ICT in schools to be overhauled

19 September 2011

The UK Government is to launch a pilot overhaul of the GCSE IT curriculum, the Science Minister, David Willetts, has announced.

Speaking at a Tech City event, Willetts explained that IT in schools will be revamped to better meet the needs of employers and place greater emphasis on software design and computing programming. The Government will work alongside IBM, Cisco, Deloitte, HP, Microsoft, National Grid, Proctor and Gamble and Capgemini to pilot the new curriculum to around 100 GCSE students from November to June.

Upon the trial’s completion, a new curriculum for IT at A Level will also be piloted.

Willetts announced the scheme after conceding that the current approach of ICT in schools was not sufficient.

Back in June this year, the UK’s expert in managing mobile IT, LapSafe® Products, expressed concerns that pupils may be disadvantaged if compulsory ICT lessons were scrapped as a result of the Government’s National Curriculum review.

The original innovator of the laptop charging trolley highlighted that removing ICT as a ‘core’ subject may negatively affect both children’s future career prospects, and their everyday lives. The trusted education brand warned that without dedicated ICT lessons, pupils may not know how to use programmes, such as spreadsheets and word processors, in detail. This could cause young people difficulties when applying for jobs, educational courses or even carrying out basic activities in the future, such as managing their money.

Sources: PublicService.co.uk and ComputerWeekly.com