Recruiting the next generation of Computing teachers
Saffron Walden County High was selected to be one of the National Centre for Computing hubs in the summer of 2019. This was in recognition of the strong practice and uptake of computing as a subject, as well as the work the school does in supporting other schools in the local area to develop their computing curriculums.
One of the ongoing missions of the computing hub has been to ensure the recruitment, development and retention of excellent computing teachers. It is recognised that Computing is a shortage subject nationally, there is a huge need for highly qualified and passionate computing teachers to ensure that students have equitable access to the subject. Computing education allows our future generation to have the skills to access the increasing digital demands.
Saffron Walden Computing Hub has been working closely with CTSN SCITT for several years supporting new teachers in their first year of training through expert mentoring and subject tuition. CTSN SCITT have been providing school based initial teacher training for many years. With training Hubs in both Cambridge and West Suffolk they have strong partnerships with local schools across the region. The partnership between Saffron Walden’s computing hub and CTSN’s SCITT is well established, we are pleased at how the numbers of Computing Trainee Teachers (secondary) has grown over the last three years, many of whom have gone on to work in local schools.
“I have worked with CTSN SCITT for many years, both as a mentor and subject lead for Computing. Now, as leader of the Saffron Walden Computing Hub, I have had the opportunity to shape the initial teacher training curriculum for the subject to ensure trainee computing teachers have the best training and support.”
Katie Vanderpere-Brown – Lead, Saffron Walden Computing Hub (NCCE)
A career in computing teaching is highly rewarding and in demand. In recognition of this, the government provides bursary funding to support the training year. For more details, look on the Train to Teach website https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-your-training
If you think you have the skills, subject knowledge, and passion for teaching Computing and would like to find out more about training with CTSN SCITT visit www.ctsnscitt.org and come along to our next meeting to talk to us about routes into teaching with us (see the Events page for details on how to join).
This year, there are £24,000 bursaries for computing trainee teachers: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-your-training
