Here you will find links to all CAS has to offer for Secondary teachers - resources, events, blogs and our discussion forum.
If you haven't yet done so, join our Secondary Community to keep up-to-date with our Secondary content and book onto upcoming events.
An up-to-date list of our past events, with downloadable session material, can be found by scrolling to the very bottom of the page.
The following resources have been hand selected by our Secondary Subject Lead, Becci Peters
This is a great way to get started with ChatGPT and what it can do
This is a list that the community came up with, of where to look for AI resources
Artificial Intelligence resources
This is a great starting point to help you write your AI policy and the things to think about including within it
Use of AI Policy Template for Schools & Colleges
These slides from Harris Federation’s AI lead, go through what to think about in terms of AI and assessment including NEAs
AI to enhance assessment and integrity
This framework is organised in a similar way to the ECT and NPQ frameworks to help you think about what to consider with AI CPD.
This is a long list of AI tools aimed at teachers
AI Tools for Teachers and Students
This series of lessons focuses on the ML side of AI
Machine Learning, AKA Artificial Intelligence project
This lists areas that AI could be used to support each of the teacher standards
How the Teacher standards can be supported by AI
This list shows which AI tools are good for different things
Top 10 free AI tools for CompSci teachers & students
This series of lessons is aimed at 9–12-year-olds and introduces learners to how AI uses data to answer question and solve problems.
AI Adventure: Explore, Create, Innovate
This handbook is a comprehensive guide to different aspects of AI for teachers
An ideal extra for the Cyber Security NCCE Unit for year 9
Knowledge Organiser for NCCE Cyber Security Unit
An ideal extra for the Developing for the web NCCE Unit for year 8
Knowledge Organiser for NCCE Web Development + HTML
This handbook is great for those leading Computing in a secondary setting with lots of support, advice and guidance
This unit is a great way to introduce Python to year 8 and uses the PRIMM methodology
This unit can be used for the OCR Entry Level qualification, or for year 9 pupils to introduce algorithms
This lesson is a great example of using iteration in a visual way
This lesson uses machine learning to train the micro:bit to be a fitness tracker
Smart Bots - Coding with micro:bits and Machine Learning
This includes some great examples of fun activities students can do to increase their typing speed
Some ideal revision activities covering Sequence, Selection, Count controlled iteration, Data types and Lists
This resource focuses on good programming habits for students to help them develop their programming skills
Understanding "code smells" in Programming
Example questions where students fill in the blanks
Comparison of Python and OCR ERL code snippets
OCR Python and ERL programming help sheet
Lots of algorithm challenges for students using AQA pseudocode, flowcharts and Python
Algorithm challenges (Pseudocode, flowcharts and Python)
A large collection of resources for teaching programming using the PRIMM methodology
This focuses on the ELAN programming language and covers 1D arrays
Elan: PRIMM-Style introduction to Arrays
8 Halloween-themed Python activities ideas for classroom + code explanations + bonus activities
Halloween-themed Python activities for classroom
These have been written to give students additional practice at reading and writing files.
Christmas Themed File Handling
Activity for students to develop their understanding of sequences, iteration (FOR and WHILE loops), and data structures (Lists and Dictionaries) in an algorithm.
What's your Elf name? (Python)
A variety of activities for students to practice their programming skills
This resource is a spreadsheet that can be distributed to pupils to allow pupils to track their own progress through the AQA 8525 GCSE Computer Science course.
This handbook is great for those leading Computing in a secondary setting with lots of support, advice and guidance
This series of 3 lessons uses detective activities for students to learn and practice SQL.
We have a full programme of Secondary focused events that you would be welcome to join.
You can view and book onto our upcoming events on the main community page
You can access recordings, slides and summary blog posts for previous events run through this community at the bottom of this page.
Join the discussion and share experiences with Secondary colleagues through our noticeboard and forum:
CAS has just launched a collections of videos to help teachers master Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom in the classroom. From collaboration tips to assignment organisation, these videos have got you covered.
View our 3 part video series
View our 3 part video series
Innovation Days are exciting project-based learning experiences where students participate in teams to solve real-world challenges.
Together with the Arm School Program we've packaged up all of the resources and materials you need to run your own Physical Computing Innovation Days.
Check out the links below for further ways you can connect with us
Another way to connect with our community is via our CAS Secondary Facebook group. At the time of writing, the group has over 1300 members sharing resources, support and guidance on all things computing related in secondary schools
Our YouTube channel has over 350 videos covering a wide range of topics around computing education, including computing in the secondary setting. In fact, we’ve got a whole playlist of secondary related videos which you can watch here.
Keep up to date with what's going on at CAS on LinkedIn
Check out the links below for further CAS resources:
Access mental health and wellbeing support, and useful links to external resources
Inspire your students through these case studies exploring careers in Computing
A collection of resources to support parents with Computing education at home
Here is a selection of trusted organisations who will also support you in teaching computing at Key Stage 3 & 4:
Complete schemes of work including lesson plans, resources and assessment materials.
Ada is a free online Computer Science platform for teachers and students.
