The government is scrapping its much-criticised IT curriculum,
renaming it Computer Science, and introducing software
programming for school pupils. However, it is placing much of
the responsibility for improving the system onto schools and
universities. Following years of criticism from employers that
pupils leave school without decent IT skills, the government is
rebranding ICT as Computer Science, and launching a consultation
on exactly how to make the programming and more advanced lessons
a reality. While the subject will be compulsory to GCSE level,
the government will no longer write the bulk of the curriculum.
It has stated explicitly that schools must devise their own
courses, with the help of universities and businesses. But while
the introduction of a better subject will be welcomed by many,
schools may not appreciate the burden of responsibility for
shaping the subject – many are already under immense financial
pressure have struggled to find advanced IT teachers. Education
secretary Michael Gove s