From: Cerys Griffiths Sent: ‎14/‎01/‎2016 17: 43 To

Dear Ms Roney

I am writing to you as the Chief Executive of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council to check that all the secondary schools under your local authority control have registered to take part in the BBC micro:bit project. We’ve been encouraging schools to sign up so that their students don’t miss out on receiving their free BBC micro:bits - every Year 7 student can have one, as well as their Year 7 computer science teachers.
The BBC micro:bit is a small, codable device that can be programmed to do all sorts of incredible things – it’s been specially developed to help teach students to code and the BBC is giving away one free to every Year 7 child in the UK this Spring term.
It’s a non-intimidating introduction to programming and is intended to be an amazing tool for teaching the new computer science curriculum as well as inspiring young people to get creative with all things digital.
This is the BBC’s most ambitious educational project in 30 years and has been made possible by a collaboration with 30 partners who lead in this field – including Microsoft, Samsung, Barclays, Code Club and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
You can get your schools involved by asking them to fill out a quick form on the website, microbit.co.uk.
Many of your schools may already have done this, we’ve had thousands of registrations so far. However we’re really keen to ensure that no school misses out and would appreciate any support you can offer in disseminating this message and encouraging your schools to take part.
The micro:bits are supported by a website – microbit.co.uk – which includes lots of help for teachers including quick start guides and tutorials, a choice of 4 code editors on which to program the micro:bits, plus inspirational projects to encourage the students to get coding themselves. The website is already live and being used in some schools.
The feedback we have received from teachers and pupils taking part in trials has been hugely positive and we genuinely believe this initiative could be game-changing in the way computer science is viewed and learnt by students.
I am very happy to discuss this further by email or on the phone. Please contact me via this email address in the first instance if you would like more information.
I also include here a blog from BBC Learning’s Head of Department which gives more details about the aims of the project. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/entries/4678b923-29e6-4912-a643-b637cf5c9f03
I do hope you will feel inspired to encourage your schools in any way you can to be part of this exciting initiative and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best wishes

Cerys Griffiths

 

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