Festival Of Computing

We are back on Wednesday 1st July 2026 for another fantastic day of innovation, inspiration and collaboration for secondary computing teachers.

1st July

A huge thank you to our main sponsors for helping us bring this event to you!

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

VEX Robotics are kindly sponsoring our pre-event social the night before the festival, a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues.

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 afternoon fringe event including post event drinks.

Learn more about their products, services and what they have to offer you and your students.

Thank you for the support of our other sponsors too.

About The Festival of Computing

The event you can't afford to miss!

This is THE best and biggest networking and CPD event of the year for secondary Computing teachers. Created by teachers for teachers.

Join us for an unmissable event designed to inspire and empower educators. Hear from leading voices in education, connect with passionate peers and dive into the latest advances in computing teaching practice. If you only attend one professional development event this year, it should be this one.

View the Agenda

A 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.

All the good bits!

All the good bits from 2025 are back, including the pre-event social, big marketplace marquee, high quality CPD sessions and the fringe event!

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.

On-site accommodation

For those travelling from afar or to enjoy a hassle-free start to the day there is an option to stay at Housman Hall boarding house.

Some CPD sessions are almost at capacity, secure your place today.

Get my ticket

Innovation, inspiration, collaboration.

Making Learning Computer Science Fun

An opening keynote from Paul Curzon, Professor of Computer Science at Queen Mary University of London.

The Craig'n'Dave universe

Craig’n’Dave outline their plans for the next 12-months including the launch of their new Curriculum 2028 Key Stage 3 programme of study.

Rethinking assessment in Computer Science

The afternoon keynote from AQA’s new Chief External Affairs and Communications Officer.

CPD sessions

35 inspiring CPD sessions to choose from to enhance your pegagogy and practice.

VEX Robotics pre-event social

A chance to network, meet, relax, eat and socialise at our pre-event curry supper 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

Tuesday 30th June 16:00 - 20:00

Residential Accommodation Check-In

Location: Housman Hall, Bromsgrove, B61 7JN

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

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

Festival of Computing Main Event

Location: Bromsgrove School

The main event at Bromsgrove School.

Please register and collect your lanyard at the Sports Centre from 8:30am.

Craig'n'Dave
Host
Bromsgrove School
Host

08:30

AQA Festival Marketplace open

Location: Marquee

Tea, coffee, biscuits and pastries will be available.

AQA
Headline sponsor

10:15

Welcome

Location: Routh Concert Hall

Welcome to Bromsgrove School from Johnny Palmer and Michael Punt, the Headmaster.

Johnny Palmer
Host

10:30

Keynote

Location: Routh Concert Hall

“Making Learning Computer Science Fun”

Paul Curzon
Keynote Speaker

10:55

Keynote

Location: Routh Concert Hall

What’s new in the Craig’n’Dave universe.

Craig'n'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.

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

Location: Routh Concert Hall

Rethinking assessment in Computer Science.

Natalie Perera
Keynote Speaker

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.

Cambridge OCR
Sponsor

16:45

Plenary

Location: Marquee

Johnny Palmer
Host

16:45

Cambridge OCR Prize Draw and Drinks Reception

Location: Marquee

Cambridge OCR
Sponsor

17:30

Site closes

Booking your Festival add-ons for the night before

VEX Robotics curry supper

Click here to book your evening meal the night before the main event at Bromsgrove School Box Office. Places are limited and almost all gone.

Accommodation at Housman Hall

Click here to book your overnight stay the night before the main event at Bromsgrove School Box Office. Includes breakfast. Places are limited and almost all gone.

Co-founded and hosted in partnership with

Bromsgrove School

Our 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 directions