring you Summer of Computing, an exciting programme of CPD events running throughout July and August.
27 May 2021
Are you looking to supercharge your computer science knowledge this term? Fire up your computer and join us for a summer of learning.
27 May 2021
Dr. Matthew Holt explores the relationship between gender identity and Computing Education in schools, and offers some tips to get teachers thinking about this complex topic.
18 May 2021
Rob Wilks, a specialist Computing teacher, explains his motivation for engaging in the Teach secondary computing certificate and the benefits for others.
13 May 2021
Are you wrestling with a timetable for next year with more computing lessons than computing teachers available? Find out about available support to help secondary non-specialists to teach computing effectively.
12 May 2021
Secondary and sixth form teacher Dominic Beresford tells us why he chose to kick-start 2021 with our Teach secondary computing certificate.
11 May 2021
Our first graduate of the Teach secondary computing certificate, Karishma Aubeeluck, tells us about her experience of continuing her professional development with the NCCE.
10 May 2021
Neil Crumpton, from the North Midlands Computing Hub, tells us about the inaugural success of the Teach Computing Fest 21.
07 May 2021
Support learners to consolidate their programming knowledge by applying it to real-world, tangible projects. This approach to teaching computing focuses on structuring the learning activities around the design, creation and evaluation of a digital artefact.
07 May 2021
Many teachers report that they have a less secure view of what students have learned. Routine assessment for learning, as well as more formal testing, have proved challenging in this period.
21 April 2021
How do you teach primary children about cyber security? Courtroom dramas and phishing games are all part of a new set of resources created by Barefoot in partnership with the National Crime Agency (NCA).
14 April 2021
In our final interview for Games Career Week, we spoke to Rob Hewson about navigating the gaming industry as an indie developer, the game he is most excited to work on, and why being a #RaiseTheGame pledge partner is important to him.
01 April 2021
Code Tracing supports the development of program comprehension by encouraging learners to read, understand and record the behaviour of a program at different stages of it's execution.
31 March 2021
Next up for Games Careers Week, we spoke to Stuart Fraser, who shared the game that inspired him to get into the industry, the pros and cons of being an indie developer, and some advice for getting into the industry.
30 March 2021
We spoke to Andrew Gillett who told us about getting started in the industry when you don’t have a degree, how he went from working at a big gaming company to being an indie developer and tutor, and why his game Partition Sector unlocks photos of cats.
26 March 2021
Back by popular demand, the Computer Science Accelerator support programme is returning for the Summer term.
24 March 2021
Exciting, inspirational training allows trainee teachers to understand the core skills in computing, relevant to the curriculum and learn strategies for helping pupils to achieve their full potential.
10 March 2021
For our final interview to celebrate International Women’s Day, we spoke to 14-year-old Adonai Chinyama, a young coder who makes YouTube videos about coding, technology, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics).
08 March 2021
Continuing our International Women’s Day celebrations, we spoke to Ruth Amos who has over 15 years of experience as an inventor, business owner, presenter, and professional YouTuber.
08 March 2021
Continuing with our celebration of girls and women who are doing amazing things in computing education, we spoke to 11-year-old Dahlia Poulton-Trask, who started a YouTube channel with her brother Ethan with the purpose of creating short, easy-to-follow tutorials for other learners.
08 March 2021
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we have cast our net further afield than usual (much further!) to speak to Asawari Shiposkar, an inspirational educator based in Mumbai, India. Asawari has over 25 years of experience as a teacher, academic, trainer, author, researcher, and consultant.
08 March 2021
James Robinson provides a summary of Tsan, J. et al. In this experience report, researchers explore the practice of paired programming with primary school-aged learners.
25 February 2021
Through this report, we seek to better define digital literacy, highlight its presence and importance in the computing curriculum, and outline a progression for digital literacy modelled by the Teach Computing Curriculum.
23 February 2021
Applications are now open for schools to gain recognition for their work to encourage young people to engage with computer science and develop cyber security skills.
22 February 2021
Are you looking to grow your computer science knowledge this Spring? Jump in, grab your computer and get cracking on your professional learning this term with the CS Accelerator.
