Fostering Digital Literacy

Director of Computing Victoria Foster on the growing importance of digital literacy and the steps Lionheart have taken to promote effective teaching practice.

Computing is such a vital subject in modern education, providing students with the skills to allow for communication and collaboration. It teaches them how to navigate the digital world safely and enhances their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It’s also a subject that prepares students for a life beyond the
school gates, whether that be everyday activities such as safe online shopping or gaining skills required ready for the workplace, no matter their career aspiration. 

Across Lionheart Educational Trust schools, we recognise the importance of stimulating students’ interest in the study of computer science. This is in part achieved through investment of continuous professional development (CPD) of our teaching staff, so they can enthuse students and pass on the most current knowledge in a rapidly progressing digital world.

With Lionheart’s Beauchamp College leading one of England’s Computing Hubs - part of a larger network of hubs who deliver courses and provide local support for teachers – we are perfectly placed to provide expert and continuous computing training for teachers in our own schools, as well as others.

To that end, all Lionheart schools’ teachers of GCSE Computer science are working towards, or have already
completed, their Key Stage 3 and GCSE Computer Science Subject Knowledge Certificate, delivered by our Computing Hub. Also known as the ‘Computer Science Accelerator Programme’, it aims to improve confidence in subject knowledge and leads to a nationally recognised certificate. This certificate, along with other training schemes for primary to sixth form education detailed below, promote professional development, provide participants with useful resources, improve pedagogy, strengthen teaching effectiveness and help to embed computing in schools

This CPD investment in Lionheart staff has meant that our students receive up-to-date and relevant content within their lessons, fostering a deeper understanding of computing concepts that are used in real-world professional settings. From an early age, they are introduced to the Python programming language and HTML (used for creating websites); this provides them with a practical application of computing concepts and prepares them for their future careers in a technologydriven society. The training undertaken by staff ensures students enjoy the delivery of innovative and imaginative lessons.

Computing education plays a pivotal role in shaping students’ essential skills - from communication
to critical thinking – and preparing them for the challenges of the digital era. Our Trust’s commitment to inclusive computing education is evident through substantial investments in the Computing Hub and ongoing teacher development programmes, which in turn enhances the education of our young people.

We’re proud that the Lionheart Educational Trust is helping shape a generation of digitally literate individuals ready to thrive in an ever-evolving technological landscape.

Find out more about courses available to schools:

• The Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland Computing Hub led by Lionheart’s Beauchamp College, has a number of teaching programmes, available for all schools in the designated regions, including:
  Teach Primary Computing Certificate
  Teach Secondary Computing Certificate
  A-Level Computer Science Subject Knowledge Certificate

Find out more about the courses offered at Teach Computing