Festival Of Computing
We are back on Wednesday 1st July 2026 for another fantastic day of networking, CPD, inspirational speakers and fantastic prize giveaways!
Headline sponsor
AQA are this year’s festival headline sponsor. As well as sponsoring the whole day and the marketplace they will be delivering an exciting keynote in the afternoon.
Learn more about their products, services and what they have to offer you and your students.
Main sponsor
Cambridge OCR are kindly sponsoring and hosting our returning “Fringe Event” in the afternoon as well as our post festival drinks social.
Learn more about their products, services and what they have to offer you and your students.
Main sponsor
VEX Robotics are kindly sponsoring our pre-event social the night before the festival, a great opportunity to mix and mingle with the great and good!
Learn more about their products, services and what they have to offer you and your students.
About The Festival of computing
The Ultimate Secondary Computing Education Event of 2026!We’re building on the huge success of The Festival of Computing 2025 — a day of inspiration, innovation, and collaboration for secondary computing teachers.
Featuring CPD sessions, top industry speakers, and an opportunity to connect with like-minded people. Whether you’re looking to refine your teaching or explore the latest in computing education, this is the annual event you can’t afford to miss.
View the AgendaA look back at 2025
This is what happened last year... what a festival!Making a great event even better!
More of what you want in 2026, thanks to your feedback.In 2025 we trialled some changes, we took all your feedback on board and have made sure to give you more of what you want.
All the good bits!
All the good bits from 2025 are back, including our high quality CPD sessions, pre-event social, big marketplace marquee and the fringe event!
More Coffee + Decaf options and more water.
We bought you more coffee last year, but forgot the decaf option!
We are also making sure there is more water available at all times.
On-site accommodation
In Housman Hall provided by Bromsgrove School went down a storm, so we are repeating this. We are hoping to expand this to offer even more spaces. A great chance to mix and mingle before the big day!
Secure your place at this years festival before it fills up!
Get my ticket
Making Learning Computer Science Fun
Paul Curzon, Professor of Computer Science from Queen Mary University of London gives our opening keynote of the festival.
The Craig'n'Dave universe
Craig’n’Dave outline their plans for the next 12-months.
Curriculum reform – Rethinking assessment in Computer Science
An exciting keynote by AQAs new Chief External Affairs and Communications Officer
CPD Sessions
A range of guest speaker CPD sessions for you to attend.
VEX Robotics pre-event social
A chance to network, meet, relax, eat and socialise at our pre-event curry supper social in the stunning grounds of Bromsgrove school.
The AQA Marketplace
Meet exhibitors and speakers during break-out, lunch, the fringe and networking times at the AQA Marketplace.
Cambridge OCR post-event social and Fringe event
Cambridge OCR will be hosting our afternoon Fringe event and our post festival drinks social.
Prize draw
We gave away over £3000 of goodies at the 2025 festival, we want to make it even bigger and better for 2026!
Event Agenda - (Draft: TBC)
Tuesday 30th June 16:00 - 20:00
Residential Accommodation Check-In
Location: Housman Hall, Bromsgrove, B61 7JN
Tickets not yet on sale.
Please check-in at the building on the right as you enter the car park. Note, this is not at the main school, it is a very short walk away.
Tuesday 30th June 19:00
Pre-event VEX Robotics Curry Supper
Location: Housman Hall Dining Room
Tickets not available yet.
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Vex Robotics Sponsor
Wednesday 1st July 07:30
Pre-event Breakfast
Location: Housman Hall Dining Room
This is only for delegates staying at Housman Hall.
Wednesday 1st July 07:30
Festival of Computing Main Event
Location: Bromsgrove School
Tickets not available yet.
The main event at Bromsgrove School.
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Craig'n'Dave
Organiser
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Bromsgrove School
Host
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AQA
Headline sponsor
08:30
Reception
Location: Sports Centre Reception
Please register and collect your lanyard at the Sports Centre.
08:30
AQA Festival Marketplace open
Location: Marquee
Tea, coffee, biscuits and pastries will be available.
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AQA
Headline sponsor
10:15
Welcome to Bromsgrove
Location: Routh Concert Hall
Welcome to Bromsgrove School from Johnny Palmer and Michael Punt, the Headmaster.
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Johnny Palmer
Host
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Bromsgrove School
10:30
Keynote by Professor Paul Curzon
Location: Routh Concert Hall
“Making Learning Computer Science Fun”
-
Paul Curzon
Keynote Speaker
10:55
Keynote by Craig & Dave
Location: Routh Concert Hall
What’s new in the Craig’n’Dave universe.
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Craig & Dave
Keynote Speaker
11:20
Break
Location: Marquee
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available.
11:40
CPD session 1
Location: Various, please see map on the day
See the “CPD sessions” page for details of the talks.
12:30
CPD session 2
Location: Various, please see map on the day
See the “CPD sessions” page for details of the talks.
13:15
Lunch
Location: Dining Hall
13:15
AQA Festival Marketplace
Location: Marquee
An opportunity for networking.
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AQA
Headline sponsor
14:30
CPD session 3
Location: Various, please see map on the day
See the “CPD sessions” page for details of the talks.
15:15
Keynote by AQA
Location: Routh Concert Hall
TBC
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AQA
Speaker TBC
15:45
OCR Fringe Event
Location: Marquee
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available.
Fringe speakers
15:50 – Becci Peters
- CAS/BCS
- Free AI CPD
15:56 – Matthias De Witte & Peter Dawyndt
- Dodona Learning Technologies
- Dodona: your online co-teacher for programming classes
16:02 – Paul McKnight
- VEX Robotics
- Competitive Robotics – Bringing Sport to STEM
16:08 – Pete Dring
- Fulford School
- SEND in Computing: quick win ideas for supporting SEND students in Computing lessons, clubs & competitions
16:14 – Harry Wake & Anna Wake
- Mission Encodeable
- How our free Python coding tutorials can help students become confident, engaged and exam ready
16:20 – Kat Morgan
- Mindjoy
- Talking to your AI changes the Learning Paradigm
16:26 – Becky Patel
- Tech She Can
- Inspiring the Next Generation into the Technology Careers of the Future
16:32 – Alan Harrison
- Harrison Proserv Ltd.
- One problem, six solutions. Stretch the more able programmers with SIX HACK!
16:38 – Gary McNab
- The CODE Show
- Celebrating how 1980’s Britain entered the computing age.
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Cambridge OCR
Sponsor
16:45
Plenary
Location: Marquee
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Johnny Palmer
Host
16:45
Cambridge OCR Prize Draw and Drinks Reception
Location: Marquee
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Cambridge OCR
Sponsor
17:30
Site closes
Co-founded and hosted in partnership with
Bromsgrove SchoolOur very special thanks to the inimitable John Palmer and Frances Round for helping us to organise this event for secondary school teachers.
Five hundred year old Bromsgrove is one of Britain’s finest boarding and day schools. In spectacular facilities, spread over one hundred acres, offering staggering breadth and first division academic performance to over two thousand children, aged two to eighteen, from fifty four nationalities.
Get directionsIn 2024 & 2025
Craig'n'Dave Festival of Computing
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