Computing Hub
The Birmingham and Central Midlands Computing Hub provides resources, training and support for teaching Computing in primary and secondary schools and colleges from KS1 through to A level. We can work with you to identify your computing needs and provide a targeted programme of support to help embed Computing in your school. The support includes high quality CPD with generous subsidies; teaching and learning resources; and school-to-school support.
Email teachcomputing@bishopchalloner.bham.sch.uk or phone 0121 441 6128 for more details.
What is currently available?
The NCCE offer provides the essential toolkit filled with inspiration and support for teaching primary and secondary computing. The offer includes training and enrichment to help you teach and lead computing curriculum and improve learning across your school.
Computer Science Accelerator Programme
This programme is designed to support teachers from non-specialist backgrounds who want to improve their knowledge of computer science and teach it at GCSE level. Choose from face-to-face and online modules. Financial support is available for schools, including subsidies to help cover the costs associated with CPD participation.
Computer Science Accelerator Programme
Please phone 0121 441 6128 or email teachcomputing@bishopchalloner.bham.sch.uk for more details about our primary and secondary computing courses, online resources and how to access further support.
Useful links
Computing courses - Primary
Primary courses are delivered remotely or face to face. Each course costs £65 per participant from state-maintained schools. The £220 bursary is available for one teacher per school, in an academic year.
For more information about these courses and how to book on, take a look at the teachcomputing website.
Course Title | Starting Date | Time | Booking Link |
---|---|---|---|
Introduction to Primary Computing - F2F Birmingham |
1st November 2022 |
09.00-15.30 |
|
Physical Computing Kit: KS2 Crumble - F2F Birmingham - (Short course) | 1st November 2022 | 13.00-14.30 | |
Introduction to the Micro:bit in key stage 2 - F2F Birmingham - (Short course) | 1st November 2022 | 14.30-16.00 | |
Primary programming and algorithms - F2F Bilston | 2nd November 2022 | 09.00-15.00 | |
Teaching key stage 2 computing - module 2 - remote | 15th November 2022 | 09.00-15.30 | |
Leading primary computing - F2F (2 days) - Bilston |
15th November 2022 29th November 2022 |
09.00-15.00 09.00-15.00 |
|
Physical Computing Kit: KS2 Crumble - F2F Coventry - (Short course) | 21st November 2022 | 13.00-14.30 | Click to book |
Introduction to the Micro:bit in key stage 2 - F2F Coventry - (Short course) | 21st November 2022 | 15.00-16.30 | Click to book |
Preparing for Ofsted in primary computing - remote (Short course) | 24th November 2022 | 15.30-17.00 | |
Teaching key stage 1 computing - F2F Birmingham | 29th November 2022 | 09.00-15.00 | Click to book |
Introduction to primary computing - remote | 1st December 2022 | 09.00-15.30 | |
Primary programming and algorithms - remote | 2nd December 2022 | 09.00-15.30 | |
Physical Computing Kit: KS2 Crumble - F2F Halesowen - (Short course) | 6th December 2022 | 12.30-14.00 | |
Introduction to the Micro:bit in key stage 2 - F2F Halesowen - (Short course) | 6th December 2022 | 14.00-15.30 | |
Online safety through primary computing - remote | 6th December 2022 | 15.30-17.00 | |
Leading primary computing - remote (2 days) |
9th December 2022 16th December 2022 |
09.00-15.00 09.00-14.15 |
|
Teaching key stage 1 computing - module 1 - remote | 10th January 2023 | 09.00-15.30 | |
Physical Computing Kit: KS2 Crumble - F2F Bilston - (Short course) | 12th January 2023 | 13.00-14.30 | |
Introduction to the Micro:bit in key stage 2 - F2F Bilston - (Short course) | 12th January 2023 | 15.00-16.30 | |
Leading primary computing - F2F (2 days) - Birmingham |
24th January 2023 7th March 2023 |
09.00-15.00 09.00-14.15 |
|
Implementing the Teach Computing Curriculum in your school - F2F Halesowen | 24th January 2023 | 09.00-15.00 | |
Outstanding primary computing for all - F2F Coventry | 26th January 2023 | 09.00-15.00 | |
Preparing for Ofsted in primary computing - remote (Short course) | 31st January 2023 | 15.30-17.00 | Click to book |
Leading primary computing - remote (2 days) |
3rd February 2023 16th February 2023 |
09.00-15.00 09.00-14.15 |
|
Assessment of primary computing - F2F Bilston and part 2 remote |
9th February 2023 2nd March 2023 |
09.00-12.00 09.00-12.00 |
|
*Free webinar does not include a bursary
Computing courses - Secondary
Our secondary courses are a mixture of face-to-face and remote courses. There are a range of courses available for secondary teachers, click on the booking link(s) for course fees.
Subsidies are available for your school when participant(s) complete a course, they are also available for participant(s) who sign up to the Computer Science Accelerator programme.
For more information about these courses and how to book on, take a look at the teachcomputing website.
