The links below will take you to the Computer Science exam board specifications for each awarding body:
The links below will take you to the Computing exam board specifications for each awarding body:
CAS Secondary Zone
Computing in secondary education plays a vital role in helping young people understand the digital systems that shape their lives. From programming and data representation to networks and cybersecurity, the subject equips learners with the knowledge and skills to participate confidently in an increasingly digital world.
For teachers, secondary computing brings both exciting opportunities and practical challenges. Supporting a wide range of learners, preparing students for qualifications, and keeping pace with rapid technological change all require subject knowledge, adaptable teaching approaches and access to high-quality resources.
This page brings together guidance, classroom resources and professional development opportunities to support secondary computing educators. Whether you are teaching Key Stage 3 or preparing students for GCSEs, you’ll find materials to help you plan, teach and assess effectively.
Through CAS, you can also connect with a national community of computing teachers, share practice, and access ongoing support to strengthen computing education in your school or college.
What's New in Secondary at CAS
Keep up to date with our latest Resources, Events, and News highlights for Secondary :
- Laurence's Applap build a mobile app - Making a mobile app with code.org's AppLab - focussing to the nuts and bolts of programming
- Mark's KS3 lesson on embedded systems - A lesson on embedded systems aimed at Key Stage 3 students from the The Computing Café.
- Eoin's Programming challenges - 100 Python + 100 C# classroom challenges, free to download. Four tiers (KS3 to A-Level)
- Miles' Networx - A browser-based network emulator for teaching computer networking concepts at GCSE
- Nazzal's Build your first game in Unreal Engine - Hour of Code course will guide you through creating your first 3D platform game in Unreal Engine.
- Trust Leads: GCSE Mock data, AI approaches & revision - 23rd Mar 4pm
- Evidencing the digital skills & AI benchmark of the CQF - 26th Mar 4.15pm
- Coding for Climate Action: computing with real world context - 21st Apr 4.15pm
- Inclusive tools to help all students - 19th May 4.15pm
Welcome to CAS Secondary
Here you will find links to all CAS has to offer for Secondary teachers - resources, events, blogs and our discussion forum.
If you haven't yet done so, join our Secondary Community to keep up-to-date with our Secondary content and book onto upcoming events.
An up-to-date list of our past events, with downloadable session material, can be found by scrolling to the very bottom of the page.
Secondary Resources
Designed to support Key Stage 3 computing teachers by providing a comprehensive baseline check that covers the entire Key Stage 2 computing curriculum in England. This resource is perfect for assessing students' readiness as they transition from primary to secondary education.
This resource is ideal for a taster session when y6 students are visiting their Secondary schools. This activity can be done with/without computers and involves computational thinking to crack open some cyphers. It promotes teamwork so students can get to know their new classmates whilst having fun.
Year 6 - 7 Transition - Code breaking activity.
This five-lesson unit is designed to support pupils in Key Stage 3 as they make the transition from block-based coding (such as Scratch) to Python.
The unit uses EduBlocks, a free, online environment that provides students with a familiar block interface while simultaneously introducing the structure of real Python syntax. This pedagogical approach significantly mitigates the cognitive load associated with learning new syntax and fosters increased coding confidence.
EduBlocks: From Blocks to Text
Come along and unleash your creative side while learning how to code a game at the same time! Scratch can be used to teach many aspects of the broader curriculum including numeracy, literacy, game development, music creation etc... Examples will be shown. Learn about the free online Scratch support materials including discussion groups, downloadable teaching manuals / help cards and lessons etc.. N:B Scratch files can be downloaded from the Scratch website/Desktop Offline Version to be opened / edited at a later date. Find out how to download Scratch 3.0. Offline Desktop editor.
Learn how to teach Game Development using Scratch Programming
This engaging two-lesson unit introduces students to the world of robotics, digital design, and physical computing through the creation of their own interactive RoboPet. Designed to promote creativity, computational thinking, and ethical reflection, the project explores how technology can support human wellbeing—particularly for individuals living with dementia.