22 February 2021
Dr Kathryn Atherton writes about why girls are under-represented in certain STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) A level subjects, and how we can address it.
18 February 2021
One tool that can help learners develop program comprehension is Parson’s Problems, which are exercises that require learners to rearrange lines of code into the correct sequence.
12 February 2021
Computer science is on the rise. It is the fastest-growing subject at GCSE, and more teachers are needed to meet the demand.
11 February 2021
A rich experience of computer science in school plays a vital role in encouraging young people to pursue the subject at higher education, says Julia Adamson, Director of Education at BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.
04 February 2021
A recent Ofsted report sought to summarise research into what works well in remote learning. In addition to signposting the NCCE offer, we asked our Subject Matter Experts what works well in their virtual classroom.
26 January 2021
In this article, we look at how we have worked with the Transition to Teach programme to support professionals retraining as teachers to enhance their computing subject knowledge through the programme.
19 January 2021
We have launched an exciting new initiative to formally recognise your contribution to computing education in England.
12 January 2021
At the National Centre for Computing Education, we know that computing matters. It can help us develop a new generation of digitally-literate citizens able to actively participate in society. And it builds skills which will help pupils move forward into the roles which we will need for success in our
05 January 2021
In this paper, the two researchers (Ethel Tshukudu & Quintin Cutts) explore the process of knowledge transfer when novice programmers switch between programming languages, in order to learn how programming language transfer impacts code comprehension.
17 December 2020
This year's conference season has been continuing at a pace online, and November saw the Workshop in Primary and Secondary Computing Education (WiPSCE) led from the original location of Essen, Germany, but attended online.
17 December 2020
This month, the National Centre for Computing Education is sharing its 12 pedagogy principles for computing. Download your own handy classroom poster featuring all 12 pedagogical principles, to act as a quick reminder for busy teachers.
17 December 2020
Congratulations to NCCE Computer Hub, Dartford Grammar, on winning the ICT Innovation Award for its work to support schools across the region
14 December 2020
Hayley Leonard explores the role that emotions play during problem solving in programming.
14 December 2020
In this final episode of 2020, Sue Sentence and James Robinson sit down to discuss the PRIMM approach to teaching programming and the importance of talk in the computing classroom.
10 December 2020
We are launching a new support programme next term to meet the needs of Computer Science Accelerator participants who are new to computing.
07 December 2020
The NCCE has reached the milestone of engaging with over 1,000 schools through its school engagement programme.
03 December 2020
At the National Centre for Computing Education, we know that computing matters. It can help us develop a new generation of digitally-literate citizens able to actively participate in society. And it builds skills which will help pupils move forward into the roles which we will need for success in our
02 December 2020
From teachers to organisations who work with us - we've been grateful for the positive feedback we've received.
30 November 2020
The NCCE has published its Impact Report today looking at its work over the last two years, including 29,500 teachers engaged, representing 8,500 primary schools and 3,000 secondaries.
25 November 2020
Our second anniversary is a good point in time to reflect on the NCCE’s journey so far, so today we’ve published our NCCE Impact Report looking at our work since November 2018.
25 November 2020
How can teachers of computing achieve the best outcomes for students through online lessons, and maintain the progress made in computing? We take a look at the advice, guidance and support available for teachers to optimise remote learning.
18 November 2020
To celebrate two years of the NCCE, we are running a fantastic competition to give away a class set of 10 Raspberry Pi 4 Desktop Kits to one lucky teacher!
16 November 2020
National restrictions relating to COVID-19 came into force across England from Thursday 5 November. Although these mean that we cannot offer face-to-face support until further notice, we have plenty of other ways of supporting you online, so don't miss out.
10 November 2020
A recent survey of the first cohort of teachers to complete the Computer Science Accelerator found that the programme is having a positive impact on schools, teachers and young people.
10 November 2020
The CAS Autumn Event, hosted by Computing at School, opens tomorrow with a fortnight of online events and a focus on cybersecurity plus some exciting keynote speakers. Find out more.
09 November 2020
A recent survey of teachers registered on the Isaac Computer Science learning platform found that they save an average of three hours a week by using the free online resources.
