Julian Bass

To all my software and techy contacts… the Computer Science GCSE has not been updated since 2015, nearly ten years ago. The DfE are seeking views on the proposed updated content and you can help by participating in their survey. https://lnkd.in/eBaPFh6h In the Equality Impact statement (in the link) there is mention that there is positive impact on gender equality (but neutral impact on all other groups) so it would be great to see if your views support this, and perhaps see how more of the other ‘neutral impacts’ could be made positive. Please share the link to the survey to your network! #dfe #departmentforeducation #software #gcse #computerscience #equalityimpact #womenintech @womenintechhampshire

17

Are you thinking about completing an NPQ? Not sure which course is right for you? This document might help you decide! Apply for an NPQ with us, in partnership with National Institute of Teaching here: https://niot.org.uk/npqs

4

3 Comments

📚 The latest GCSE resit blog is out today!  This time, Sue Hough from The Manchester Metropolitan University focuses on making sense of mathematical data through Realistic Mathematics Education (RME). Check out the blog to learn more about this interesting and valuable problem-solving approach to teaching and learning in maths: https://lnkd.in/euQcUHUA

3

The Guardian has highlighted a worrying trend on the uptake of GCSE Computer Science amongst females in this article: https://lnkd.in/euTdP8gh With a couple of quotes standing out: “...the introduction of the new syllabus has had the unintended consequence of driving female entries down, according to new research by King’s College London.” Also: “...In 2015 43% of candidates for ICT GCSE were female, compared with just 21% of those who took GCSE computer science in 2023….” Senior figures within the educational field of computing are urging curriculum reform, noting that many students perceive Computer Science as ‘difficult’ and that the overt focus on programming skills might be deterring girls from taking it up. Dr Peter Kemp also notes that we need to encourage girls to take up the subject and to allow them to develop the sort of digital skills that they will need in the future. What do we think about this? I taught the old ICT curriculum for many years, and yes it was very MS Office-heavy but it could also be very motivational and was a popular choice for girls. Have we gone too far down the road of programming just for the sake of it, making it the preserve of ‘geeky’ males? Are there any home schoolers who are attempting the GCSE in Computer Science who can vouch for it?!

4

1 Comment

Interesting article in the Guardian this morning regarding GCSE Computer Science, with the number of girls taking up the subject halving. https://lnkd.in/gq-P-dpf One statement that caught my eye was the below paragraph: “However, these successes have coincided with a general decline in computing and digital skills education at the secondary school level, particularly affecting girls, certain ethnic groups and students from underserved socioeconomic backgrounds,” it said. Digital skills in schools was something NCFE highlighted in the recent House of Lords 11-16 Education Committee report (https://lnkd.in/dUSmx97c) where we urged more focus on the essential digital skills to be taught at school. #digitalskills #digital #GCSE #Computing

1

Interested in finding out how LORIC can support B2B businesses? Read the first blog in our new series of updates- LORIC Supports...B2B

2

Discover effective strategies for increasing the uptake of girls in GCSE Computing. Our latest blog post explores actionable steps to inspire and support female students in this critical subject. Empower the next generation of women in tech and enhance your approach to promoting gender diversity in computing. This is essential reading for educators committed to inclusive education. 🌟💻 🔗

1

The SCARI (Subject Choice, Attainment and Representation) Computing research project, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, explores the factors that explain the lack of participation by girls in #secondaryschool level #computing subjects in England. Amongst those students who had chosen not to take the #ComputerScience #GCSE, 74% of girls said that was not enjoyable, 56 % of girls stated that it does not fit in with their career aspirations and 32% said that they dislike maths. Based on the survey data, it seems that girls find programming, maths and hardware difficult. There are some interesting recommendations on how computer science can be made more relevant, interesting and engaging to address the gender balance. - Report: https://lnkd.in/esuwUFyT - Mini reports to accompany: https://lnkd.in/edd3HNs5 - Teacher tips: https://lnkd.in/eM9YaCww What tools/platforms/programmes have secondary school teachers used to help explain #programming, #hardware and #maths concepts to girls? What after-school or enrichment activities are schools using to build confidence and competence in girls studying computer science? Please add any links in the comments. Thanks Peter Kemp, Jessica Hamer, Billy Wong, Meggie Copsey-Blake for sharing your findings and recommendations!

