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Secondary Schools & FE

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NCCE Gender Insights Programme

More coming soon...

In the meantime, you may find these links helpful:

https://www.stem.org.uk/all-news/discussing-an-exciting-future-for-computing-education

https://teachcomputing.org/gender-balance

 

Gender Insights Programme

Subject Knowledge Certificate

Through the required training and activities, you can gain the Subject Knowledge Certificate (accredited by the BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT).

  • The CSA menu of courses provides the CPD needed to help you gain the Subject Knowledge Certificate
  • There is an online test to complete in order to gain the Subject Knowledge Certificate
  • There are courses to suit all, from complete beginners,  through to the most experienced and skilled of computing teachers and subject leaders.
  • The difficulty level of a course does not affect the accreditation. Accreditation is based on completed 1 x face-to-face course, 1 on-demand course, and 1 x live remote course + completion of an online test.

Examples of staff who can benefit from the CSA and gain the Subject Knowledge Certificate

  • Non-specialists
  • Supply Teachers
  • Cover Supervisors
  • Teachers of second subject
  • Teaching Assistants (deemed teachers)
  • Computing Leaders
  • Computing Teachers

To gain certification:

  • 1 x face-to-face course
  • 1 x On Demand course
  • Online test

Quickstart Guide

  1. Visit TeachComputing.org/cs-accelerator to register for the Subject Knowledge Certificate
  2. Either return to this website to access our locally led courses (delivered by local PDLs), or you can stay on TeachComputing.org and filter the full range of on-demand, live remote and face-to-face courses led by Professional Development Leads from across the country. You can also mix and match.
  3. The teachcomputing.org website has a Dashboard where you can track your progress towards the certificate.

For experienced computing teachers or department leads, or those who have completed the CSA, the Secondary Certificate provides the next level of accreditation.

Accreditation

Introduce GCSE Computing

Any school who would like intensive, bespoke support in the introduction of GCSE or A Level Computing, please contact Mandy Honeyman on [email protected]. 

Mandy is the regional collaboration lead, and will be assign a specific expert PDL (Professional Development Lead) to help you on your journey.

Introduce GCSE Computing

Subsidies for secondary schools and colleges

We offer subsidies to provide two days of supply cover (£205 per day) for teachers to attend the Computer Science Accelerator (CSA) CPD, helping to develop teachers’ subject knowledge and skills without impacting pupils' lessons. This support is available to state-funded secondary schools and colleges in England.

This incentive payment is capped at two days of release per school in an academic year, which will support a teacher to complete the minimum required CPD to access the CSA test. The courses must be:

  1. part of the Computer Science Accelerator pathway (CSA)
  2. a minimum of 5 hours in a single day

This incentive can be used to fund supply teacher cover costs only; school leaders may be asked to confirm that a cover cost has been incurred. For any questions on eligibility, please email [email protected].

Trigger FREE support from the hub by using our Quickstart guide to the CQF (Computing Quality Framework).

  • The Computing Quality Framework (CQF) self review tool is really easy to use, and intended to help schools review their progress in developing an exemplary computing curriculum.
  • As a local hub, we can focus our FREE support  based on the outcomes of the self-reviews of schools in their regions.

Quickstart Guide (ten minutes)

  1. Go to the CQF
  2. Register your school
  3. Click on each of the review areas
  4. Type 'In Progress' in each of the boxes
  5. Come back to the CQF to update as you need.
Secondary Funding

Isaac for GCSE an A Level

Isaac Computer Science

The Isaac Computer Science, free online platform for students and teachers.

  • Use it in the classroom
  • Use it for homework
  • Use it for revision

We also offer free teacher CPD events and student workshops.
Isaac Computer Science is proud to be part of the Department for Education's National Centre for Computing Education.

Click HERE to access the platform.

Benefits for students

Isaac Computer Science allows you to:

  • Study and revise at your own pace
  • Track your progress as you answer questions
  • Work towards achieving better exam results
  • Access high-quality materials written by experienced teachers
  • Learn relevant content tailored to your exam board

Everything on Isaac Computer Science is FREE, funded by the Department for Education.

