A SCHOOL in the district has been named as one of just 23 computing hubs to be set up in England, and is the only one in West Yorkshire.

Bingley Grammar School has been given Computing Hub status by the National Centre for Computing Education, one of the first schools in the country to get the title.

The status will allow the school to provide support for computing teachers in nearby primary and secondary schools, and become a focal point for computing training in the Bradford district.

It will also form links with businesses and the university to ensure there is a pipeline of young people with the necessary digital skills for employment in the future.

The NCCE was created in November last year by the Department for Education to increase the number of students in schools and colleges who study computer science at GCSE and A Level, particularly increasing the number of girls and students from disadvantaged backgrounds studying computing.

Luke Weston, headteacher at Bingley Grammar, said the school can’t wait to work with other schools to pass on its knowledge and expertise in the subject.

He said: “Bingley Grammar School is excited and thrilled to take part in such a prestigious national project that shows the government’s commitment to closing the skills gap for students across the country.

“We acknowledge the continued hard work and dedication of the Computer Science staff and students here at Bingley Grammar School, who are all looking forward to sharing their expertise.

“As an NCCE Computing Hub, we are looking forward to supporting schools and colleges within the region to ensure that all young learners have access to excellent Computer Science provision, to improve their future prospects.

“The partnership model is important to Bingley Grammar; We believe working in collaboration to share and develop our practice, we can make a strong positive contribution to the project.”

Professor Simon Peyton Jones, chair of the NCCE, added: “It’s exciting to be announcing the first hubs.

“They will be the local face of the National Centre, providing tailored support to all computing teachers to equip them to make the new computing curriculum into an inspirational reality in every classroom in the land.

“Our partnership with teachers is vital to our mission. A single inspired, equipped, valued and supported teacher will influence tens or hundreds of children every day, and thousands over their career.”

The £85 million project is supported by Google, and aims to improve computing teaching across England, with training delivered by a STEM Learning, the BCS and the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

Harrogate Grammar School and All Saints Roman Catholic School in York are the only two other schools in Yorkshire to be made a hub, with only three other schools in the north - all in the North East - being made hubs.