20

3 Comments

👩‍💻 Girls in GCSE Computing: Bridging the Gender Gap 📊 The participation of girls in GCSE Computing is crucial for fostering diversity and innovation in the tech industry. This insightful blog discusses the current trends and challenges that girls face in pursuing computing subjects at school. It highlights the importance of encouraging female students to explore their interest in technology and the initiatives aimed at increasing their representation in STEM fields. Learn about effective strategies and resources that educators can use to inspire and support girls in computing, ultimately helping to create a more inclusive environment in tech education. Read more here:

2

The switch from ICT GCSE to Computer Science has seen the proportion of girls taking it plummet. 📉 According to this article, “In 2015 43% of candidates for ICT GCSE were female, compared with just 21% of those who took GCSE computer science in 2023.” 👩🏻‍💻 The tech field heavily skews away from women, and one part of that is lack of girls choosing to take these subjects and enter the field. For an equitable future, we need to find a way to encourage our girls to consider technology as a viable career. https://lnkd.in/eXeFtNmk

16

19 Comments

Fab opportunity in a rapidly developing area

4

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳Wales has a #DigitalSkills shortage, we must become a nation of continuous learners. For the 80% of annual school leavers that didn’t go to uni, and took maybe entry level roles, there’s still pathways available to build the high-valued digital skills. Like this one 👇 Employers! The size of the digital talent pool in Wales, will not be filled by universities grads alone, it is not sufficient, we must invest in developing more diverse pipelines. Like this one 👇 Maria Moller and the team at Swansea University are providing a fully funded way of you upskilling your current talent. We’ve got to grow our own hyperlocal talent, right here, or we’ll all suffer the shortages More of this 👇 #SkillShortages #FututeSkillsShortages #ContinuousLearning #InvestInGenZ #NextGenWorkforce

9

I am interested to hear the findings from the latest SCARI computing report today at King's College London - worrying but not suprising reports of a decrease in girls taking a computing related GCSE. What do we need? ✅ Real world applications of computing skills ✅ Meaningful projects that link directly to the world around us ✅ Creativity and collaboration Our computing curriculum in England purpose of study embodies these things but they are getting lost and it is putting a wide range of learners off the subject. There aren’t any opportunities for a broader computing GCSE so the experience gets narrowed at KS3. We can do better! We will do better! See a summary in the Guardian: https://lnkd.in/e5rB-wPi #Inclusion #Computing

28

12 Comments

New preprint! "Using Open Data to Create Applied Statistics Assessments on Reproducibility and Replicability" Currently submitted to Teaching Statistics for a special issue on the back of the UK Conference on Teaching Statistics. https://lnkd.in/epYt3F3t It's pretty short and outlines a type of assessment for developing concepts of reproducibility and replicability. Students analyse open data of an original study, analyse replication data from the original study, and explain whether they consider the results to replicate. It targets three main skills: - Reproduce analyses in published research - Justify their choice of analysis -Communicate their conclusions. I wanted to add a reflection element, but I did not have ethical approval to share student feedback on the assessment. Feedback welcome!

21

Looking forward to the upcoming #AoC AI in further Education Conference. Looks like there will be some fascinating insights. https://lnkd.in/e6hheRyF #AI #FurtherEducation

6

💡 This is a really interesting case - replacing the old ICT GCSE with a new computer science GCSE led to “decline in computing and digital skills education at the secondary school level, particularly affecting girls, certain ethnic groups and students from underserved socioeconomic backgrounds.” 🎓 Our colleague’s son, a dedicated and very gifted student, has just taken this exam. The verdict is that it’s not straightforward to score top marks, the coding questions are a little on a difficult side. And this is a reaction of someone who loves computing as a subject. ‼️ Clearly it’s the unintended consequence and demands actions to make computing desirable to all pupils and in line with their needs and of course teachers’ capabilities. As part of our mission, we at Work in Fintech have been actively focusing on increasing the participation of the underrepresented segments like females and ethnic groups in our sector. We offer mentorships, work experience, designing and curating the content that is appealing to young people and inspires them to careers in Fintech industry.

2

Are you curious about how HTQs can be used to train staff, as an alternative to apprenticeships? We are holding a free MS Teams Sessions on HTQs. Fareport have been awarded funding by the Department for Education to develop and deliver HTQs in L4 Data Analyst and L5 Operations Manager. These sessions are designed to support businesses and individuals to understand how HTQs can benefit them by: - Clarifying what HTQs are and how they operate. - Exploring the return on investment and how to track their effectiveness. - How to align and link HTQs to strategic aims. - Understanding the costs and available funding options - Integrating HTQs into your current development plans. - Attracting a wide, diverse talent pool. - Addressing any other questions, you may have about HTQs. These sessions are free to give businesses practical and accessible advice, and are available to companies of all sizes across England. Just fill out the form below to book your spot. https://rpb.li/wC1r0f Alternatively feel free to reach out directly with any questions. Looking forward to meeting you all soon! #htqs #employeeskills #employeetraining #dataskills #managementskills

8

1 Comment