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<p>The government is committed to ensuring that all children, regardless of their
background, have access to a world class computing education.</p><p>The department
introduced computing as a statutory National Curriculum subject in 2014, to replace
the subject of information and communications technology (ICT), widely regarded as
outdated. The computing curriculum ensures that pupils are taught the principles of
information and computation, how computers work and take instructions, and how to
put this knowledge to use through programming and algorithms. This starts from primary
school, where pupils learn how to design and debug simple programmes and learn about
the wider impact of technology, including how search engine results are ranked.</p><p>The
computing curriculum is intentionally broad to allow flexibility in how content is
taught, to reduce the risk that it will become outdated, given the speed of innovation.
It was designed to prepare pupils with foundational knowledge that allows them to
understand and respond to new and emerging technologies. The computer science GCSE
is designed to equip pupils with the foundational knowledge they will need for the
technological jobs of the future, including those in artificial intelligence (AI).</p><p>The
department recently published a statement, ‘Generative AI in education’, setting out
its position on the use of generative AI, including large language models like ChatGPT
or Google Bard, in the education sector. This statement is attached. The statement
is informed by the government's White Paper on a pro-innovation approach to AI regulation
and follows the government's recent announcement to create a Foundation Model Taskforce.
The White Paper is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-regulation-a-pro-innovation-approach/white-paper"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-regulation-a-pro-innovation-approach/white-paper</a>,
and the Foundational Model Taskforce announcement is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/initial-100-million-for-expert-taskforce-to-help-uk-build-and-adopt-next-generation-of-safe-ai"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/initial-100-million-for-expert-taskforce-to-help-uk-build-and-adopt-next-generation-of-safe-ai</a>.</p><p>AI,
the metaverse, and emerging new technologies all present both potential benefits and
threats to young people. E-safety is embedded within the computing curriculum, across
all Key Stages, with progression in content to reflect the different and escalating
risks that young people may encounter. They are taught how to use technology safely,
responsibly, respectfully and securely, how to keep their personal information private,
how to recognise acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, and where they can go for
help and support on content they come across on the internet, or via other online
technologies.</p><p>The department is seeking views, through a call for evidence,
on how generative artificial intelligence is being used across education in England,
including the opportunities and risks it presents. The call for evidence is available
at:<br> <a href="https://consult.education.gov.uk/digital-strategy/generative-artificial-intelligence-in-education/"
target="_blank">https://consult.education.gov.uk/digital-strategy/generative-artificial-intelligence-in-education/</a>.</p><p>To
ensure that the curriculum is taught to a high standard, the department has invested
over £100 million in the creation of a National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE).
To date, the NCCE’s achievements include managing a computing hub network and providing
high quality training and resources to teachers, equipping over 7,900 teachers with
the subject expertise they need to confidently teach the computer science GCSE.</p><p>
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