£20k scholarships to boost Computer Science teaching

The government is offering 50 scholarships worth £20,000 each to graduates wanting to train as Computer Science teachers.

Education secretary Michael Gove revealed the scholarships as part of wider plans to boost computer science teaching skills in the UK.

As part of that, the existing ICT teacher training courses will be cut in favour of Computer Science courses starting next September, following the government’s syllabus shake-up. The government has also offered £150,000 to help fund computer training for existing teachers.

Having dedicated, high-calibre computer science teachers in schools will have a powerful effect

The 50 scholarships will be handed to people with tech skills who are willing to study to become teachers. The government will cover the cost of the preparation programme and the Computer Science Initial Teacher Training course. That was created with the BCS alongside industry players including Microsoft, Facebook, BT and IBM.

Graduates will need a 2:1 or first-class degree to apply.

Gove said the government was trying to “produce the next Sir Tim Berners-Lee” – who actually has a degree in physics from Oxford.

The changes to computing classes follow a series of complaints from students, teachers and industry that existing classes are undemanding and boring for students.

“Having dedicated, high-calibre computer science teachers in schools will have a powerful effect,” said Ian Livingstone, Life President of Eidos and Chair of Next Gen Skills. “They will inspire and enable children to be creators of technology rather than being simply passive users of it.”