A set of 3 lessons and scenarios for KS4 and KS5 students
A browser-based network emulator for teaching computer networking concepts at GCSE and A Level (OCR specifications J277 and H446).
Networx lets you build virtual networks by dragging hardware components onto a canvas and connecting them with wired or wireless links.
Blockly version of OCR exam reference language. No download, no signup, runs in the browser. Vibe coding with Claude.
Described by one user as 'One of the best places I have found online to make the abstract, hard to visualize concepts in computer science much more accessible and understandable', the site contains interactive demonstrations - I also use them on the whiteboard, and also get students to tinker and investigate the ideas for themselves.
NCCE Computing Quality Framework
Complete schemes of work including lesson plans, resources and assessment materials.
RaspberryPi Key Stage 3 Resources
RaspberryPi Key Stage 4 Resources
Ada is a free online Computer Science platform for teachers and students.
Through Ada you can access Computer Science resources for GCSE and A-Level including interactive coding questions for Python, C#, VB and Java.
Presentations with recorded instruction and quizzes provided by topic.
Full units of work with lesson plans and supporting resources alongside one-off projects for the micro:bit programmable device. Activities include example solutions and videos with many aligned to the Global Goals.
Curriculum catalogue of courses and tutorials for independent learning. Includes lesson plans for each interactive activity.
Resources to support the knowledge and understanding through unplugged learning (computing without a computer). Activities organised by theme and topic and include activity plans mapped to computational thinking, mathematics and literacy.
A range of video content answering key questions in Computing with a focus on future skills and technologies.
Independent learning resources by exam specification and includes videos for threshold concepts and interactive quizzes and tests.
Resources focussed on digital literacy including internet safety with lesson plans and supporting presentations and worksheets.
Computational thinking interactive challenges which can also be completed as a timed national competition. Include interactive coding activities and multiple choicx quizzes and assessments.
Independent interactive activities where students can claim badges and points towards gold, silver and bronze awards. All badge activities organised in citizen, worker, maker or entrepreneur categories.
Be Internet Legends is a multifaceted program that includes a fun and free of charge web-based game called Interland and an educational curriculum to teach children how to be safe and responsible explorers of the online world
Free project-based, creative and engaging coding tutorials for young people, developed by a team of 14 year old students
KS4 Exam Board Specifications
A recap of AQA’s CAS community meeting exploring new Python resources on VS Code for Education, with takeaways for teaching and key questions for practice.
Coding Made Easy: AQA’s Python on VS Code Resources
Code Editor for Education: Introduce your students to text-based coding Designed with young learners in mind, the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s Code Editor makes text-based programming easy and accessible for children aged 9 and up.
Elan - the first new programming language designed specifically for British schools since BBC Basic in 1981 Elan was formally announced at the CAS Conference in July 2024, is currently available as a Beta, and will be ready for teaching from May 2025. Elan is free, and runs in a browser (no installation involved) and you may access it over the Internet, or install it on your school server, or run it locally as a web-page on a from your desktop with no network access.
Elan – First Language for British Schools Since 1981
EduBlocks is a free tool that helps students make the transition from block-based programming to text-based programming with Python using a familiar drag-and-drop blocks system. In this session, you'll have the opportunity to learn the basics of EduBlocks from the team that built it.
Transition from Blocks to Text with EduBlocks
During this session Pete Dring will be going through using the Micro:bit. This session is aimed at those who've introduced a little python with students but haven't done any physical computing with them and want to see what the fuss is all about and whether it's worth the time, effort and cost (and how to keep all of those to a minimum).
Creative KS3 Computing with a micro:bit
Python is a popular programming language for teaching at secondary level, but pupils can struggle with the transition from block-based programming (e.g. Scratch) into Python. To help with this transition we have created a new free tool, Strype, which uses an advanced blocks-like way to edit and run Python programs entirely within the browser.
