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Digital and STEM initiatives at King's School

We have been involved with a number of initiatives around digital and STEM subjects. These include -

  • From November 22, King's will work in a joint project with Cambridge University and the Raspberry Pi foundation to workshop how AI can be used in teaching and learning at secondary school level (particularly in STEM subjects).
  • All Computer Science pupils in the Senior School have just completed the Oxford University/Raspberry Pi foundation's Bebras Computational Thinking challenge.
  • The Head of Digital activities is in the final stages of a project with Mid-Kent College to facilitate a small group of their IT/Networking T-Level students coming to King's to learn about maintaining a complex network like ours and helping them to fulfil their work experience needs. This is planned to start in early June 2025.
  • We are planning a month's work experience placement for a young man from Northfleet Boys to assist the IT department in supporting the STEM provision (particularly from an IT perspective). A start date is being agreed. 

Further Update - March 2025

King's represented on HMC AI safety and regulation group (HMC)

Our Head of Digital has been asked to join this HMC working group to advise member schools on AI implementation and regulation. I have already met with a representative of this group and will be joining them again for a working party meeting on Thursday, 27 March. 

AI Quality Mark and Support (Medway primaries)
We are hosting SMT members from a few of our partner primaries on Thursday, 20 March. The goal is to help them with AI-staff CPD, potentially assisting them with either CPD and/or working towards their application for the Quality in AI education mark. 

King's to host inaugural Medway AI Hackathon (Medway Council/PilotGenAI)

Conversations have started with a local tech company called Pilot Generative AI in cooperation with Medway Council for King's to host an inaugural 'Medway AI Hackathon' in the Midsummer term for Lower 5th and Lower 6th computing pupils, as well as pupils from other secondary schools in the Rochester catchment area. Preliminary plans are for King's to host the event for about 30-40 pupils. 

Aims

Digital and STEM development and support

Impact

Update as at 12 December 2024

Project 1: Cambridge AI Coding Feedback study

What has been achieved:

CZC has been successful in getting King's to be included in a Cambridge University/Raspberry Pi foundation research project on the use of AI in understanding coding errors (in GCSE & A-Level Computer Science). A representative of the university will be attending King's to see the project in action in February/March 2025. This will hopefully give our pupils a competitive edge to doing even better in the coding aspect of their courses (50% for GCSE and 35% for A-Level). 
 
Numbers of Pupils / Staff involved:
Staff: 1
Pupils: 30 GCSE pupils, 8 A-Level pupils

What KSR facilities have been used:
M7 computer science classroom, digital platforms run by the school

Timeline of future activities:
 A representative of the university will be attending King's to see the project in action in February/March 2025. The project will continue as the study develops more resources for testing. 

Project 2: T-Level student placement; MidKent College

What has been achieved:

Negotiations are now complete for King's to host two T-Level IT students from MidKent College in June, Sept-Oct 2025. They will learn how to support teaching and learning by being part of King's IT Digital Services team. King's will offer expert support in various learning devices and large network management applications.
 
Numbers of Pupils / Staff involved:
Staff: 3
Pupils: none directly

What KSR facilities have been used:
IT helpdesk office, digital platforms run by the school

Timeline of future activities:
Interviews in January 2025, induction in June 2025, and placement in September to October 2025.