05 November 2020
To celebrate This Is Engineering Day 2020 and their theme of ‘Be The Difference’, we are publishing a series of articles that tell the stories of three different students who have navigated their way through education to a career in engineering.
04 November 2020
It is with some excitement that we can announce that, after several months of working behind the scenes, our Gender Balance in Computing (GBIC) programme is reopening today!
03 November 2020
Program comprehension has become recognised as an important step in learning to program. What exactly is program comprehension, why is it so important, and how can educators develop these skills with their learners?
30 October 2020
To support schools and teachers with limited access to their school computer suite, we look at how to adapt teaching to incorporate meaningful activities that introduce ideas or develop understanding away from computers, including ideas to introduce in your classroom.
28 October 2020
An inventor, computer scientist, and engineer, Mark E. Dean has spent his career working to make computers more accessible and powerful. His groundbreaking work has made a lasting impact on the way we use computers today.
26 October 2020
Ada Lovelace Day was founded in 2009 to raise awareness of the achievements of women in STEM. In this article, we take a closer look at the person behind the celebration...
13 October 2020
Carrie Anne Philbin, a key figure at the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) and Director of Educator Support at Raspberry Pi, has been awarded an MBE for her services to education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2020.
12 October 2020
Congratulations to the first 1,000 teachers to have completed the Computer Science Accelerator, from the NCCE’s Chair, Prof Simon Peyton Jones, who has praised them for helping “to make the world a better place.”
02 October 2020
Computing is rich with abstract concepts to understand and technical skills to master. In order to flourish, students need a wide variety of learning experiences. Most of the time, this experience involves the use of computing devices and specialist software, but not always.
29 September 2020
Sophie Jenkinson, who recently completed her teacher training as a maths teacher, reflects on her experience of attending our early-career summer school and the skills she’s gained for the classroom.
28 September 2020
Nigel Ferry, who moved from teaching design and technology to computer science, recounts his professional development journey and the impact on his career.
28 September 2020
Alexander Gray, a PE teacher from the North East, tells us about his move to teaching computing.
26 September 2020
Schools minister Nick Gibb visited the NCCE Computing Hub at Dartford Grammar School to find out more about how the school is playing a key role in delivering vital digital skills across Kent and East Sussex.
25 September 2020
PRIMM is an approach that can support teachers in structuring lessons in programming. In this quick read we explore the five stages of PRIMM and some of the research behind the approach.
24 September 2020
Julie Price is a CAS Master Teacher and NCCE Computer Science Champion. Below she shares her experiences engaging with the NCCE Accelerator programme and the online courses supported by Google, and how it has helped her and the teachers she works with.
24 September 2020
Rebecca Connell talks us through her journey into computer science teaching. From starting out as a Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) teacher, to becoming the Head of Computing at The Cowplain School.
24 September 2020
Dave Gibbs explains why inspiring students to learn more about computing at KS3 is so important, even though the benefits are often not revealed until later key stages.
21 September 2020
Katharine Childs shares a simple way that teachers can find out what their learners think about computing, and provides suggested resources to address misconceptions and inspire more girls about computing.
16 September 2020
Ajay Sharman, Regional Network Lead for STEM Learning, poses the question of whether playing video games can help literacy in schools.
10 September 2020
A year ago today, we launched the Isaac Computer Science programme to bring free, high-quality computer science resources to teachers and students around England.
07 September 2020
The "Teach Computing Curriculum" aims to support teachers, reduce workload, and provide outstanding learning experiences for pupils.
04 September 2020
We are delighted to congratulate the first 1,000 teachers to complete our CS Accelerator programme; boosting schools’ ability to deliver GCSE computer science across England.
10 August 2020
Computer Science teacher Annie Cuffe Davies tells us about her transformative journey through the Computer Science Accelerator, and the impact it's had on her and her school.
10 August 2020
This time last year I was working hard to complete the final assessment for the CSA programme. So much has changed since then...
10 August 2020
Katharine Childs takes a look at some gender differences in tinkering with software and hardware and how this influences beginner coding activities.
