Abstract

The newly-published National Curriculum for Computing establishes computer science, for the first time, as part of the school curriculum, from primary school onwards, alongside ICT . This represents a radical change of perspective: most people regard computer science as a narrow subject for specialised geeks to study at university, whereas the new curriculum positions it as a foundational subject discipline like maths or physics, that every child should have the opportunity to learn.

In this talk I’ll describe some of the thinking that lies behind this change, and how it came about. I will also focus on the question of how we can support and equip our schools to deliver the new curriculum with confidence and enthusiasm; and I will invite your help in doing just that.