How England Implemented Its Computer Science Education Program

Overview & Synopsis

Computer science (CS) education helps students acquire skills such as computational thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. Since these skills take preeminence in the rapidly changing 21st century, CS education promises to significantly enhance student preparedness for the future of work and active citizenship. Based on prior analyses and expert consultations, the authors selected 11-CS education country, state, and provincial case studies that may have lessons that can broadly apply to other education systems. These cases come from diverse global regions and circumstances and have implemented CS education programs for various periods and to different levels of success. As such, they have examined information to extract lessons that can lead to successful implementation. This study examines how England developed its CS education program of study. CS concepts have been part of the official English curriculum for over a decade, but reforms have encouraged wider participation in the last six years. Given that this is a relatively long period of implementation compared to many other countries' CS activities, this England case study can provide an understanding of how CS education activities can be improved over time.