Supporting schools in teaching computing

At the National Centre for Computing Education, our vision is for every child in every school in England to receive a world-leading computing education, which includes the support we offer schools in delivering the computing curriculum.

We support schools and colleges to improve their provision of computer science through our network of Computing Hubs. Your local Hub will work with you to identify your computing needs and provide a targeted programme of support to help embed this key subject in your school. Computing Hubs support with curriculum design, subject knowledge, physical computing kits and expert guidance.

Find your local Computing Hub

Subject Matter Expert support

Secondary schools and colleges that don’t currently offer GCSE Computer Science but have an ambition to start and need support in making the first steps, can access support from a local Subject Matter Expert (SME).

SMEs work with senior leaders, middle leaders and teachers to identify an action plan for working towards delivering GCSE Computer Science in their school or college. They help them to understand the support available to them though the National Centre and identify the most appropriate pathway to support their teachers’ professional development. They also provide bespoke support such as curriculum guidance.

We offer subsidies and fully funded subject matter expert consultancy to state-funded secondary schools and colleges in England who commit to offering the Computer Science GCSE in the next academic year, that did not deliver it previously.

To request support for your school, please fill in this request form and you will be contacted by your local Computing Hub lead or Subject Matter Expert.

Request tailored support

Computing Quality Framework

The Computing Quality Framework (CQF) demonstrates what we believe great computing education, in schools, looks like. The improvement begins with:

  • identifying strengths and weaknesses in your school’s computing curriculum
  • gaining feedback and suggested actions, including relevant resources to improve your computing offer
  • tracking progress towards achieving our accredited Computing Quality Mark

Your local Computing Hub will be able to provide guidance and support to help you progress through the Framework.

Register to the CQF

Additional support to improve computing provision

Teachers, schools and colleges can also benefit from other areas of support to engage young people in computing and better equip them for the future. Together with STEM Learning, we offer:

  • Teach Computing Curriculum – high-quality free teaching resources to help you teach computing at key stages 1 to 4
  • STEM Community – a place to share ideas, ask for guidance and make connections
  • STEM Ambassadors – to bring computing to life, support learning and raise aspirations through free-to-access computing volunteers
  • Computing clusters – groups of schools working collaboratively to achieve a shared goal that contributes to our vision of high-quality computing education for all young people