SCHOOLS in Dartford and Bromley are going to get a head start thanks to a new computing programme.

The new Computing Curriculum - known as the Educational Specialist Offers Free Programming Workshops starts in September.

Primary schools throughout the country will have to teach new computing classes with the emphasis on how to code and programme, following Education Secretary Michael Gove’s latest curriculum changes.

The Government’s revised national computing curriculum for 2014 puts significant emphasis on teaching children how to write code.

Pupils aged five to seven will be expected to "understand what algorithms are" and to "create and debug simple programs".

By the age of 11, pupils will have to "design, use and evaluate computational abstractions that model the state and behaviour of real-world problems and physical systems".

As part of its commitment to help with the introduction of this new computing curriculum, local technology education specialist, ComputerXplorers Bromley and Dartford is offering free programming workshops to primary schools in the area during the national Programming for Primaries Awareness Week which runs from 24 – 30 March 2014.

The aim of the week is to communicate the benefits of programming for younger children and shine the spotlight on programming and coding support and resources that are available to children and teachers.

ComputerXplorers has worked with many schools in the area to help children and teachers develop key computing skills.

Dave Cooper, director of ComputerXplorers Bromley and Dartford said: “Teachers now face the challenge of learning how to deliver the new curriculum and finding resources and support.

“We know how hard it is for teachers to find time away from school so we are offering to bring help and support into local schools in the form of training for teachers and classes for children.

“Our free programming workshop for children will have them designing and programming their own video game whilst our free Introduction to Programming session for primary school teaching staff will demystify the new computing curriculum and provide hands on programming experience.”

Schools interested in signing up for a free workshop for teaching staff or children should contact Dave Cooper at dave@bromleyanddartford.computerxplorers.co.uk by 28 February 2014 as resources are limited or visit www.bromleyanddartford.computerxplorers.co.uk for more information.