18 June 2026
As part of our countdown to this year’s Craig’n’Dave Festival of Computing, we recently caught up with Tim Brady, Subject Advisor for Computer Science and Digital at Pearson, to learn more about one of our fantastic event sponsors.
Pearson is a global leader in education, working with teachers, schools and learners to provide qualifications, resources and support that help students develop the knowledge and skills they need for the future. From assessment expertise to practical classroom guidance, Pearson plays an important role in shaping the evolving landscape of computing education.
We spoke with Tim about the challenges facing Computer Science teachers today, the future of assessment, and why Pearson is excited to be part of this year’s Festival of Computing.
Can you tell us a little about Pearson and what they do?
Pearson is the world’s lifelong learning company, supporting schools and teachers across the UK and internationally with qualifications, resources and guidance that help students build the knowledge and skills they need now and in readiness for the future.
This includes working as an awarding organisation with teachers delivering Pearson Edexcel GCSE Computer Science, alongside a wider range of digital and computing qualifications, with practical classroom support and assessment expertise.
What students know matters, but what they can do with what they know is key.
As technology evolves and AI advances, so too should the knowledge and skills students are developing now and in readiness for what’s next. That’s why we’re focused on shaping qualifications and support that reflect how computing is changing, informed by evidence and what teachers and students are calling for.
Are there any common challenges in education that Pearson aims to solve?
One of the biggest challenges in computing education is keeping pace with change in a way that feels manageable in the classroom.
Recent insights from the Pearson School & College Report 2026, drawing on over 14,000 voices across UK education, highlights how this is playing out in practice. While 34% of secondary school teachers say they feel confident using AI in their roles, just 18% say they feel confident teaching students about AI.
This points to a broader shift across schools and classrooms. Expectations are changing, technology is evolving, and curriculum and assessment reform in computing is part of that wider picture.
Our focus is on helping to bring clarity to that. In Computer Science, we support teachers with a range of teaching resources, subject advisor guidance and practical help. Assessment is a key part of this too. Since 2022, over 30,000 students have taken our onscreen GCSE assessment, giving us strong insight into what supports success and how this approach can help equip students with more real-world experience and a more applied approach to the subject.
Ultimately, our aim is to make change feel more manageable, so teachers can feel confident not just keeping up, but responding to what’s coming next.
What inspired Pearson to get involved in Craig’n’Dave’s Festival of Computing?
We decided to get involved in the Festival of Computing because it brings together a strong community of teachers at an important moment for the subject.
With changes on the horizon in curriculum and assessment, it’s a valuable opportunity not just to be part of the conversation, but to help shape the future, including qualifications that reflect what’s happening in classrooms now, and how the subject continues to evolve in areas such as onscreen assessment, AI, programming pedagogy and digital skills.
In that context, it’s important that qualification design is informed by real classroom experience.
That means listening, sharing our perspective, and creating opportunities to contribute, whether that’s through joining our teacher panel or taking part in research and discussions that inform how qualifications and assessment evolve.
At the Festival, this comes to life through direct conversations throughout the day, helping us understand what’s working in practice and where further support is needed.
What are Pearson most excited about for this year’s Festival of Computing?
We’re excited about bringing the future of computing and assessment into something even more practical and meaningful.
This year, we’re delivering a CPD session titled “Exploring the Future of Computing and Practical Onscreen Assessment”, where attendees can see how our onscreen Paper 2 works in practice. Drawing on four exam series and over 30,000 student entries, we’ll share what we’ve learned about what supports success, alongside real examples of tasks and question types.
What makes this particularly exciting is the chance to move beyond theory. The session offers a straightforward, accessible walkthrough of the model, helping demystify onscreen assessment and showing how it supports a more applied, real-world approach to learning.
It also creates space to explore where the subject is heading, answer practical questions and hear different perspectives on what comes next.
What can people expect to see from Pearson at this year’s festival?
The Festival of Computing provides a great opportunity to see how Computer Science assessment is evolving in practice.
At the event, we’ll be sharing examples of onscreen assessment, helping attendees explore how students approach applied tasks and demonstrate their understanding in more realistic contexts.
This reflects a broader shift in the subject, towards application, problem-solving and real-world relevance — bringing assessment closer to how computing is used beyond the classroom.
Those visiting the stand in the Marketplace will also have the opportunity to explore our wider support, speak with the team and exchange experiences, as well as get involved in shaping what comes next through our growing teacher panel.
Our Festival of Computing is all about inspiration, innovation and collaboration for secondary computing teachers. How does Pearson fit into that, and why was it important for you to be involved?
Pearson aligns closely with the goals at the heart of the Festival of Computing: inspiring the next generation, supporting innovation in teaching, and building strong professional communities around the subject.
In practice, that means supporting teachers to develop students’ digital, problem-solving, and computational thinking skills, while helping make the subject accessible, engaging, and relevant for every student.
Being involved is important because those teaching the subject are (and should always be) at the centre of how it evolves. Events like this create a space to share ideas, explore new approaches and learn from what’s happening in classrooms.
For us, it’s also an opportunity to listen as much as contribute, making sure the qualifications and support we develop reflect real classroom needs and keep pace with how the subject is changing.
How do people find out more about Pearson?
You can find out more about Pearson Edexcel GCSE Computer Science, including teaching support and contact details, on the Pearson website.
For insights into the latest trends and challenges across UK education, you can explore The Pearson School & College Report 2026.
If you’re interested in getting more involved, you can also register your interest to join our teacher panel and contribute to future developments in computing qualifications and assessment.
Computer Science teachers are shaping far more than technical knowledge, they’re helping students develop the creativity, resilience and problem-solving skills they need to thrive in a digital world.
Our role is to support that, standing alongside teachers with qualifications, resources and practical guidance that help make computing accessible, engaging and relevant in the classroom.
Don’t miss it
Wednesday, 1st July 2026 – Festival of Computing, at Bromsgrive School.
It is going to be a packed day full of innovation, inspiration and one of this year’s sponsors. A huge thank you to Tim Brady from Pearson for chatting to us! If you want to know more about Pearson, check out their website.
Want to know more about this year’s Festival of Computing or the CPD sessions available? Click HERE.
If you’re attending the Festival of Computing this year, make sure you visit Pearson in the marketplace and attend their CPD sessions.
The Festival of Computing 2026, co-founded and hosted by Bromsgrove School with AQA as headline sponsor, is the UK’s ultimate secondary computing education event.
See you there!
