BCS Appoints Julia Adamson as Director of Education

12 Dec 2017 01:19 PM

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT is pleased to announce the appointment of Julia Adamson, BEd. (Hons) as its Director of Education with effect from 5 December, succeeding Dr Bill Mitchell, who moves to the role Director of Public Affairs. Julia will also champion the Computing At School (CAS) programme, as well as working with the current Academy of Computing.

Julia, who was previously Head of Public Affairs at BCS, is a highly experienced educationalist, with a track record of successfully managing education technology programmes including CPD programmes, infrastructure projects, and organisational change programmes, at the South West Grid for Learning Trust, and prior to that at the Mersey Grid Ltd. Julia was previously involved in delivering the Barefoot Computing Programme across the UK. Julia has spent eight years as a primary school teacher in Cheshire, is a qualified online safety assessor, certified google educator and is a director of a multi-academy trust. 

Paul Fletcher, CEO said: “Julia has spent her career working in and around the field of education and in helping deliver programmes to help the teaching community at both primary and secondary level. We are delighted that we have been to harness this wealth of knowledge and expertise, especially as we move into a new environment where the government has recognised the need for every secondary school pupil to have access to  computer science at GCSE level.

“Julia has known and worked with Bill Mitchell, the previous Director of Education for many years, and as Bill is staying with us as Director of Public Affairs, Julia will be able to call on his knowledge and experience as we develop our efforts to ensure that every child leaves school with the essential digital skills that our country will need in the future.”

Commenting on her appointment, Julia said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be taking up this important role at this exciting time in the development of a new age for computing education in schools, following the announcement in the Budget that the Government is to invest £84m to amongst other things, upskill 8,000 teachers to put a trained computer science teacher in every secondary school.

“I’m passionate in my belief that digital skills generally, and computer science in particular, will become as essential to our young people as reading and writing, and I’m keen that we at BCS, through CAS, play our role in helping create an environment where teachers are helped and supported to inspire and enthuse the next generation to thrive in our digital world.   

“As a mum of three school-age daughters, I’m particularly keen on emphasising that there are no barriers to anyone, whatever their gender, ethnicity, background and social status in following their passion and developing a great, well-paid and rewarding career in technology.

“Having worked at BCS since May, I’m very aware that Bill has developed a highly regarded and passionate team, who have already achieved much in delivering support to computer teachers, and I very much look forward to carrying on his excellent work.”

Simon Peyton-Jones, Chair of the CAS Board said: “I am delighted to welcome Julia as BCS’s new Director of Education.   We are at a pivotal moment in the implementation of the new computing curriculum: there is everything to play for but, as the “After the Reboot” reported, the situation on the ground is fragile and patchy.  Having continued support at the most senior levels of BCS is hugely helpful, and Julia’s experienced leadership will be invaluable.”

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