Our CSA Graduation events celebrating teachers are underway!
07 July 2022
Our events celebrating Computer Science Accelerator graduate teachers are well underway!
We’ve been thrilled to welcome teachers, supporters and guest speakers to our CSA graduation events at Auto Trader UK, Manchester, the National STEM Learning Centre in York, Millennium Point in Birmingham, London’s Westminster City Hall and Newcastle University.
And there are still more to come with DC Intelligence Ltd in Cambridge on Saturday and Bletchley Park next Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 July.
At Birmingham’s Millennium Point on Monday over 40 teachers attended the event to celebrate their graduation after completing the CSA where they heard from an inspiring range of keynote speakers.
Teacher Chris Taylor, of the Bishop Challoner Computing Hub, was among them.
"It has been a wonderful occasion for West Midlands CSA Graduates to attend this celebration and for their achievement and commitment to enhance the learning opportunities of their students to be recognised," she said.
Teachers at the event heard from Nicola Swaney, Education Outreach Manager for Rolls-Royce, one of the NCCE’s supporters who spoke about the link between computing education and Rolls-Royce’s digital strategy and workforce.
Fellow keynote speaker Dan Hoff-Rodrigues, Director of {CX}² Talent Solutions, shared his insights about the future of the tech workforce at the event.
Dan said:
“The importance of influencing our young people of tomorrow NOW, has never been so vital when it comes to seeking and having an interest in tech and digital. The digital skills gap and lack of the relevant technical abilities being taught at schools and taken seriously has never more been needed.
“This is why these initiatives and training is so critical to future talent pipelines and I’m so behind you all and you have my full support!”
Simon Roberts, Secondary Computing Specialist at the NCCE, was at the events in London and York this week.
“It has been a pleasure to attend the York and London CSA Graduation events. They have been packed with inspirational stories of how the CSA programme has supported teachers; from trained Computer Science teachers to non-specialists looking to teach computing as a second subject.
“All these teachers have placed subject knowledge CPD at the forefront of their journey, ensuring that every young person in England has access to a world leading computing education. Both celebrations have been filled with joy, celebration and pride; each event has included passionate industry speakers, discussing the importance of computing in future careers for young people.”
The CSA Celebrations have brought a range of guest speakers to the events to share their insights and expertise.
At Auto Trader in Manchester, Emma Grant, Head of Talent and Skills at Manchester Digital, spoke about the digital and tech sector in the region and Sarah Brooks-Pearce, of Auto Trader UK, spoke about breaking down barriers to careers in tech.
At the National STEM Learning Centre in York, Alan O'Donohoe, Exa Education /@teknoteacher, shared his inspirational journey to teaching computer science
On Saturday, CSA graduates will hear from the NCCE’s Chair, Prof Simon Peyton Jones, OBE, as well as Carrie Anne Philbin MBE, Director of Educator Support at Raspberry Pi Foundation and Chair of CAS Include. There will be insights from Arm too about why they're passionate about supporting computing education.
At Bletchley Park next week there will be an opportunity to tour the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers, as well as presentations from Dr David Kenyon and Dr Thomas Cheetham on ‘The Intelligence Factory – Bletchley Park in the Second World War’.
Steve Clarke programme manager at the NCCE said;
“Computing skills and knowledge are increasingly important for young peoples’ future opportunities. We’re delighted that so many teachers have joined us at the NCCE and completed the CSA.
“It’s great to be able to celebrate their achievements and we’re delighted that they’re helping to increase computing opportunities for students in schools across the country.”, where they heard from an inspiring range of keynote speakers.
