United Kingdom - Northern Ireland Listing
Within the United Kingdom, there are different educational systems. While there are strong similarities between the systems in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Scottish system is different. In England there are three unofficial strands in the curriculum, which were adopted from the recommendations of the royal society report: Computer Science (Informatics), Information Technology and Digital Literacy. Underpinning all of those three strands in the UK, there is Computational Thinking. In the UK, Digital Literacy means social and digital responsibility, kind of ethics, the ethos of using computers in addition to the European definition, which is kind of alike driving the computer and the functionality in the use of the computers.
| Data Mode | Data Value | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Data Availability | Data available | |
| Informatics: First Contact | Primary |
Year 8 where a school offers it. Not all schools will offer computing but they will offer digital literacy. |
| Informatics: Availability of Courses | Yes, technically |
Compulsory implementation for 11 - 14 year old pupils. GCSE Computing is an elective. GCE A-Level is an elective. There are difficulties with the lack of properly qualified teachers to deliver computing at each of these stages. |
| Informatics: Curriculum Consistency | Country |
This term would only be used for pupils undertaking GCSE or GCE. For those schools electing to undertake examinations through CCEA the syllabus will be consistent. However, schools may elect to take examinations through Examination Boards outside Northern Ireland. |
| Informatics: Enrolment | all students |
Implementation of the CCEA UICT Curriculum is compulsory for all pupils. However, teachers have the right to select areas within the curriculum that they wish to teach. |
| Digital Literacy: First Contact | Primary |
Year 1, pupils will be aged 5. |
| Digital Literacy: A Separate Subject? | Integrated |
It is integrated up to the age of 14. We refer to this as a cross curricular skill. |
| Digital Literacy: Curriculum Consistency | Country |
It is consistent across all schools and is controlled by the Council for Curriculum, Examination and Assessment (CCEA) |
| Digital Literacy: Enrolment | all students |
Digital Literacy is integrated up to the age of 14. |
| Teacher Training: Special Qualifications | Special qualifications |
To teach in Post-primary: University Degree plus PGCE or BEd incorporating computing. Please see attached document page 7 table 3. |
| Teacher Training: Number of Subjects | 1.5 | |
| Teacher Training: Entry Requirement | B.Ed. / B.Sc. + pgc. | |
| Teacher Training: In-Service Length | 13-18 months | |
| Teacher Training: Stand-alone Digital Literacy Curriculum | No | |
| Teacher Training: Stand-alone Informatics Curriculum | Yes | |
| Teacher Training: Typical Path Availability | Yes | |
| Teacher Training: Professionals as Teachers | No |
You must be a recognised teacher (GTCNI registered) to teach in Northern Ireland. |
| Teacher Training: Professional Experience | No | |
| Teacher Training: Mathematics Teachers | Minor Training | |
| Teacher Training: Physics Teachers | No | |
| Teacher Training: Business Teachers | No | |
| Teacher Training: Engineering Teachers | No | |
| Teacher Training: Teachers from other Disciplines | N/A | |
| Teacher Training: Security of Employment | No SoE |
Difficult for new graduates to find permanent contracts. Most new graduates are on fixed term contracts. Informatics graduates do not normally go into teaching. |
| Educational Policies | Country | |
| Learning Objectives | Country |