I was invited to become a Leading Teacher for ICT (as it was) in 2010 then an SLE (Specialist Leader of Education) for Computing (as it became) in 2013. In the meantime I set about creating a group who could share good practice around the use of technology in schools. There had been network meetings led by a LA employee called Anna but when that role was discontinued there was a danger of Swindon not having any support for computer teaching.
I formed the Research and Innovation Group for Computing. The Swindon Teaching School, especially David Hughston, were a great support from the outset. As an SLE for the STS I could use their facility at Drove to host gatherings. With James and Eve I set about creating a Scheme of Work to provide ideas for teaching the new Computing curriculum. I persuaded Mike, the Head of Goddard to host a Scheme of Work launch day for which we had 47 attendees. Our subsequent Scheme of Work was adopted by many Swindon Primaries as a go-to text.
To widen the provenance of our RIG beyond the Swindon Teaching School, I formed the SSCP: The Swindon Schools Computing Partnership. In these years the RIG moved between many Swindon schools who agreed to host us. I built the www.swindonrig.net website and James and I created the Cartoon Assessment System.
We met every term, had many visiting speakers, shared what we knew and attendance was always free of charge.
Over time a network developed that is now established in Swindon and the surrounding area. What we needed was a new permanent base.