05 August 2020
The NCCE's groundbreaking Teach Computing Curriculum has been launched this week, providing a comprehensive set of free teaching materials covering all aspects of the computing curriculum in England, from primary through to age 16.
04 August 2020
Over a year ago, we embarked upon an ambitious project: a collection of over 500 hours of teaching materials to help you with the delivery of the entire computing curriculum from Key Stages 1 to 4 in England. We are therefore delighted to launch the new curriculum section of our website today!
03 August 2020
Hello! It's the last week of our home teaching programme and we are SO PROUD to have supported over 80,000 of you to keep learning about computing over the last three months.
13 July 2020
Matt Davenport, a computing subject leader at Stoke Heath Primary School in Coventry has recently completed the Teach Primary Computing certificate. In this blog piece he shares his experience about how it's helped his teaching practice
09 July 2020
We're excited to announce that we’ve partnered with the Oak National Academy to present our Teach Computing Curriculum lessons on camera, direct to students
06 July 2020
Hello! It's the penultimate week of our home teaching programme and, as always, we are here to support students of all age groups and abilities to learn about computing.
06 July 2020
Are you looking for some supercharged computer science CPD over the holiday period? We've got you covered.
02 July 2020
Katharine Childs and Dan Fisher explore how young people make choices to learn about computing at clubs and in classrooms, and how these choices differ between boys and girls.
01 July 2020
It's week 10 of our home teaching programme. This week's activities include chatbots, bedroom battleships, and tracking the international space station!
29 June 2020
Surveys and interviews are powerful tools for collecting data (usually qualitative) from participants. In this 2 page read we compare these similar approaches and highlight when each might be more appropriate.
25 June 2020
In many research projects observing and recording student behaviour is a useful way to measure the impact of new ideas and approaches. In this quick read we explore structured and unstructured observation techniques as well a verbal observation approaches.
25 June 2020
Since computing was included in the national curriculum in England in 2014, a significant focus in CPD was on supporting teachers to feel confident in topics they had not previously studied.
24 June 2020
This approach is a popular way of making topics real for students, and can include analogies, similes, metaphors, role play, games, puzzles, magic tricks, and storytelling.
23 June 2020
CAS’s usual summer conferences cannot be held as planned, but its new online event extravaganza, the CAS Virtual Showcase, promises an exciting programme focusing on the latest in computing education
22 June 2020
It's week 9 of our home teaching programme and, as always, we are here to support all student age groups and abilities to learn about computing.
22 June 2020
Home teaching support and live online professional development are some of the initiatives introduced by the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) to ensure it continues to support computing education during the coronavirus crisis. The NCCE has put in place a suite of online courses, live online support, a new
15 June 2020
It's week 8 of our home teaching programme and, honestly, we can't believe how quickly the time has gone.
15 June 2020
Today see the launch of our brand new program focused on supporting educators to develop their practice through action research in the classroom. In this episode I spoke to Lynda Chinaka about her experience of action research in the computing classroom
09 June 2020
An exciting new online course is now available for teachers of all age groups. You will learn how to research, plan, execute, and analyse new pedagogical ideas for your classroom.
09 June 2020
Hello and welcome to week 7 of our home teaching programme! This week is a re-boot of sorts because we run our schemes of work in six week blocks.
08 June 2020
In the next article in our series about gender balance in computing, Katharine Childs explores the use of computing for social good to solve real-world problems.
03 June 2020
Hello! We're back for another action-packed week of home teaching lessons to support you and your students.
01 June 2020
Hello and welcome! We're up early and ready for week 5 of our Home teaching programme.
25 May 2020
We are providing specific support for trainee teachers to help you develop your subject knowledge, subject specific pedagogy, general teaching pedagogical skill.
18 May 2020
Our latest lessons and activities for students of all ages: dungeon design, cybercriminals, and building blocks!
18 May 2020
Tests, hosted by Eedi, make it easy for you to set quizzes for your students to complete at home.
14 May 2020
Find out what's new in our latest round of lessons and activities for students of all ages...
11 May 2020
This month's episode focuses on Peer Instruction, a classroom practice we recently covered in a Pedagogy Quick Read.
