About

Bio for Chris Sharples (@gr8ict on twitter) 

I’m currently  Head of Computing at Lady Lumley’s School, but I retire at the end of this school year (2020).  Before Corona Virus lock-down I was a member of the team running NCCE training courses as part of the York All Saints NCCE Hub.  I’m currently an NCCE Champion supporting colleagues passing the NCCE Accelerator’s course. 

As part of the York All Saints NCCE Hub, I am looking to develop greater knowledge and understanding of Computer Science Teaching and Learning.  A couple of years ago I set up the FB Group Gr8 Computer Science Teaching Ideas which I am looking to develop further.  I have enjoyed participating in CAS research meetings – organising one in York – and now online with #csedresearchbookclub (Thanks to #janewaite and #suesentance.  Please see Rationale page for more information about how I see this site working.

In the last 5 years I have worked hard with colleagues to implement Computer Science through KS3, 4 and 5 at Lady Lumley’s.  I am also a STEM associate; Raspberry Pi Certified Educator and CAS Master Teacher. For the last 5 years teaching computing has been my whole focus, doing our best as a department to choose the best resources and develop good teaching.  I am delighted that the investment in the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) is now bearing fruit and I like the look of the new ISAAC A-Level resources and KS3 and 4 NCCE resources – copyright free so we can now use them/modify them and share our practice.  Now we have the opportunity to reflect on our using these resources and share what works well. 

I’ve always worked hard to create and support networks of teachers and students.  Many years ago I worked for York City Council as part of a project called Schools Learning Together.  We created subject support groups and provided a VLE (much like an early version of Google Drive) to enable keen teachers to work together (like communities of practice[1]). 

I worked hard on developing Digital Leaders during ICT teaching days.  When the LEA removed their ICT/Computing advisor support, I ran the North Yorkshire CS teacher support group for 3 years, starting the FB group Teachers of Eduqas & WJEC Computer Science GCSEs and A-level.   I also ran a CAS hub for our feeder primary schools. 

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_of_practice