Strype: Python with a blocks-like interface, in the browser
Join Phil Howell and Mel Farrington as they discuss the free online Code Editor they’re creating to make learning text-based programming simple and accessible for young people. Phil and Mel will talk about the different factors that they’ve considered while creating this tool for young learners.
This session offers a unique opportunity to hear from two A-level computer science students. Anna Wake and Harry Wake from Mission Encodeable will be discussing their views and insights on how we can make learning to code more engaging for young people. In this session, they will: offer some top tips on how you can make your programming lessons more interesting.
A recap of a CAS Online community meeting exploring the new Ofsted inspection framework and what it means for computing teachers in primary and secondary schools.
Embracing the New Ofsted Framework: What You Need to Know
This session will introduce the approach and solution to assessing our Paper 2 GCSE on screen. Pearson Edexcel have had an on-screen Paper 2 for three successful exam sessions and have gained valuable experience in how this approach serves the needs of our students and teachers.
On screen assessment in GCSE Computer Science
Updates from CyberFirst, NCCE, OCR & Craig n Dave
Navigating Changes in Computing Education: CAS Computing Leads Meeting
If you were unable to join us for the Canva Education: Reimagine Learning online community meeting, don’t worry! You can catch up on the key themes from the session below, along with a recording to explore in more detail.
Canva Education: Reimagine Learning
Join us for a practical workshop led by Jade Parkinson-Hill, Education Community Manager at Canva, focusing on Canva for Education. Jade will guide you through setting up a free Canva account, creating various educational materials, exploring AI tools for design, and effectively sharing resources with students. This session provides essential insights and skills applicable to both primary and secondary educators.
Canva for Education: Practical Workshop
Explore with the Open University and Cisco, how NetAcad can be used for free! This session is for secondary and FE, and will cover how you can use Cyber, Networking, Coding, Operating Systems and basic skills at no cost, with your students!
A concise recap of the CAS Online community meeting on careers, highlighting free resources, industry links and practical ways to embed tech careers into classroom practice.
Support Students into Tech Careers
A recap of the CAS Secondary "Competitions and Extracurriculars" community meeting, exploring how competitions can enrich computing education and broaden participation across the curriculum.
Competitions and extracurriculars
This session we'll be joined by the Access and Learning Team from the RAF Museum in the Midlands for an introduction and special educational offers from the Access and Learning Team at RAF Museum Midlands, including free events, residentials and work experience opportunities for key stages 3-5.
Inspiring Computing Students Beyond the Classroom
Getting into tech doesn’t have to mean learning how to code. In this session, we will explore the wide range of tech, digital and data roles, and explore key skills for tech careers, including creativity, curiosity, collaboration and problem-solving.
Careers in Tech, Digital & Data
Join Becky Patel, Head of Education and Learning for the charity Tech She Can as she explains how to use the freely available Tech We Can educational resources to inspire children aged 5-14 to consider a future career in technology.
STEM Careers inspiration for children
DataFace equips teachers and students with the skills and confidence to interrogate data – big and small – and present their findings creatively. It draws on core data skills, broader power skills and data visualisation techniques to encourage students to find the stories they care about through the gathering and presentation of data.
Recap of the CAS Secondary community meeting on Apps for Good, exploring how free themed courses can help students use technology to solve real-world problems while developing computing and essential skills.
Free KS3 computing courses (Apps for Good)
A recap of the CAS Online Community meeting on Oak’s new computing resources—highlighting updates, flexibility, accessibility, and next steps for classroom integration.
Oak National Academy's new resources
Join us for “An Introduction to AI in KS3,” led by Henry Penfold. This session is designed to bridge the gap between the wealth of available AI resources and the time, skills, and confidence needed to use them effectively. Participants will gain an understanding of AI concepts and their relevance in today's world, explore practical applications of AI across various subjects within the curriculum, and learn effective strategies for integrating AI tools into lessons.
As technology permeates every aspect of our lives, understanding the ethical implications of computing has never been more crucial, especially for those teaching it to tomorrows developers and users. session, designed for UK GCSE and A-Level computing teachers, explores key ethical challenges in today’s digital landscape.