07 May 2020
A school where computing is very popular amongst students has quickly adapted to online teaching - and students have shown they know how to use the mute button!
07 May 2020
Katharine Childs shares a student-centred approach to using role models to help girls feel that computing is a subject where they belong. Gender Balance in Computing [https://teachcomputing.org/gender-balance] is a four-year programme of research to explore ways to increase girls’ participation in computing. During the period of school
06 May 2020
While curricula have shifted in favour of computer science over the last decade, the subject's success lies in the hands of those teaching it. Educators will soon be able to take part in an action research-focused course, aimed at supporting continuous improvement in the classroom.
05 May 2020
Hello! We hope you enjoyed your first week on our new Home teaching programme. Lots of parents and teachers have contacted us with pictures of the fantastic projects they’ve been making with their young people. Here's a nice one from Dan Smith and his five year old.
04 May 2020
The National Centre for Computing Education is to welcome many more teachers to its flagship Computer Science Accelerator Programme, increasing the number of teachers able to deliver GCSE computer science. The CPD programme supports teachers to build their subject knowledge.
30 April 2020
Current circumstance has had a profound impact on the way that education is delivered to students around the world. This quick read introduces some terms, frameworks, and barriers related to distance learning, and aims to support educators as they transition to online teaching.
28 April 2020
Craig‘n’ Dave’s videos for students and teachers of computer science have come into their own in this new era of home teaching.
27 April 2020
We are delighted to announce our decision to widen the eligibility for our flagship training programme, increasing the number of teachers able to deliver GCSE computer science.
22 April 2020
The Isaac Computer Science team has been working hard to make sure that you have everything that you need to teach or learn A level Computer Science from home.
21 April 2020
Schools and colleges have been swinging into action to produce face shields and other PPE for the NHS and social care sector using their 3D printers and laser cutters.
15 April 2020
To help support teachers, parents and students we’ve brought together a range of resources and websites that can be used to continue educating and supporting young people whilst they are at home.
09 April 2020
In response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, we have been working hard to develop and roll out a range of online materials to support teachers, schools and families.
08 April 2020
Given current events we wanted to hear from a group of educators about their experiences of shifting learning online at short notice. The challenges and opportunities they have encountered as well as their recommendations of tools, approaches and content.
02 April 2020
During this time of uncertainty, we are working hard to develop and share a range of online materials to support you. Find out more about what is available.
25 March 2020
Following our recent quick read on the same subject, I spoke to Rebecca Franks from the Raspberry Pi Foundation about the benefits of Live Coding in computing education.
19 March 2020
Concept maps could be presented to learners to convey connections between concepts or created/completed by learners themselves. They can even be used to capture and assess pupil understanding.
17 March 2020
Meet our careers week champion, Sam Parker, a Technology Degree Apprentice at PwC, who studies Computer Science (Digital & Technological Solutions) at the University of Leeds.
27 February 2020
We chat to Swetha Sethu-Jones, Senior UX Researcher at Just Eat, about her career path, from choosing her university degree to her current role.
27 February 2020
Risa Ueno, PhD student at British Antarctic Survey, explains how her research has steered her career and understanding of climate change.
27 February 2020
Marcus Tyyger, Radiotherapy Research Physicist, explains how his interest in computing has led him into a healthcare role with a real impact on cancer patients.
27 February 2020
As part of our National Careers Week campaign, we shine the spotlight on Beth Holmes, Knowledge Engineer, Alexa at Amazon.
27 February 2020
We talk to Mark Bardsley, Transformation Programme IT Executive at Manchester Airport Group, about his career path in IT, from academia to a typical day in his current role.
27 February 2020
A progression framework is the backbone of any subject curriculum. From our research, we have found that there are two quite different ways of presenting progression that show what should be taught and when it should be taught, as well as information on how or why concepts should be taught.
25 February 2020
This week saw the launch of two Year 7 programming units for the NCCE Resource Repository. We’re very excited that they will be the first of many programming units to appear on the Resource Repository, and want to explain the thinking behind these units.