Through Ada you can access Computer Science resources for GCSE and A-Level including interactive coding questions for Python, C#, VB and Java.
Presentations with recorded instruction and quizzes provided by topic.
Full units of work with lesson plans and supporting resources alongside one-off projects for the micro:bit programmable device. Activities include example solutions and videos with many aligned to the Global Goals.
Curriculum catalogue of courses and tutorials for independent learning. Includes lesson plans for each interactive activity.
Resources to support the knowledge and understanding through unplugged learning (computing without a computer). Activities organised by theme and topic and include activity plans mapped to computational thinking, mathematics and literacy.
A range of video content answering key questions in Computing with a focus on future skills and technologies.
Independent learning resources by exam specification and includes videos for threshold concepts and interactive quizzes and tests.
Resources focussed on digital literacy including internet safety with lesson plans and supporting presentations and worksheets.
Computational thinking interactive challenges which can also be completed as a timed national competition. Include interactive coding activities and multiple choicx quizzes and assessments.
Independent interactive activities where students can claim badges and points towards gold, silver and bronze awards. All badge activities organised in citizen, worker, maker or entrepreneur categories.
Be Internet Legends is a multifaceted program that includes a fun and free of charge web-based game called Interland and an educational curriculum to teach children how to be safe and responsible explorers of the online world
Free project-based, creative and engaging coding tutorials for young people, developed by a team of 14 year old students
The links below will take you to the Computer Science exam board specifications for each awarding body:
The links below will take you to the Computing exam board specifications for each awarding body:
You may also find this resource helpful: GCSE Computer Science June 2022 Exam board comparison
Hello! I’m Becci Peters, an enthusiastic educator and digital learning specialist passionate about using technology to enhance student learning. I started my journey as a Teacher of Computer Science and IT, where I discovered how much I love engaging students with innovative teaching strategies and helping them build their digital literacy.
In addition to teaching, I worked as an educational consultant, collaborating with schools and organisations to create personalised strategies for effective technology integration. I also contributed to the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE), where I helped improve computer science education across the UK by providing valuable resources and training to educators.
I also have had the privilege of teaching PGCE Computing trainee teachers. In this role, I guided future educators in developing their skills and confidence in teaching computing, sharing practical strategies and insights to prepare them for their own classrooms.
If you’d like to connect, feel free to follow me on social media or reach out via email! I’d love to hear from you and share ideas about advancing digital literacy and integrating AI in education. Together, we can prepare students for a bright, tech-driven future!
This session will introduce the approach and solution to assessing our Paper 2 GCSE on screen. Pearson Edexcel have had an on-screen Paper 2 for three successful exam sessions and have gained valuable experience in how this approach serves the needs of our students and teachers. Tim Brady will summarise the simple approach and provide examples and demonstrate some of the questions. There will be plenty of time for a question-and-answer session where delegates will have the opportunity to ask about the details of the approach and address the administrative and infrastructure challenges that this approach may throw up. The session will serve teachers and exams officers as well as IT support staff in centres that are considering adopting our approach or already onboard.
Updates from CyberFirst, NCCE, OCR & Craig n Dave
As technology permeates every aspect of our lives, understanding the ethical implications of computing has never been more crucial, especially for those teaching it to tomorrows developers and users. session, designed for UK GCSE and A-Level computing teachers, explores key ethical challenges in today’s digital landscape. Topics include AI bias and its impact on decision-making, the environmental footprint of inefficient code, and the ethical considerations surrounding self-driving cars. We will also delve into the controversial use of image scanners in law enforcement, examining cases of racial bias, and reflect on scandals like Horizon, exploring the lessons they offer for teaching responsible computing.
This session we'll be joined by the Access and Learning Team from the RAF Museum in the Midlands for an introduction and special educational offers from the Access and Learning Team at RAF Museum Midlands, including free events, residentials and work experience opportunities for key stages 3-5.
Code Editor for Education: Introduce your students to text-based coding Designed with young learners in mind, the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s Code Editor makes text-based programming easy and accessible for children aged 9 and up. In this session, Phil Howell and Mel Farrington will showcase new classroom management features available free for schools. Whether you want to help your students create their own games and art using Python or build websites with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, Code Editor for Education allows you to create and share custom coding projects. Learn how to invite teachers to join, add and organise students into classes, and help learners reset their passwords quickly. You will also hear about some exciting upcoming features.
Elan - the first new programming language designed specifically for British schools since BBC Basic in 1981 Elan was formally announced at the CAS Conference in July 2024, is currently available as a Beta, and will be ready for teaching from May 2025. Elan is free, and runs in a browser (no installation involved) and you may access it over the Internet, or install it on your school server, or run it locally as a web-page on a from your desktop with no network access. In this session, Richard Pawson, who leads the Elan design team will: Explain the rationale behind Elan, how it differs from existing languages, and why Show you how you can try out Elan for yourself now Provide an update on advances since the first demonstration at the CAS conference Show some of the exctiting - and very innovative - teaching resources that are already being developed for Elan
Join us for “An Introduction to AI in KS3,” led by Henry Penfold. This session is designed to bridge the gap between the wealth of available AI resources and the time, skills, and confidence needed to use them effectively. Participants will gain an understanding of AI concepts and their relevance in today's world, explore practical applications of AI across various subjects within the curriculum, and learn effective strategies for integrating AI tools into lessons. Activities will be suggested to engage young learners, and we’ll discuss the ethical and societal considerations of responsible AI usage within the classroom setting. The primary aim of this CPD is to leave you equipped with the confidence and skills to inspire curiosity and innovation through effective AI use in your school.
