Computer Clubs for Girls CC4G

1. Computer Clubs for GirlsCC4G Melody Hermon

2. Agenda • e-skills UK • The Challenge • Computer Clubs for Girls – CC4G • The CC4G courseware • The impact • Evaluation • Case study – Pembroke School • Further evaluation

3. e-skills UK • Sector Skills Council for IT and Telecoms • Employer led • Not for profit • Research • Skills supply – IT Management and Business • Workforce development • Skills for the Information Age • Business IT Guide • Sector attractiveness • User skills – e-skills UK Passport

4. The Challenge

5. The future workforce • IT and Telecoms account for just under 1.4 million of the UK's total workforce • Growth over the next decade • Central to the UK's economy • Significant numbers of people will be needed • Changing skills • Market forces

6. Women working in IT • Women represent 46% of the UK workforce • Women represent 19% of IT and Telecoms workforce • 18% of IT managers are female • 12% of IT strategy and planning professionals • 14% software professionals • 58% database assistants

7. Women in IT – education • At 16 • 44% of applicants were girls • Girls performed better than boys • Numbers increased since 2003 • At 18 • 39% of applicants are female • ICT v Computing • Higher education choices • 58% of HE places go to women • 24% of places on IT and related courses

8. Why? • Department of Trade and Industry research • British Computer Society Research • e-skills UK – a negative perceptions • The type of people who work in technology • Male dominated • Influence of school experience • Knowledge of IT careers • Lack of strong role and relevant role models • HE courses not attractive • Changes between 10 and 14

9. Positive Action • Women working in IT • Networking Groups • Employer Diversity Programmes • IBM 'Respect for the Individual‘ • Accenture 'Women's Networking Forum' and 'Global Women's Initiative' • Recruitment and information websites www.wherewomenwanttowork.com • National awards • CC4G

10. What is CC4G? • Out of hours school club • Web-based activities and challenges • Courseware meets the needs of: • Employers • Schools • Girls aged between 10 and 14 • Courseware introduces a range of ICT skills within a familiar and exciting context • A website to support girls and teachers

11. What is CC4G (cont.) • Club materials • Support • Regional organisations • Employers • CC4G Helpdesk

12. The story so far • Pilot and roll-out across to state funded schools across England • Pilot in Northern Ireland • Programmes in Scotland • Programmes in Wales

13. TheCC4G courseware

14. What teachers say - Delivery • 89% said the quality of guidance was ‘absolutely brilliant’ or ‘pretty good’ • 79% said it was ‘easy’ or ‘pretty easy’ to get started with CC4G • 81% said it was ‘easy’ or ‘pretty easy’ to facilitate • 65% said CC4G should remain girls only

15. What teachers say – Impact • 98% said that members’ IT confidence levels improved • 96% said that members’ IT skills are improved • 97% said that membership will have a positive impact on members’ achievements in IT • 88% said that membership will have a positive impact on members’ achievements across the curriculum • 52% said their level of confidence in IT has improved • 55% said their level of skills in IT has improved

16. Girls • 67% said that CC4G had made them more likely to want to work in a career involving technology • 86% said that CC4G should stay girls only • Girls who are not comfortable in other clubs (music, sport) often find their niche in CC4G • Cross-curricular gains are made, particularly when girls realise that ICT can help them in different contexts • Evidence suggests ICT skills learnt in the club environment are more enduring, and girls correlate these more easily than those learned in a classroom.

17. CC4G in practice

18. Pembroke School – why CC4G? • To promote improved transition links • Work on existing business and education links • Uptake of qualifications • Girls under-achieving • Girls in Y6/Y7 switching off ICT • Complementary • Potential growth of the IT industry in Wales of 20-30% • Local regional support

19. Pembroke school – what? • Pilot • Three centres • Transition years – primary to secondary • 6th formers as mentors • Girls • Girls from rural primary schools • Lack of IT at home • Mid year exams identified as under-achievers • How it worked • Training • ‘Celebrity’ visits • Created a ‘chill zone’ • On-going evaluation

20. Impact • Performance has overtaken boys • Improved transition • Attendance • 85% reported increased confidence • 90% more likely to do and ICT exam • 66% said used skills elsewhere

21. What next • More mentors, centres and girls • Older girls • Links to other programmes • Further evaluation • Spread good practice • Encourage parental participation • Qualifications for girls and teachers

22. Further evaluation • Analysis of discourse • High percentage of exploratory and cumulative discourse • Little or no off-task discourse • Outcomes better than any individual student could produce alone • Members consistently fully engaged • Peer support – older girls supporting younger effectively in Clubs • Exploratory approach – girls more likely to engage with and explore courseware and the related software

23. Further evaluation 2 • Increasing confidence with ICT • Growing self-esteem • More relaxed and happier than in class • Special educational needs students making gains • 10 year olds outperforming students from the year above

24. Future developments • Community environment • Navigation • Topic refreshes • New topics

25. Agenda • e-skills UK • The Challenge • Computer Clubs for Girls – CC4G • The CC4G courseware • The impact • Evaluation • Case study – Pembroke School • Further evaluation