Festival Of Computing
If you joined us on the 2nd July this year we hope you had a good day. A link to the CPD session downloads is below. If you missed it we look forward to seeing you in 2026. Date to be confirmed.
CPD sessions
Download the presentationsYou can access any presentation from all the speakers whether you attended their talk or not!
Downloads pageAbout The Festival of computing
The Ultimate Computing Education Event of 2025!The Festival of Computing was an evolution of the “Craig ‘n’ Dave & Friends” conference of 2024 —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 AgendaBigger and better!
New and improved in 2025, thanks to your feedback!We took all your feedback on board from last year’s event and we made some changes!
New Fringe Event
A chance for our market stall holders to make their pitches and share their ideas on Teaching and Learning in Computing.
Bigger Marketplace
A huge, dedicated marquee on Gordon Green.
More Coffee!
The most requested item from last year… We heard you!
Even More Sessions
You asked for more opportunities to attend the talks, so this year we hanged the format from 2 x 1-hour sessions to 3 x 45-minute sessions.
On-site accommodation
In Houseman Hall provided by Bromsgrove School.
Pre-event social
The Computing at School Curry Night with drinks at the pub afterwards!
In the first week of July each year
2026 tickets available in the AutumnIn 2025
Keynote Speaker "Relight My Fire"
Alan O’Donohoe needs no introduction.
Keynote Speaker "The Craig'n'Dave universe"
Craig’n’Dave outlined their plans for 2025-26.
Keynote Speaker "Digital Skills: a call to action"
Jill Duffy is OCR’s chief executive.
CPD Sessions
A range of guest speaker CPD sessions for you to attend.
Marketplace & Fringe
Meet exhibitors and speakers at break-out, lunch, the fringe and networking times.
Prize draw
We gave away over £3000 of goodies.
Event Agenda
Tuesday 1st July 16:00 - 20:00
Residential Accommodation Check-In
Location: Houseman Hall, Bromsgrove, B61 7JN
Tickets sold out. 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 1st July 19:00
Pre-event CAS Curry Supper
Location: Houseman Hall Dining Room
Tickets sold out.
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Computing at School
Sponsor
Wednesday 2nd July 07:30
Pre-event Breakfast
Location: Houseman Hall Dining Room
This is only for delegates staying at Houseman Hall.
Wednesday 2nd July 08:30 - 17:30
Festival of Computing Main Event
Location: Bromsgrove School
Tickets sold out. The main event at Bromsgrove School.
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Craig'n'Dave
Sponsor
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Bromsgrove School
Host
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OCR
Sponsor
08:30
Reception
Location: Sports Centre Reception
Please register and collect your lanyard at the Sports Centre.
08:30
Marketplace open
Location: Marquee
Tea, coffee, biscuits and pastries will be available.
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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John Palmer
Host
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Bromsgrove School
10:30
Keynote by Alan O'Donohoe
Location: Routh Concert Hall
“Relight My Fire”
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Alan O’Donohoe
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
Marketplace
Location: Marquee
An opportunity for networking.
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 OCR
Location: Routh Concert Hall
“Digital literacy for digital natives”
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Jill Duffy
Chief Executive OCR
15:35
Updates from CAS / NCCE
Location: Routh Concert Hall
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Becci Peters
Computing Subject Lead (Secondary/Tertiary)
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15:45
Fringe Event
Location: Marquee
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available.
Fringe speakers
15:50 – Adrian Bacon
– West Midlands Regional Cyber Crime team
– Cyber Prevent Referrals
15:56 – Diane Dowling
– Raspberry Pi Foundation
– From Core to Advanced: Elevating A-Level projects in 5 minutes
16:02 – Rebecca Franks & Dr Tracy Gardner
– Flip Computing
– Introducing Flock XR: The free 3D creation tool
16:08 – Robert Bilsland
– Raspberry Pi Foundation (Code Club)
– Physical computing with micro:bits: A speedrun through what’s possible!
16:14 – Frances Sparrow
– AQA
– AQA’s Computer Science offer
16:20 – Peter Marshman
– Digit
– Coding for Climate Action 2 – the release
16:25
Plenary
Location: Marquee
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John Palmer
Host
16:30
Prize Draw and Drinks Reception
Location: Marquee
17:30
Site closes
Hosted by
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
Craig’n’Dave & Friends conference