25 February 2020
Almost a year ago, we began the task of deciding what the ‘best’ approach would be to covering the entire content of the KS1 and 2 Computing National Curriculum. We had the national curriculum, but what it doesn’t show is how to get learners from their starting point, to the predefined end points.
25 February 2020
Just over 15 months ago, we were in the process of planning for the delivery of the NCCE. We began to think about the significant challenge we’d face in organising and talking about our subject. We reviewed many of these and eventually decided upon three principles for our organisational structure.
25 February 2020
In this month's episode, we hear from members of the Raspberry Pi Foundation Educator Support team about how they are approaching progression throughout the NCCE Resource Repository resources.
18 February 2020
Throughout computing, and in particular programming, there are many technical terms with precise technical meanings. This can frame expert knowledge as inaccessible to novice learners. Using semantic waves is one way to support novice learners in computing.
13 February 2020
The National Centre for Computing Education has announced a further four schools/colleges that have been successful in their application to become Computing Hubs.
13 February 2020
An exciting announcement today: as part of our ongoing work and support for the National Centre for Computing Education, we have launched a new rewards programme that will see us give away 4,000 Raspberry Pi 4 kits over the next three years!
05 February 2020
With technology changing the way we live, learn and work, our chair Simon Peyton Jones spoke at Bett about the need for a different approach to the teaching of computing in the classroom.
29 January 2020
In this month's Teach Computing Podcast, we explore some practical strategies that not only support SEND students but improve accessibility for all learners.
23 January 2020
We've released a new way to measure your students' understanding of the A level syllabus on the Isaac Computer Science platform. It's called the Class Progress Tool.
21 January 2020
Are you attending this year's Bett Show (22-25 January)? Come and find out about the programmes and resources we offer first hand.
17 January 2020
A learner's first experience of a solution to a programming problem may in fact be the final program, polished, complete and error free. Live Coding is one approach to exposing learners to the full process of programming.
14 January 2020
We are committed to helping A level teachers and students get the most out of Computer Science. That’s why we have just released 10 new topics — 27 in total — on our platform.
08 January 2020
Like many other teachers, I regularly used multiple choice questions in quizzes and tests, and viewed them primarily as a means of assessment. Peer Instruction turns this view on its head and instead uses multiple choice questions for teaching.
19 December 2019
In this month's Teach Computing podcast we focus on the challenges facing Computing educators and some of the ways in which teachers can get support.
17 December 2019
Hello! This is a quick post to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who helped Isaac Computer Science to have such an amazing first year. You are all awesome, and we are excited to be working with you to develop this programme further.
16 December 2019
Exploring Computer Science (ECS) has worked across the United States to increase opportunities for pupils from under-represented groups to access a Computer Science (CS) curriculum. How does it compare to the Computing national curriculum in England?
03 December 2019
Ben Hall explores a short paper on 'Improving Scratch Programming with CRC-card design' presented at the 14th Workshop in Primary and Secondary Education (WiPSCE).
03 December 2019
Computer science is a growing GCSE subject, presenting opportunities for teachers looking to develop their career across the curriculum. Dave Gibbs looks at opportunities for non-specialists, including our new course ‘Introduction to GCSE Computer Science’.
03 December 2019
In this month's Teach Computing podcast we’ve decided to focus a whole episode on a single aspect of pedagogy and how it applies to teaching computing.
28 November 2019
Watch our new film, 'NCCE: the story so far'. To mark our anniversary, we've been to Newcastle, Wolverhampton, Swindon and Cambridge to find out what teachers think about our programme.
27 November 2019
Our full suite of Key Stage 3 and GCSE level subject knowledge assessments are now available, and are free for use by any teacher and their students.
20 November 2019
Collaborative working is effective in many curriculum areas, but a structured pair programming approach can support learners to develop programs and problem solve more successfully.
14 November 2019
Today, we are opening general recruitment for the programme. This means that all primary and secondary schools in England can now take part in the upcoming trials in this landmark programme.
11 November 2019
Longitude Explorer Prize is open to secondary schools and youth groups across the UK, to enter teams of 11-16 year olds with ideas for tech that will help improve the world around them.