Getting into tech doesn’t have to mean learning how to code. In this session, we will explore the wide range of tech, digital and data roles, and explore key skills for tech careers, including creativity, curiosity, collaboration and problem-solving. 90% of the tech workforce does not have a computer science or IT-related degree, so what are the other routes into tech? We will look at trends in tech, and how these will influence jobs of the future.
EduBlocks is a free tool that helps students make the transition from block-based programming to text-based programming with Python using a familiar drag-and-drop blocks system. In this session, you'll have the opportunity to learn the basics of EduBlocks from the team that built it. Additionally, you'll discover how EduBlocks, along with the free curriculum available to you, can be effectively used in your classroom to make the process of learning Python and text-based programming easier and more accessible for your students.
Join us for a practical workshop led by Jade Parkinson-Hill, Education Community Manager at Canva, focusing on Canva for Education. Jade will guide you through setting up a free Canva account, creating various educational materials, exploring AI tools for design, and effectively sharing resources with students. This session provides essential insights and skills applicable to both primary and secondary educators.
Andrew Smith & Elizabeth Barr , The Open University & CISCO
Explore with the Open University and Cisco, how NetAcad can be used for free! This session is for secondary and FE, and will cover how you can use Cyber, Networking, Coding, Operating Systems and basic skills at no cost, with your students!
During this session Pete Dring will be going through using the Micro:bit. This session is aimed at those who've introduced a little python with students but haven't done any physical computing with them and want to see what the fuss is all about and whether it's worth the time, effort and cost (and how to keep all of those to a minimum).
Pierre Weill-Tessier and Neil Brown , King's College London
Python is a popular programming language for teaching at secondary level, but pupils can struggle with the transition from block-based programming (e.g. Scratch) into Python. To help with this transition we have created a new free tool, Strype, which uses an advanced blocks-like way to edit and run Python programs entirely within the browser. In this talk we will demonstrate Strype and explain the ideas behind its design -- then we will invite your feedback on ways we could improve it to better suit use in schools.
Phil Howell and Mel Farrington , Raspberry Pi Foundation
Join Phil Howell and Mel Farrington as they discuss the free online Code Editor they’re creating to make learning text-based programming simple and accessible for young people. Phil and Mel will talk about the different factors that they’ve considered while creating this tool for young learners. They'll provide a demonstration, and explain their future plans for the editor, with a sneak peek at some upcoming classroom management features.
Becky Patel , Tech She Can
Join Becky Patel, Head of Education and Learning for the charity Tech She Can as she explains how to use the freely available Tech We Can educational resources to inspire children aged 5-14 to consider a future career in technology. In this virtual session Becky will: - Explain why careers education in primary schools is so important - Summarise research about how to best engage more girls in STEM subjects - Talk through example technology jobs of the present and future - Explain how teachers can implement the Tech We Can resources into their curriculum
Karen Morris
DataFace equips teachers and students with the skills and confidence to interrogate data – big and small – and present their findings creatively. It draws on core data skills, broader power skills and data visualisation techniques to encourage students to find the stories they care about through the gathering and presentation of data. Working with four core datasets focused on environmental responsibility, gender equality and the cost-of-living crisis along with a range of short teaching videos, students develop their skills and produce a creative visual outcome. Schools deliver the project and hold an in-school data visualisation project. In the small-scale nationwide competition, students work will be added to an online gallery to showcase the brilliant work of the students. This is nationwide aspect is only the second iteration of the project and it is still being shaped into what will become the first fully operative nationwide version in the following years – you will be part of something amazing and help to shape it too! Data scientists from the Jean Golding Institute at Uni of Bristol have been working with the charity to curate datasets that will allow students to discover and tell their own data stories. The festivals and I have created teaching materials and videos to support the delivery of this competition to Y8/9 or S1/2 students in school; hopefully helping anyone with an interest to be able to deliver it, not just computing teachers!!
Harry Wake & Anna Wake , Mission Encodeable
This session offers a unique opportunity to hear from two A-level computer science students. Anna Wake and Harry Wake from Mission Encodeable will be discussing their views and insights on how we can make learning to code more engaging for young people. In this session, they will: offer some top tips on how you can make your programming lessons more interesting. demonstrate how to teach fundamental programming contexts with real-life scenarios, for instance, how programming can be used to tackle climate change. showcase Mission Encodeable, the website they've created that takes students from knowing nothing about programming in Python to being able to answer high-demand GCSE programming questions. It's completely free to access, very popular with students, and includes lots of interesting, real-world projects. You'll also learn how to get the most out of Mission Encodeable's free resources for teachers, and start using it with your students.
