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Restart: The Resurgence of Computer Science in UK Schools

Brown, Neil C.C., Sentance, Sue, Crick, Tom, Humphreys, Simon (2014) Restart: The Resurgence of Computer Science in UK Schools. ACM Transactions on Computing Education, 14 (2). Article Number 9. ISSN 1946-6226. (doi:10.1145/2602484) (KAR id:42486)

Abstract

Computer science in UK schools is undergoing a remarkable transformation. While the changes are not consistent across each of the four devolved nations of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), there are developments in each that are moving the subject to become mandatory for all pupils from age 5 onwards. In this article, we detail how computer science declined in the UK, and the developments that led to its revitalisation: a mixture of industry and interest group lobbying, with a particular focus on the value of the subject to all school pupils, not just those who would study it at degree level. This rapid growth in the subject is not without issues, however: there remain significant forthcoming challenges with its delivery, especially surrounding the issue of training sufficient numbers of teachers. We describe a national network of teaching excellence which is being set up to combat this problem, and look at the other challenges that lie ahead.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1145/2602484
Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1501 Primary Education
L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1603 Secondary Education. High school teaching
Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming,
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Computing
Depositing User: Neil Brown
Date Deposited: 20 Aug 2014 09:54 UTC
Last Modified: 10 Dec 2022 14:38 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/42486 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Brown, Neil C.C..

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