Girls in ICT: how the curriculum has changed

Over the last decade, the UK has pioneered a Computer Science curriculum which is now starting to be emulated in many other countries around the world. The old ICT was rebranded as Computing or Computer Science, and the discipline was transformed into a modern, stimulating, and relevant programme of study that focuses on problem solving and creativity. It is a subject that truly embraces the challenges of the digital world, and provides students with a solid foundation with which to become leaders in fields where society is in much need of new talent, such as Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence.

There is no doubt that the new Computer Science curriculum is fostering genuine passion for the subject, and it is consolidating a culture where it is ok to take risks, to see failure as a path for learning, and to thinking outside the box as the best approach to find better and more efficient solutions to problems.

There has never been a more exciting time to teach and learn Computer Science, and GHS has relished the opportunity to be part of this major shift. Our very first A Level computer scientists will graduate this summer, and all pupils from Year 7 can now start developing their coding skills and learn how digital technology truly works, rather than just being passive users. During their first year, pupils grasp the basics of computational thinking and become familiar with the fundamental programming constructs. In Year 8, the course offers the opportunity to design and code a real app, and in Year 9 pupils make the jump to solving problems and creating applications with a professional high-level programming language. For those who choose to take the subject at GCSE and A Level, the syllabus provides an excellent introduction to a wide range of aspects of the digital world.

The new generations are so immersed in the virtual world that sometimes they find it difficult to distance themselves from the technology that makes all that possible. Complex and controversial topics such as surveillance, lack of privacy, data collection, the dangers of AI and social media manipulation algorithms feature prominently in some of the topics we study. These are a much-welcomed addition to the subject, and the classroom debates that arise as a result are truly fascinating and actively encouraged!

There has never been a more exciting time to teach and learn Computer Science

From a teacher’s perspective, there is no doubt that the new Computer Science curriculum is fostering genuine passion for the subject, and it is consolidating a culture where it is ok to take risks, to see failure as a path for learning, and to thinking outside the box as the best approach to find better and more efficient solutions to problems. The new emphasis on computational thinking is a formidable toolkit to help develop those skills in our pupils.

There is still a lot of work to be done in our society in terms of encouraging more girls to take a career in Computer Science, but if there is something we have learnt from this new approach it is this: give talented people the opportunity to unleash their creativity and realise how much impact their actions can have in the world with the right tools, and they will become passionate about it.

Mr Javier González Abia