Computer Science is the fastest-growing STEM subject, but despite its popularity and excellent career opportunities, girls continue to be outnumbered by boys. Our IT Department is working hard to remedy this.

Currently, only 20% of GCSE and 15% of A’ Level Computer Science entries are from female students in England, but the ‘I Belong’ programme from the National Centre of Computing Education aims to change that. Our Computing Department works hard to provide plenty of opportunities for female students which raise aspirations, and Computing Teacher, Miss Talbot has received accreditation to recognise this. Last year she organised trips to outside organisations to promote the subject, including to Teesside University and Nissan, and girls also took part in the ‘Hello World Convention’ which featured a number of taster sessions and a Q&A with a panel of successful women working within computing.

September will also see the launch of Lego League, a new competition for Year 9 students where they will be challenged to develop a Lego robot to solve problems on a floor mat laid out like an assault course. Working in teams, students will design and build a robot in school as an extra-curricular activity; they will then use these to compete against other partcipating schools in a visit to Nissan.

Pictured here are Alfie J and Holly F.