Isaac Platform GCSE and A Level

Direct School Support

PDLs (Professional Development Leads) are all qualified under the NCCE programme, and experienced in delivering, strategizing and developing Computing and Computer Science.

PDLs can help with...

  • Physical computing support (e.g. crumbles, RaspberryPI, Microbits etc.)
  • Action planning
  • Recommending courses
  • Supporting with individualised challenges and questions
  • Linking you with other schools for mutual support

You can book time with a PDL by contacting us on [email protected].

Direct School Specialist Support

The CQF (Computing Quality Framework)

  • The Computing Quality Framework (CQF) self review tool is really easy to use, and intended to help schools review their progress in developing an exemplary computing curriculum
  • As a local hub, we can focus our FREE support  based on the outcomes of the self-reviews of schools in their regions
  • The CQF was developed by the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE), funded by the DfE.

Quickstart Guide (1o minutes)

You can get started by registering in just 10 minutes. 

  1. Go to the CQF
  2. Register your school
  3. Click on each of the review areas
  4. Type 'In Progress' in each of the boxes and move on
  5. This will trigger FREE specialist support
  6. Come back to the CQF to update as you need.
Computing Quality Framework (Self-Review)

Non-Specialist Teachers

Many schools are upskilling and deploying non-specialist teachers or teachers new to computing. Gaining the right support and CPD can help supercharge confidence, movitation and quality of delivery.

We specialise in helping:

  • Teachers from all subjects to transition to teaching computing, or add to their portfolio of teaching skills
  • Teachers across all key stages
  • Schools to introduce GCSE Computing

What to do now?

  1. Register on the the CQF website to trigger FREE support (this takes about 10 minutes, following the instructions on the "Computing Quality Framework (Self-Review)" button on this page. The sections of the CQF will instantly help you to understand some of your own school or trust's needs more clearly. You do NOT need to complete the whole CQF review in detail at this stage. 
  2. Drop us a line at [email protected] and we'll put you in touch with an expert who can help you with the CQF (if you need), and support with any aspect of development
  3. Choose whether to sign up directly for courses straight away whilst you're developing your self-review in more detail and communicating with a PDL (Professional Development Lead), or, sign up for courses based on the meeting you have with a PDL.

TIP: Many schools tend to enable staff to attend courses straight away, although the process of working through the CQF Self-Review and speaking with an expert PDL helps to shape a deeper, wider offer and build relationships with the PDL and other schools with similar needs over time.

Upskill or Introduce Non-Specialists

The CSA (Computer Science Accelerator)

The Computer Science Accelerator (commonly known as the CS Accelerator or CSA) is the backbone of the Computing Hub CPD programme for all profiles of secondary, student-facing staff.

There are courses to suit all, from complete beginners,  through to the most experienced and skilled of computing teachers and subject leaders.

Examples of staff suited to the CSA

  • Computing Leaders
  • Computing Teachers
  • Non-specialists
  • Supply Teachers
  • Cover Supervisors
  • Teachers of second subject
  • Teaching Assistants (deemed teachers)

Courses led by our local Professional Development Leads are displayed on this page.

You can also access the full range of nationally delivered courses by visiting teachcomputing.org/courses.

Staff can also gain the BCS accredited Subject Knowledge Certificate by completing CSA courses and an online test. See teachcomputing.org/cs-accelerator for details, register and get started.

The Computer Science Accelerator (CSA)

Featured Event: Festival of Learning - October 30

Festival of Learning: Making Tech Relevant

Linking Technology with Careers & Industry to Bring Learning Alive
Click Here

Secondary Courses

Access face-to-face courses led by our local PDLs (Professional Development Leads) or use the search filters to view other courses. If you can't find what you need, just go to teachcomputing.org/courses for the full range of remote courses delivered by ours and other hubs.

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No Courses Scheduled, Or These Don't Meet Your Needs? Click Here To Access The Full National Offer of FREE Live Remote, Online and Face-to-Face Courses or email us at [email protected] to request a course or direct support.

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Secondary Incentive Funding FAQs

Incentive Funding (Bursary) for your Secondary School or FE College

Coming soon...

Secondary Funding