“It’s great to see computing in schools being taken seriously. For too long,  pupils have been turned off a career in an exciting, rewarding sector by boring them with dull and irrelevant classes.  As a result the Technology sector is under threat, facing significant skill shortages and a dwindling talent pipeline from schools and universities.

She notes  that “Scotland is ahead of the game as it has already developed a new curriculum to replace the way computing is taught in secondary schools.

"This new curriculum was implemented throughout Scottish schools in August 2010 and will lead to a new qualification in Computing & Information Science being certified in 2014. 

"However there is still a lot more work to be done to ensure that schools and education authorities recognise the importance of this vital subject. It’s encouraging to hear that English schools will be following suit and bringing in a new computing curriculum that will equip young people with the skills they need in today’s fast paced digital world.”

Donald McLaughlin, (left) director for Cisco Scotland & Ireland noted: "The technology sector is one of Scotland's hidden gems which has the potential to supercharge our economy in future. Harnessing the full power of this starts at school level, so we find it encouraging that the ICT teaching is being reviewed. We would be keen for a similar approach to be taken in Scotland as this is likely to have long term positive benefits for our future workforce and in turn our economy."

The British Computer Society and ICT professional association Naace, confirm the current National Curriculum Programme of Study as both dull and unsatisfactory, with respondents to a 2008 e-Skills study saying the GCSE ICT was “so harmful, boring and/or irrelevant it should simply be scrapped”.

Consultation on withdrawing the statutory Programme of Study from September 2012 begins next week with the status of ICT within the school curriculum from 2014 onwards continuing to be considered by the National Curriculum review alongside that of all other National Curriculum subjects.

Gove (right)  is keen for high-quality qualifications in Computer Science to be developed, and welcomed industry-giant IBM’s involvement as well as companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Google and Cambridge University already working with technology education organisations, such as the British Computer Society, to produce free materials for schools.

A consultation on withdrawing the statutory Programme of Study from September 2012 will begin next week. The status of ICT within the school curriculum from 2014 onwards will continue to be considered by the National Curriculum review alongside that of all other National Curriculum subjects.

Bill Mitchell, (left) director British Computer Society (BCS) Academy of Computing, said: "It is essential weteach our children how to create digital technology and software for themselves. BCS therefore welcomes this proposal as a significant first step towards that goal. 

"Good schools will now be free to teach the underpinning principles and concepts of Computer Science through imaginative and rigorous curricula such as the Computing At School curriculum, which is endorsed by both Microsoft and Google.

Bernadette Brooks, (right) GM of Naace  the association of educators, technologists and policy makers said: "Naace is working with partner associations, teachers, pupils, school leaders and commercial organisations to develop new curricula and supporting materials that will be world class. Our Key Stage 3 outline curriculum will be showcased at BETT2012  this week.