Cyber Schools Hub Newsletter June 2019 Contents: Hub and Spoke school updates Industry support and Engagement NCSC Update Hub and Spoke School Activity Expansion of secondary schools in project As part of phase 2 of the project, the NCSC team along with Madeline, have been reaching out to schools in the Cheltenham and Cirencester/Stroud area to see if they would like to become involved in the project. A key aspect of this expansion is to solicit (and then support) new ideas and concepts from new teachers and schools, the core objectives of the project - Improve take up at GCSE /A-level of Computer Science, Improve take up by Female Students of Computer Science courses, and to Implement Cyber Security Principles within the school’s curriculum. New schools that have agreed to be part of the project include: • Katherine Lady Berkeley's School • Marling School • Cirencester Deer Park • Chosen Hill School • Stroud High School • Rednock School Winchcombe School were visited but unfortunately their Computer Science teacher is leaving to work abroad, and they currently do not have a replacement. The NCSC team have already received several new concepts that they are keen to trial with the teachers/schools who have submitted them. Cirencester Deer Park have reported interesting statistics showing the growth already in Computer Science within the school: • Year 11 (2019 exam) - Number in Year Group = 207, Number taking CS GCSE = 23, Number of Girls taking CS GCSE = 3 • Year 10 (2020 exam) - Number in Year Group = 176, Number taking CS GCSE = 29, Number of Girls taking CS GCSE = 5 • Year 9 (2021 exam) - Number in Year Group = 168, Number taking CS GCSE = 30, Number of Girls taking CS GCSE = 7 The stats show that a larger proportion of the year group has been opting for Computer Science and the percentage of girls also is growing. Stroud High (a girls Grammar School) reports the following statistics: • Year 11 - 10 students studying CS GCSE • Year 10 - 7 students studying CS GCSE • Year 9 - 20 students studying CS GCSE Stroud High are also doubling the number of Computer Science teachers to two from September onwards to facilitate additional CS teaching within the school Rednock School reports the following statistics: • Y11 - 12 students studying CS GCSE including 1 female student • Y10 - 11 students studying CS GCSE including 3 female students From September onwards they will be offering both GCSE Computer Science and L2 BTEC in Digital Information Technology as Y9 options. Rednock have very small numbers undertaking A Level Computer Science with only 2 in Y13 currently and are looking to move to Cambridge Technicals for new Y12s. Chosen Hill School reports the following statistics: • Y13 - 1 Class studying Computer Science A-level (8 boys /1 girl) • Y12 - 1 Class studying Computer Science A-level (4 boys/4 girls) • Y11 - 2 Classes studying Computer Science GCSE (40 boys/3 girls) • Y10 - 2 Classes studying Computer Science GCSE (33 Boys/5 girls) • Y9 - 2 Classes studying Computer Science GCSE (44 boys/3 girls) Beaufort and the demise of Computer Science With Beaufort Co-operative Academy going into special measures and then being taken over by the Greenshaws Learning Trust, the Trusts management made the decision to stop offering Computer Science at GCSE. The NCSC met with the interim head to gain an understanding of why this decision was made (noting that this is the same at both Five Acres and Hedley Bank Secondary schools, two other schools that the trust runs within Gloucestershire). The head was very gracious with his time and explanation, and the NCSC now understands more what schools must focus on when they go into special measures following an OFSTED inspection. The NCSC team were keen to repurpose the equipment that had been provided to Beaufort as one of the projects Cyber School Hubs, and gained support from the head to facilitate this, with equipment being removed to support new concept trials in other schools or being converted to be used as classroom technology dropcrates bookable by all schools. The NCSC team also thanked those they interacted with at Beaufort for their support and engagement, and wished Sophia the Computer Science teacher well, in her new role teaching CS at Cheltenham College. Expansion of 6th form colleges in project Part of the projects phase 2 expansion is to look at ways we can trial new concepts to improve take up and support of Computer Science in 6th forms, especially in the two large colleges in the county GlosCol and Cirencester 6th Form College. The NCSC team have already met with GlosCol management and Computer Science curriculum leads and have gained their support to be involved in the project. The project is also supporting concepts of increasing 6th form uptake and delivery of Computer Science in Newent, Ribston, Denmark Road and Wyedean. Computer Science becomes most popular university course The Director of 6th form has