While more schools are offering computer science at GCSE and A Level than was the case, relatively few students are deciding to study the subject.
Government changes to the curriculum are expected to result in fewer students taking any computing- related qualification beyond this year, and that’s expected to impact girls, poorer students and some ethnic minority groups, disproportionately, according to the report.
Disappointingly, there are 30,000 fewer girls studying computer science than they did in 2014, when computer science was first introduced. In 25 local authorities there is no female participation at all, while in others excellent levels of participation among girls are being achieved – the reasons for that remain unclear and need further research.
Three quarters of students are in schools where GCSE computer science is offered, but only 11.9% of students are taking the subject.
Not enough resources, too few teachers or poor teaching? Whatever the cause, we need to grow the number of students taking computer science.
The report’s call for an urgent inquiry into the impact of removing ICT from the curriculum on the digital education of young people, should be addressed as a matter of urgency.