Course title | Starting Date | Time | Booking Link |
---|---|---|---|
West Midlands Secondary Conference - remote* | Thursday, 3rd November 2022 | 13.30-16.00 | |
Physical computing kit - KS3 micro:bit - F2F Birmingham (short course) | Monday, 7th November 2022 | 14:00-15:30 | |
Foundation knowledge of computer science for KS3 and GCSE - F2F Coventry (CSA) | Monday, 7th November 2022 | 10:00-15:45 | |
Teaching GCSE computer science pedagogy for programming -F2F Coventry (Core) | Thursday, 10th November 2022 | 09.30-15.30pm | |
Physical computing kit - KS3 micro:bit - F2F Halesowen (short course) | Monday, 14th November 2022 | 14.00-15.30 | |
Foundation knowlege of computer science for KS3 and GCSE - F2F Coventry (CSA) | Tuesday 15th November 2022 | 09.00-15.00 | |
Foundation knowledge of computer science for KS3 and GCSE - F2F Birmingham (CSA) | Thursday, 17th November 2022 | 09.00-15.00 | |
Foundation knowledge of computer science for KS3 and GCSE - F2F Walsall (CSA) | Friday, 18th November 2022 | 09:30-15:15 | |
Python programming constructs: sequencing, selection & iteration - F2F Birmingham (CSA) | Tuesday, 22nd November 2022 | 09.00-15.00 | |
An introduction to computer systems, networking and security - F2F Birmingham (CSA) | Thursday 24th November 2022 | 09.00-1500 | |
Teaching GCSE computer science developing knowledge and understanding - F2F Birmingham (Core) | Monday, 28th November 2022 | 09.00-15.00 | |
Teaching GCSE computer science pedagogy for programming - F2F Birmingham (Core) | Tuesday, 29th November 2022 | 09.00-15.00 | |
Foundation knowledge of computer science for KS3 and GCSE - F2F Wolverhampton (CSA) | Wednesday, 30th November 2022 | 09.00-13.00 | |
Supporting GCSE computer science students at grades 1-3 - F2F Wolverhampton (CSA) | Thursday, 1st December 2022 | 09.00-15.00 | |
Higher attainment in computer science – meeting the challenges of the exams F2F Walsall (CSA) | Friday, 2nd December 2022 | 09.30-15.00 | |
Physical computing kit - KS3 micro:bit - F2F Coventry (Short course) | Monday, 5th December 2022 | 14.00-15.30 | |
Getting started with Python programming - remote (Short course) | Wednesday, 7th December 2022 | 16.00-17.30 | |
Teaching GCSE computer science pedagogy for programming - F2F Wolverhampton (Core) | Thursday, 8th December 2022 | 09.00-15.00 | |
Teaching GCSE computer science developing knowledge and understanding (Core) F2F Halesowen | Tuesday, 13th December 2022 | 09.00-15.00 | |
New subject leaders of secondary computing - 2 day course F2F Birmingham (Core) | Monday, 9th January 2023 Thursday 26th January 2023 |
09.30-15.00 09.30-15.00 |
|
Supporting GCSE computer science students at grades 1-3 F2F Coventry (CSA) | Monday, 6th February 2023 | 10.00-15.00 | |
Python programming constructs: sequencing, selection & iteration for OCR specification F2F Wolverhampton (CSA) | Thursday, 9th February 2023 | 09.00-15.00 | |
Assessment and progression in KS3 computing F2F Birmingham (Core) | Tuesday, 14th February 2023 | 09.30-3.00 | |
KS4 computing for all F2F Birmingham (Core) | Thursday, 2nd March 2023 | 09.30-15.00 | |
Python programming: working with data F2F Wolverhampton (CSA) | Thursday, 9th March 2023 | 09.00-15.00 | |
Higher attainment in GCSE computer science - meeting the challenge of exams F2F Coventry (CSA) | Monday 13th March 2023 | 10.00-3.00 | |
Python programming: advanced subject knowledge, implementation and testing F2F Wolverhampton (CSA) | Thursday, 30th March 2023 | 09.00-15.00 |
Dates and times of these sessions can be found on the booking link for each course*
*Free webinar does not include a bursary
Non-specialist teachers second subject pathways
The NCCE offer provides pathways for non-specialist teachers so that they can teach computing as their second subject. The offer has been developed within the CSA programme to ensure that teachers feel confident in attending courses aimed at and with their peers. This programme is also supported by the CS Champions who will supply an extra layer of support for participants.
If you are looking into teaching computing as a second subject, there a range of pathways available. The pathways have been specifically designed to support your journey to confidently teach computing.
Step one
Second Subject webinar - Optional
Attend a short 45 minute webinar on the benefits of teaching computer science. This webinar will explain how this scheme will enable you to teach computing as a second subject.
Step two
Pathway documents
Participant to read the pathway document for their subject. Then to book onto a package of courses linked to their main subject.
Step three
CSA courses
Attend at least two Computer Science Accelerator courses, ideally those scheduled for their main subject. These courses can be delivered remotely or face to face.
Step four
Beyond completion of CSA
Before taking the Computer Science Accelerator assessment which also provides a bursary to your school, you will engage with the CS champion support as well as online courses to prepare.
Pathways for second subject teachers
ScienceBusiness StudiesHumanities and PSHE PEMusic, Art and MediaModern Foreign LanguagesEnglish
Design and technology
There is a slightly different route for teachers of D&T which focuses on exploring programming within a D&T context. This includes basic programming techniques and effective teaching methods of programming. Participants will then engage with content from the ‘An introduction to algorithms, programming and data’ course.
'Introduction to algorithms, programming and data for D&T teachers' will be running in September. Click here to find out more.
Maths
There is a slightly different route for teachers of Maths. This route focuses on Maths in Computer Science. A specific course has been designed to focus on the two subject working together, this course will support the subject knowledge of both Maths and Computing teachers.
Subject Matter Expert Support
We offer fully-funded consultancy from a network of subject matter experts, to support primary and secondary schools and colleges to improve their computing offer. Bursary funding is also available, payable to schools and colleges who meet the criteria below, upon completion of an action plan.
If you would like your school to receive SME support, please complete the form and your local SME lead will contact you.
School to School support
If your school does not satisfy the eligibility requirements for SME support, we can still support you. Schools within Local Authority District 1-4 can still receive support from their local Computing Hub. There will be no charge for these support sessions that we offer.