Policy Reports

After the Reboot – Computing Education in UK Schools [PDF Report]

This Royal Society report, After the Reboot – Computing Education in UK Schools, explores the challenges and issues facing the subject in primary and secondary schools since the subject was introduced in English schools in 2014. The report builds on the Royal Society’s 2012 report, Shut down or restart? The way forward for computing in UK schools (see below).

The report provides a snapshot of the changes that have taken place since 2012 and examines the impact of these changes across the UK. It then identifies a number of urgent challenges that governments, industry and school leaders need to address in order to safeguard our future efficacy in the digital world. The report presents 12 specific recommendations with regards to computing for all, supporting teachers, and improving computing education through research.

Shut down or restart? The way forward for computing in UK schools [PDF Report]

In 2012, the Royal Society published Shut down or restart? The way forward for computing in UK schools – a review of computing education in the UK. Despite the near ubiquity of technology, the Society found that there was a dwindling interest in computing in schools and identified a number of actions to address this issue.

Teaching computer science in France. Tomorrow can’t wait [PDF Report]

This report from the French Academy of Sciences deals with the place of computer science in primary and secondary education, as well as teacher training, in France. It also briefly evokes higher education (prep schools and universities), a subject that would be worth developing further. The report extends the specific work conducted by researchers, teachers and inspecteurs généraux (education system general inspectors) on the teaching of computer science since 2008, when the reintroduction of computer science in secondary schools became an explicit goal of the French Ministry of Education. The report highlights that in France awareness of the need for teaching computer science as a scientific discipline is growing. Teacher training is then presented as a top priority: all teachers should be trained in the impact of computer science on the evolutions of their discipline. The report concludes presenting recommendations for primary school, middle school, secondary school, and higher education.


Other General Reports (List to be updated and completed)