The teaching of ICT and computer science in UK schools “is insufficiently rigorous and in need of reform”, the government said in response to an industry report looking at technology teaching in the UK.

 

The Next Gen report, which was written by Ian Livingstone and Alex Hope and published in October, criticised current ICT lessons, suggesting that they tend to focus on how to use software rather than on how to write it. In order to prevent future UK workers from lacking key skills, the report went on to recommend that rather than learning about business software, pupils should be taught programming skills in ICT lessons – a suggestion which has since led to the creation of a nationwide campaign urging a more hands-on approach to technology in classrooms which has been supported by industry giants including Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Sega, Electronic Arts, and the Guardian Media Group.

 

In response to the report, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has admitted that the teaching of computer science must become more relevant to modern needs and said that the report has set out some “compelling” ideas about how to make the UK a hub for video games and visual effects.

 

According to the BBC, the DCMS will consider the 20 points for action given in Next Gen and that as well as looking into ICT reform, it would take action on other fronts including investigating ways to tempt good teachers of computer science into schools and stepping up plans to get game makers and effects artists to talk to pupils about their work. However, it reports that the government has shied away from agreeing to include ICT in the national curriculum – one of the main aims of the Next Gen report.

 

Speaking to the BBC, report author Livingstone said he was “absolutely delighted” with the response because of a separate commitment to ensure that school children would be more digitally literate. He said that the skills campaign would now work hard to influence the re-writing of the curriculum to ensure core digital skills were included. Livingstone commented:

 

“It's an open door for us to have a dialogue and talk to the Department for Education in particular which we couldn't do until quite recently.”

 

 

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