The UK does not have a single government ministry for education, as education is an issue devolved to the four separate national governments:

• England – Department for Education (DfE)
• Wales – Welsh Government
• Scotland – Education Scotland
• Northern Ireland – Department of Education (DE)

Education System Structure

Education Structure Overview* (e.g., primary, secondary, K-12, tertiary or higher education, with technical/vocational tracks)

England: The Early Years Foundation Stage covers ages 3 to 4 years; Primary education covers ages 5 to 11 years; Secondary education covers ages 11 to 16 years; Key Stage 5 covers ages 16 to 18 years through provision in further education colleges, sixth form colleges, tertiary colleges, or art, design and performing art colleges; tertiary education is possible after Key Stage 5 through provision in universities and other higher education institutions

Wales: Nursery education covers ages 3 to 5 years; Primary education covers ages 5 to 11 years; Secondary education covers ages 11 to 16 years; tertiary education is possible after Key Stage 4 through provision in schools, further education colleges, or after Key Stage 5 through universities and other higher education institutions; tertiary education is possible after 16 years of age through provision in further education colleges, or after 18 years of age through universities and other higher education institutions

Scotland: Nursery education covers ages 3 to 5 years; Primary education covers ages 5 to 12 years; Secondary education covers ages 12 to 18 years; tertiary education is possible after 16 years of age through provision in further education colleges, or after 18 years of age through universities and other higher education institutions

Northern Ireland: Nursery education covers ages 3 to 5 years; Primary education covers Foundation, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2 (ages 4 to 11 years); Post-primary education covers Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, and Key Stage 5 (ages 11 to 18 years); tertiary education is possible after Key Stage 4 through provision in further education colleges, or after Key Stage 5 through provision in  universities and other higher education institutions

Education System Structure
Pupil age range when computing/IT is introduced into the curriculum*

All UK: 3 years of age according to nursery provision options; 5 years of age for all schools

England: computing is a subject within the curriculum from age 5 years to 16 years

Wales: the digital competence framework is covered from age 3 years to 16 years

Scotland: the technologies curriculum area is covered from age 3 years to 15 years

Northern Ireland: ICT is a cross-curricular subject within the curriculum from age 5 years to 16 years

England: by 16 years, young people should have developed (as stated in the National Curriculum for England) capability, creativity and knowledge in computer science, digital media and information technology; developed and applied analytic, problem-solving, design, and computational thinking skills; understand how changes in technology affect safety, including new ways to protect online privacy and identity, and how to report a range of concerns

Wales: the digital competence framework covers topics concerned with citizenship; interacting and collaborating; producing; data and computational thinking

Scotland: topics covered are digital literacy; food and textile technology; technological developments in society and business; craft, design, engineering and graphics; and computing science

Northern Ireland: young people should develop (according to the specified curriculum) technical skills using different types of ICT in different subject areas, for example, in: publishing; presenting; coding; managing data; art and design; music and sound; and film and animation

Languages and tools taught: This varies by school and nation

Mandatory/Elective courses: Details of curriculum and topics by age, as described in previous sections, are mandatory, but elective qualifications can be taken at age 16 years (General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)), and at 18 years and beyond (Diplomas, AS, A level, vocational and apprenticeship qualifications) and at 21 years and beyond (Bachelor, postgraduate certificates and diplomas, Master and doctoral qualifications)

National standards, frameworks or guidelines (e.g., national curriculum, competencies): 

England (school age)  

Wales (school age) 

Scotland (school age) 

Northern Ireland (school age) 

Educational Institutions and Access

Notable institutions providing computer science/IT education* (universities, colleges, technical schools);

Digital access in schools (such as Internet access, computer-to-student ratios); Equity and access challenges* (rural versus urban, gender disparities, etc.)

 Notable institutions providing computer science/IT education: 
Most universities provide computing or computer science qualifications at Bachelors, Masters, and doctoral levels. Some universities and teacher training institutions provide postgraduate certificates in education (PGCE) for computer science, or computing, or ICT, which provide qualifications for teaching in those subjects

Digital access in schools:

Internet access is standard in all UK schools and educational institutions, but rural schools may have access to lower bandwidth. Computer-to-student ratios vary across all educational institutions, especially as some schools support the provision of 1-to-1 devices for all young people and staff

Equity and access challenges:

Equity and access challenges are widely recognised by educational institutions. Whilst emerging digital technologies are increasingly supporting access for those with disabilities and with access challenges, a major equity difference is seen in the uptake of qualifications at all levels in computer science and related subjects between genders and ethnic groups

National Initiatives and Policies

Digital education policies, including uses of Generative AI in schools (with weblinks where possible)

Computer science/IT teacher training programmes; Government or NGO partnerships; Sources of funding and investment in educational technology; Innovations or pilot programmes; Language of instruction in IT; Government/state/public versus private sector involvement; Key industry involvement

Digital education policies, including uses of Generative AI in schools: 

Updated policy on uses of AI in education are provided on the England DfE website: 

Computer science/IT teacher training programmes: 

Teacher training programmes (PGCEs) are currently provided by 19 universities and teacher training institutions in computing, 17 in computer science, and 5 in ICT (as shown here)

Government or NGO partnerships:

Networking, infrastructure, hardware and software provision often involve partnerships with industry. For example, in Northern Ireland, all schools are supported by a partnership between the C2k section of the Education Authority and the managed service provider Capita

Sources of funding and investment in educational technology:

Schools are supported through national and local government funding provision. Additionally, there are innovation funds that can be awarded through competitive tender applications

Innovations or pilot programmes:

Northern Ireland is currently involved in an educational review involving ICT in the curriculum

Language of instruction in IT: UK English

Government/state/public versus private sector involvement: 

Most schools in the UK are funded through state support, but there are private or independent schools that are supported through independent funding, including fees from parents and guardians

Key industry involvement:

This depends on the phase of education, the nation, and whether the focus is on networking, communication, infrastructure, hardware or software

Statistics and Data

Number of students enrolled in computer science/IT subjects at specific ages (linked to longitudinal data if possible); 

Numbers of graduates in computer science /IT (linked to longitudinal data if possible); 

IT workforce pipeline data (linked to longitudinal data if possible); 

Gender ratios in IT fields (linked to longitudinal data if possible)

Number of students enrolled in computer science/IT subjects at specific ages:

A review in 2022, provided background data

England GCSE results by subject and year (at 16 years of age)

England A level results by subject and year (at 18 years of age)

Wales all results 2024

Scotland all results 2024

Northern Ireland all results

All UK A and AS level results 2024 with some year comparison 

Numbers of graduates in computer science /IT:

The BCS provides an annual review article: BCS 2025 review 

IT workforce pipeline data:

Annual review reports are accessible. Example of 2024-25 

Gender ratios in IT fields: A recent UK review reports

Resources and References

Links to Ressources (e.g.: Curricula)  or Guideline websites;

Research reports or case studies;

Policy documents; Contact information for the National Representative

Links to National Curricula or Guideline websites:

England (school age)

Wales (school age)

Scotland (school age) 

Northern Ireland (school age)

Research reports or case studies:

Northern Ireland system-wide case study

Northern Ireland school case studies: One and Two

Policy documents: 

England (for all ages)

Wales (for schools)

Scotland (for schools)

Northern Ireland (for schools)