16 September 2013 – London, United Kingdom – The confirmation of the new National Curriculum subject in Computing has been hailed as a “major boost for the creative economyâ€, according to Ukie Vice-Chair and Next Gen Skills campaigner Ian Livingstone
Under government plans, a new GCSE subject in Computing will replace ICT from September 2014 with a new ‘Programme of Study’ which teaches children the fundamentals of computer programming from primary school onwards.
The announcement was a direct recommendation of the NESTA Next Gen report in 2011 which marks a tremendous success for the Ukie funded Next Gen Skills campaign.
Responding to the new Programme of Study for Computing, Ian Livingstone said; “The publication of the new curriculum marks a step change for English schools and is a major boost for the creative economy. Out goes the old ICT curriculum, which most students found boring, and in comes Computing based on problem-based learning that will be rigorous, relevant and exciting. It will give students a good grounding in programming too. I particularly welcome the emphasis on creativity, giving a much-needed signal to schools that the teaching of digital-making skills also requires Art and Humanities for children to be able to express themselves and operate in the digital world.â€
Ukie CEO Dr Jo Twist hailed the new curriculum as a vital move in securing the future of the UK’s industry, “This is a massive step in not only helping to secure the future of the games industry, but all areas of the creative and technology sectors. The new curriculum will help to give students a solid foundation in programming and help to develop quality home grown talent in the UK.â€
Click here for more information on the Next Gen Skills campaign.