IET: Overhauling the ICT curriculum

Thursday, 12 January 2012 5:53 PM

Dr Martyn Thomas CBE from the Institution of Engineering and Technology said: “This is an excellent and overdue change and it is vital that it is backed up with professional training and support for the teachers who will deliver the new curriculum.

“We have the opportunity this decade, with smartphones and apps, to inspire a new generation of software engineers in the way that the BBC Micro did in the 1980s. But it will be important to teach students that professional software engineering is as big a step up from school programming as civil engineering is from Lego.

“The new curriculum will go some way to introduce students to 'computational thinking', which is as important for biologists and bankers as it is for computer scientists and software engineers."

Disclaimer: Press releases published on this page are from key opinion formers who promote their organisation's activities by subscribing to a campaign site within politics.co.uk. politics.co.uk does not endorse, edit, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases are wholly the responsibility of the originating company or organisation.

Related stories

CBI conference 2012 as it happened

The CBI conference is a critical opportunity for politicians to impress business leaders

We've been live-blogging from the CBI conference in central London, as Cameron, Miliband, Boris and co courted Britain's business leaders.

comments comments

MPs warn against rushed school building

Hidden costs of PFI emerging

The government should be cautious about relying on private money to fund new school building projects, a committee of MPs has warned.

Gordon Brown's TUC speech in full

Brown makes first speech as PM

The prime minister's speech to the 2007 TUC Congress.

Govt backs creative industry growth

Creative industries receive government commitment

The government has unveiled proposals to achieve its goal of making the economies of Britain's biggest cities become "driven by creativity"

Lambert: Resisting globalisation 'disastrous'

Lambert points to 'common ground' with unions

Unions have been urged to embrace rather than "push back against the forces of globalisation" by attempting to regulate multi-national companies.

Tata 'fed up' with ministers over Corus closure

The Redcar plant at night

Tata Steel has "lost all confidence" in the government's ability to rescue Corus' Teesside plant, an MP has claimed.

Watchdog doubts Train to Gain value

Improving Britain's skills requires a complete overhaul

The government's Train to Gain scheme has not delivered value-for-money, its spending watchdog has found.

Govt policies blamed for head teacher shortage

Teachers turned off headships

Government policy has been blamed for the poor recruitment of head teachers in primary schools.

Chuka Umunna speech in full

Chuka Umunna: Shadow business secretary

Read the shadow business secretary's speech to the Labour party conference in full.

comments comments

Comment: PFI is dead, long live PFI

Nelson Ogunshakin: 'There appears to be a link between experience in PFI and the final cost to the taxpayer'

The public has lost faith in private finance initiatives (PFI). We need a new way of accessing private funding.

comments comments

Press Releases

Radars opening up new air traffic and border control opportunities

IET comments on flaws in HS2 plans

IET welcomes expansion of Small Business Research Initiative

IET on Queen's Speech: Commitment needed for entire HS2 route

IET: UK faces a current and future cyber security skills gap

IET: UK team named First Place Champions at Lego League World Festival

Highgate school gets a lesson from IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year

IET: Design & Technology curriculum outdated and not fit for purpose

IET: Happy anniversary - celebrating 40 years of mobile phones

Appointment of Michael Fallon MP as Energy Minister

More Articles ...

Twitter

Join the conversation at #opinion_formers

Related Opinion Former Press Releases

IET urges govt to rebalance the economy with "strategic vision" for industry

Europe’s largest group of engineers is calling on the Government to ensure its forthcoming industrial strategy is developed on the basis of a strategic vision which sets out in the long term what it aims to achieve and why, rather than simply detailing ad-hoc policy actions.

IET: Managing the risks and resilience of transport systems

Improving the security of critical infrastructure networks against terrorist attack will be discussed by experts and policy makers at a summit in central London this week (11 October).

IET: 2012 Young Woman Engineer of the Year Finalists Announced

The Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) today announces the finalists for the 2012 Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards, celebrating dynamic young women representing the very best in engineering and technology.

Special event coverage

ESRC logo

Festival of Social Sciences: Celebrating the Social Sciences

Evidence-based policy should not be a radical concept. It needs to be celebrated.

ESRC logo

Festival of Social Sciences: 2 languages: 2 brains, 2 minds, 2 cultures?

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences, the Deafness Cognition And Language Research Centre (DCAL) hosted an event exploring the powerful benefits of bilingualism in spoken and sign languages, for hearing and deaf people alike - benefits that reach hearing and deaf people alike.

Opinion Former Events

Bpas event: Working Together for Women

Join bpas for an informal networking event which will provide an opportunity to talk to others looking to work together to effect policy changes to improve women’s lives and hear from speakers who are doing just that.