reported that at Wyedean Computer Science has become the most popular university course for their 6th forms to apply for this year. 16.3% of the school’s university applications this year were for Computer Science related courses. Emma, the Computer Science teacher at Wyedean, puts this figure down to the impact of industry involvement showing students the possibilities, with a special mention to the Bank of England visit the 6th form did when they got to engage with the banks staff. Options Evening suggest increase in Computer Science Ribston reports that at their Y8 parents evening there was a lot of interest shown in taking GCSE Computer Science with the schools GCSE stats showing that the project is helping with the growth of CS in school as follows: • Sept 2015 6 Girls • Sept 2016 10 Girls • Sept 2017 15 Girls • Sept 2018 16 Girls • Sept 2019 20 Girls The 20 girls in September 2019 is 17% of the total year group. Ribston have also provided details on their last two years of A-level Computer Science with 5 taking it the first year they offered it in 2017 and 8 taking it last September. Cleeve School increase student numbers undertaking Computer Science Cleeve school reports thanks to the support and involvement in the Cyber Schools Hub project that they have the following statistics: • New Y12s - 10 boys and 7 girls (last year it was 10 boys, 2 girls) • New Y9s - 39 Boys and 14 girls (last year it was 35 Boys and 11 girls) The school is really pleased to be increasing its numbers especially the number of girls. Cleeve School to support Cheltenham Independent State Schools Partnership (ISSP) Schools in Cheltenham are putting in place a Schools Partnership, including both state and independently funded schools, to facilitate better sharing of resources and facilities between schools. The ISSP is based on a similar model that runs in York (https://yorkissp.org/) and other areas across the UK. Cleeve School has now been included in the partnership and will be looking to provide support and activities to other schools in the partnership using its position and resources as a Cyber Schools Hub to facilitate learning and awareness of Computer Science and Cyber Security Principles in schools across Cheltenham. June is all about Outreach! With the schools having lost 2-year groups with students doing their GCSE and A-level, secondary schools have lots more time to engage with primary schools in June. Beaufort Co-operative Academy conducted 4 full days of outreach with Primary school children to introduce and excite them in Computer Science. Great use was made of both Ohbots and Sphero robots, and the inspiring 'Little Tommies' facility at Beaufort. Schools supported included Kings School, Linden School and Abbeymead Primary Schools. The Denmark Road Computer Science teacher provided three exciting and stimulating Computer Science outreach session over 3 weeks for Kingsholm Primary School. The Computer Science team at Wyedean School hosted a massive 160 Y6 students from local Primary Schools for two days and provided them with an exciting and rewarding Computer Science learning experience based around Ohbots. Dean Academy and Wyedean School working together Dean Academy who are looking to develop offering Computer Science GCSE at the School from 2020 have joined forces with Wyedean school to better understand how to develop links with industry, run exciting Computer Science/Cyber Clubs and develop exciting projects for GCSE Computer Science students. Dean Academy is part of the Athelstan Trust and the Computer Science teacher at Dean Academy is regular supported by a Computer Science teacher from one of the trusts other schools in Malmesbury, with the teacher travelling to Dean Academy and helping at least once a week. Both these teachers visited Wyedean during June to explore with the teachers their how they were getting such success, the format of their clubs and the equipment being used to bring Computer Science to life. Wyedean school has committed to continued support of Dean Academy to help them develop their Computer Science Offering. Not a Wizard but a Cyber Apprentice! After developing the Dragon's Den format for exciting and engaging students in elements of Computer Science previously, teachers at Wyedean school decided to run a new event based on BBC One's Apprentice. Wyedean sourced their own panel of experts, with Deep3, Cyber Security Associates and BAE Systems providing staff, and NCSC's very own Director of Operations, Paul Chichester, taking the starring role as Alan Sugar. 8 teams had passed the pre-selection event and they all underwent 3 activities focusing on Innovation, Escape Room and Cyber Skills in the morning to prove their leadership, analytical and teamworking skills. The teams were: • Girls School for Engineering- Setting a separate club focused on Girls Schools for Engineering • Cyber Crew- Understanding the inner workings of computers.