05 November 2019
This month marks the one-year anniversary of the National Centre for Computing Education. To celebrate, we're taking a look back at some of the highlights from the past year, as well as giving you a chance to find out we've got planned for our anniversary week.
04 November 2019
‘Data science’ is a term being used more frequently in academia and industry, but a Royal Society report, Dynamics of Data Science Skills, suggests that data science skills are an important area that should be discussed in education, and data skills need to be built into a school’s curriculum.
24 October 2019
James Robinson explains why carefully designed multiple choice questions (MCQs) are a powerful and effective tool for assessing and addressing misconceptions held by learners.
24 October 2019
We’re following up our inaugural episode’s exploration of the reasons for teaching computing with a discussion about what we mean when we talk about ‘computing’.
18 October 2019
At the National Centre for Computing Education we want to capture the views of Computing teachers on the front line. So over the next month, we are running our first National Centre teacher survey to understand the how Computing is being delivered in your school.
16 October 2019
Worked examples are a tool commonly used in a range of subjects including Maths and Science to support novice learners. By studying worked examples alongside the completion of traditional practice problems, learners are exposed to the problem solving process as well as frequently applied techniques. A well constructed worked example:
10 October 2019
We are pleased to announce the first part of our autumn/winter programme of Isaac Computer Science events for students and teachers. There are a number of different events happening all over the country — book your place at an event near you today!
09 October 2019
We are excited to announce the launch of a comprehensive new assessment suite for Key Stage 3 computing and GCSE computer science.
02 October 2019
We are working to create a comprehensive Resource Repository for you: a collection of over 500 hours of teaching materials to help you with the delivery of the entire computing curriculum from Key Stages 1 to 4 in England.
30 September 2019
Following on from the highly anticipated Google graduation, roving reporter (and Programme Manager) Claire Arbery reflects on her highlights of the day.
24 September 2019
To round off September, we’re completing a pedagogical hat trick by sharing the very first episode of our brand-new computing education-focused podcast: Teach Computing.
23 September 2019
Venetia Howard reflects on how far she has come as a teacher and the sense of purpose and community she enjoyed at the CS Accelerator Google graduation
19 September 2019
Jane Waite talks us through some of the many instructional approaches that are available to educators when teaching programming.
18 September 2019
Sway Grantham, Primary Learning Manager at Raspberry Pi Foundation, summarises the research findings and evidence of using manipulatives to challenge learners' concept of a computer.
18 September 2019
After proudly achieving the Computer Science Accelerator Certificate, Spencer Organ is looking forward to having an impact on his students' learning
18 September 2019
Watch our new video, which sets out the vision for the National Centre for Computing Education, as narrated by Simon Peyton Jones.
17 September 2019
Busy teachers don’t always have the time to access, read, and assimilate pedagogy research into evidence-based practices, let alone begin to implement these practices in their classrooms. To help, we’re developing a series of bite-sized Pedagogy Quick Reads.
12 September 2019
English teacher Julie Simmons has taken a new chapter in her career, moving to teaching GCSE computer science through the CS Accelerator course
11 September 2019
We are delighted to co-launch Isaac Computer Science, a new online platform for teachers and students of A level Computer Science.
09 September 2019
With the return of #CASChat taking place on Tuesday 10 September, Steve Clarke explains more about the weekly chat forum, and why you should get involved this year.
05 September 2019
A recent participant on the NCCE CS Accelerator course to improve teaching of computer science at GCSE level, Ahsan Ashraf explains the ‘amazing’ benefit of working with other computer science teachers
05 September 2019
Having recently attended our NCCE summer school, secondary teacher Leroy David talks about the benefits of blended CPD and collaborating with peers to develop new techniques.
02 September 2019
Entries to GCSE computer science have increased in 2019, for the sixth year in succession, indicating a growth in popularity for the subject
22 August 2019
The NCCE is delighted to launch a further seven Computing Hubs, taking the total number to 30 and increasing the geographical reach of the programme.
31 July 2019
Every teacher understands that how you teach is as important as what you teach. Here, James Robinson describes the NCCE's plans to support teachers of Computing who are interested in pedagogical strategies and evidence-based teaching.
