Computer Science April Update
Coming back after the Easter break is a chance to reset and look ahead.
This update brings together key information and practical reminders to support your planning as the term continues. Please remember you don’t need to do everything at once, and I’m always happy to help if you’d like to talk anything through.
Getting Ready for Paper 2
Tim Brady, our Subject Advisor, will be hosting a live support session focussed on the delivery of GCSE Computer Science Paper 2, along with a Q&A drop-in session ahead of the exam series.
To sign up for one of these sessions please register your interest below:
If you or a colleague have any accessibility requirements, please let us know when registering, or contact us in advance and we’ll do our best to support you.
New V4 of the Getting Started Guide
The Getting Started Guide is a crucial accompanyment to the Specification - please ensure that you and all your colleagues are aware that a new V4 has been created. This version has had additional exeplification added and had some improvements made to be more clear about the specification content and scope.
Help Improve Exam Equity for Neurodivergent Students!
Pearson has partnered with the UCL Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE), to look at how neurotypical and neurodivergent (e.g. those who are autistic/have ADHD) students answer GCSE exam questions.
Nuffield Foundation - Project Overview.
We hope this will allow us to make our exams more accessible for all students.
We would be very grateful if centres would consider taking part in the next phase of this very important project. To find out more and express an interest in the research,
Training and Resources
Exam 2025 Feedback
This session was run on the 8th of October and a recording can be found in our Past training content section of the qualifications page.
GCSE Computer Science: Exam Insights Summer 2025
Effective Teaching & Learning for Paper 2
This session was run on the 12th of November and a recording can be found in our Past training content section of the qualifications page.
Paper 2 Preparation Sessions
We ran two live sessions to support all our centres in the build up to the 2025 summer series for Paper 2. Here you can find the link to the recording of the 12th March 2025 session.
Computing at School Webinar
This session introduced the approach and solution to assessing our Paper 2 GCSE on screen.
Tim Brady summarised our straightforward approach and hosted a question-and-answer session.
This free online event took place on the 11 February 2025 at 16:00-17:30.
You can now access a further set of Specimen Papers - these are Set 4. These Specimen papers will remain under padlock and are a very valuable resources to be used by teachers for mocks and other in program assessments. The silver padlock means that only teachers can access these resources. Further Set 4 resources, such as exemplar training materials will be added during the next academic year.
In the meantime please utilise all Sets 1 to 4 to help prepare your students for the live assessments.
Useful background content
We're proud to announce that Pearson is now sponsoring Mission Encodeable!
Founded and run by cousins Harry and Anna Wake, when they were in Year 10. They are passionate about actively doing something to improve the uptake of computing and programming in schools, and we wanted to help them.
Mission Encodeable provides free project-based, creative and engaging coding tutorials for young people. Their Python Fundamentals course is a great way to support your students to prepare for the Pearson Edexcel programming exam content. The course is broken into a series of simple, well-scaffolded levels that teach Python fundamentals, and includes multiple choice quizzes and signature projects. It's free to access, with no registration required.
Find out about Mission Encodeable and their lovingly crafted free resources.
Paper 2 support and FAQs
We have compiled this knowledge base set of articles to help you find information relating to all aspects of our GCSE Computer Science Paper 2, if you are looking for an answer it may be here:
Please watch this short case study video
Pete Dring, Head of Computer Science at Fulford School, tells us about the school’s experience of teaching Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Computer Science.
Recording of Network event 19th March 2024 with Mission Encodeable
Recent students Harry and Anna who are currently in Year 12 studying A Level Computer Science presented their Mission Encodeable resources and answered questions about their experience of GCSE Computer Science.
If you are delivering, or are considering delivering, our 2020 Computer Science specification and have not already been contacted please complete the Intention to offer form below.
Please join the 2272 colleagues currently active in the Facebook group for this qualification. It is teachers only and provides the platform for free and open sharing of views resources and opinions.
Join us as an Examiner
Excellent opportunity to join this growing team and gain invaluable CPD.
A GCSE -Computer Science (2020 Specification) Examiner will mark candidates’ responses in accordance with the pre-defined mark scheme, whilst adhering to conditions of recognition and examination procedures. A high level of subject knowledge is necessary in order to apply the mark scheme. Each examiner will receive an agreed allocation of scripts.
Please note that if you wish to be considered you must have experience with Python Computer Language for 1CP2 02.
Responsibilities
- To mark accurately and consistently to ensure overall standards are maintained
- To submit samples to your Team Leader at designated times
- To ensure milestones for marking are adhered to
- To ensure all administration is completed as specified
Experience/qualifications needed
- You will have one academic year's worth of teaching experience: a. within the last 8 years b. within the relevant qualification and subject
- You will have a degree or equivalent
- You will be a qualified teacher
- You will have experience in Python
We want all students from all backgrounds to be able to see themselves in, and get excited about tech careers. Our new 'Be the Future of Tech' initiative is designed to spark curiosity and ambition in your classroom and beyond. Discover resources to inspire your learners into a variety of tech careers, including posters and videos.
Free teacher access to Pearson’s online GCSE revision.
We're here to help your GCSE Computer Science students have the best chance to succeed with online revision from the exam experts.
Pearson Revise Online gives every student the same access to all their revision guides for Pearson Edexcel and AQA subjects. All in one place online, with quick quizzes and knowledge checks to help them prioritise their learning.
This year, teachers can get free access to the platform to use in front-of-class revision lessons in the run-up to mocks.
Subject advisor
Tim Brady
Computer Science and ICT Subject Advisor
