QuickStart Computing has been developed to support primary and secondary schools with the computing programme of study introduced in September 2014. Quickstart Computing provides all teachers with the resources needed to successfully run computing CPD for colleagues in your school, cluster, or area. It contains the essential subject knowledge, with a framework and guidance for planning, teaching and assessing progress for all pupils. Quickstart is funded by the Department for Education and Microsoft and is free to all teachers.
Created by Miles Berry
last edited May 09 2019 by Qing Wang
Three volumes have been published to meet the demand for subject knowledge for primary and secondary school teachers and guidance for planning and assessment. Volume 1 and volume 2 are focused on primary and secondary respectively although teachers may well find both are **equally useful** for them. Volume 3 covers the transition from primary to secondary and focuses heavily on the required subject knowledge needed for secondary school teachers. | ![]() |
Follow the links below to find out more about each volume:
Each volume has been published in hard copy but these are in short supply. Volumes 1 and 2 also had accompanying CDs so to help teachers access these resources they have been reproduced on this page as a CAS resource as well as on the original publishing site provided by Hodder Education here.
Licence: Crown Copyright 2015 / 2017; covered by the Open Government Licence 3.0 (except where stated)
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Through the programme of study for computing, primary school-aged children learn the fundamental principles and processes of computation; they gain repeated, practical experience of writing code to solve problems and to model systems; they also become skilled at creating high quality products and content using digital technology; and they become safe, responsible and critical users of technology. This primary handbook is broken down into three sections:
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All three sections are supported by:
The Primary Guide to the National Curriculum should also be regarded as essential reading for all primary teachers.
DOWNLOAD the full CAS Quickstart Primary (KS1 / KS2 subject knowledge See also revised edition from CCEA for the Northern Ireland post-primary curriculum.
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The National Curriculum for Computing presents many exciting opportunities but also some challenges. the challenges are not, however, insurmountable. regardless of prior experience and knowledge this secondary toolkit will help teachers deliver effective CPD to ensure that all members of the department are fully prepared for a creative and innovative curriculum underpinned by computational thinking. Seven sections cover background information needed to help plan the curriculum and teach it with confidence. It unpacks the computing curriculum programme of study explaining key concepts and introduces tools that can be used to frame schemes of work and consider progression for pupils. |
This section helps you envisage effective CPD sessions. You can skip it if you are using this toolkit for self-study.
Where do I start? Here!
This section walks you through the process of creating new schemes of work, helping you to identify what can be reused from your existing schemes of work and pointing you in the direction of sources of inspiration to fill the gaps.
This section will help you visualise a good computing lesson and provide you with the tools to start planning your own creative and innovative lessons.
This section helps you identify what makes an effective computing activity and points you in the direction of lots of activities that you can borrow and make your own.
This section helps you look beyond the demise of government-prescribed levels and consider how you can assess progression and achievement across the subject of computing.
This section describes sources of support and opportunities for further CPD.
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The third volume in the QuickStart computing set broadly follows the structure of the QuickStart Computing primary handbook, extending the subject knowledge coverage into the Key Stage 3 computing curriculum. It also acts as a companion to the QuickStart Computing secondary handbook, which addresses classroom matters such as planning, teaching and assessing computing. Our aim has been to produce a one volume survey of the computer science, IT and digital literacy knowledge needed to teach national curriculum computing to 11-14 year olds in a way that's accessible to secondary school teachers who find themselves teaching computing to this age group without a background in computer science or software engineering themselves. Introductory video from CAS Northern Ireland conference. |
The chapters here cover:
It is assumed that readers already have a good idea of how to teach, and how they can use technology to enhance or extend their lessons. However, as well as the subject knowledge content here, we’ve also included lots of practical suggestions for teaching these topics, and links to some of the best resources, activities and references that are freely available for each topic. The book is intended for individual study and reference, but could easily form the basis of a in-school professional development, as did the two earlier QuickStart guides.
Level: Beginner
Duration: One term
Licence: Crown Copyright 2015 / 2017; covered by the Open Government Licence 3.0 (except where stated)
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