24 July 2019
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings, Claire Arbery talks about the vital role of computer science in helping young people to become pioneers of new technology.
22 July 2019
Moving from teaching music to teaching computer science may not seem the most natural step, but Helen Brant has successfully made the leap, with help from the National Centre for Computing Education’s Computer Science Accelerator Programme.
16 July 2019
We are running a series of summer schools for teachers looking to enhance their GCSE computer science subject knowledge ready for the next academic year.
11 July 2019
George Boukeas, Learning Manager at Raspberry Pi Foundation, explains how Learning Objective Graphs can be used effectively in planning progression.
09 July 2019
Jane Waite, a teacher trainer and researcher at Queen Mary University of London, describes recent research on the teaching of programming in primary schools.
09 July 2019
Paul Thornton explains why including computing as part of the curriculum is so important to young people and society
09 July 2019
James Robinson, Senior Learning Manager at Raspberry Pi Foundation, considers what common misconceptions learners exhibit and what techniques you can employ to mitigate them.
09 July 2019
Teachers who graduate from the Computer Science Accelerator Programme by 31 July are being offered the opportunity to graduate at Google this September.
03 July 2019
The NCCE has announced 23 schools and colleges who will be leading Computing Hubs in their area.
02 July 2019
Dave Gibbs explains why our human needs are key when it comes to teaching computing and the latest technology
25 June 2019
Steve Clarke, Senior Education Lead for Computing, explains how the NCCE can support your school with computing and with the new Ofsted framework
21 June 2019
Gender Balance in Computing - register your interest for our first project!
11 June 2019
James Robinson, Senior Learning Manager at Raspberry Pi, tells us about the benefits of volunteering in the community
05 June 2019
We are developing new resources for primary and secondary schools. These resources include schemes of work, lesson plans, activities, and assessments.
04 June 2019
In response to recent press coverage around coding in schools, our Chair Simon Peyton Jones explains why teaching children to write programs is of central importance.
03 June 2019
We have just published a brochure about our professional development programme for teachers of GCSE computer science.
23 May 2019
Dr Elizabeth Hidson, Senior Lecturer in Education at University of Sunderland, describes her thesis on developing computing pedagogy within the 2014 curriculum.
02 May 2019
Katharine Childs, Programme Coordinator at Raspberry Pi Foundation, briefly explains some of the findings from her MSc Computing in Education dissertation about how teachers are using physical computing activities in Key Stage 2 lessons.
02 May 2019
James Robinson, Senior Learning Manager at Raspberry Pi Foundation, discusses the benefits of pair programming and how to integrate this in the classroom.
02 May 2019
As part of our work as the National Centre for Computing Education, we are excited to reveal that we’ve been awarded £2.4m for a new research project to investigate what works for engaging more girls in computing.
30 April 2019
We spoke to Richard Smith, who has recently become a course facilitator for the National Centre for Computing Education, about his experience of delivering CPD.
24 April 2019
We are delighted to announce our first regional delivery network, which has been established to support our vision of a world-leading computing education for every young person in England.
04 April 2019
Last week we celebrated International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which prompted me to reflect on the experiences and factors that led me to study STEM subjects at A level.
01 April 2019
The National Centre for Computing Education (‘NCCE’) has secured funding from BT, Rolls-Royce and Arm to improve the reach and quality of computing teaching across England. This industry investment will complement the Government’s £84 million investment to create the NCCE.
28 March 2019
Leading computer scientist Simon Peyton Jones appointed chair of new National Centre for Computing Education.
18 March 2019
James Robinson, Senior Learning Manager at Raspberry Pi, discusses the use of journal clubs as a valuable way to develop professional practice.
28 February 2019
A brief introduction to Energy in Schools, a government-funded initiative, investigating whether physical computing can be used to help engage young people in sustainability issues.
28 February 2019
The A-Level programme element of the National Centre for Computing Education will provide comprehensive support to teachers and students in England for AS/A level computer science.
23 January 2019
Less than three months from the official announcement of the creation of the Centre, we have released our first major set of features to allow users to begin their journey with us.
22 January 2019