Tech She Can launches Manifesto for Generational Change

Launch showcased an impressive community of sponsors, educators and policy makers

Tech She Can, the industry-led tech education and careers charity, has launched an ambitious new manifesto aimed at creating lasting, generational change.

The charity, co-founded by Sheridan Ash MBE and Dr. Claire Thorne, which campaigns to increase the ratio of women working in technology, launched its manifesto at an London Tech Week fringe event packed with some highly inspirational speakers, all of whom spoke of their experiences as educators, policy makers and students.

Speaking at the launch, Co-CEO Sheridan Ash MBE said:

"Our manifesto is based on what we know works, barriers. It provides key actions needed to solve many of the problems confronting us now and in the future. We urge the next UK government to improve technology and careers education so that children of today will be inspired to be equipped for the jobs of the future."

The use of the word "generational" is deliberate. The manifesto sets out a 10-year vision how to close gaps not just in inspiration but also in aspiration.

It's built on three pillars. The first consists of actions that can be taken now, such as establishing a joint DFE – DSIT unit on pre-16 years skills and the launch of a national technology careers public campaign.

The second pillar should be deliverable in three to five years and include ideas such as equipping teachers to encourage children to be more tech-curious and imagine the possibilities much earlier in life before the harmful stereotypes take hold and championing ‘hooks' into STEM using the AI and space sectors to bring life to concepts that can sometimes seem unrelatable and abstract to younger children.

The final pillar is the long-term vision, which rests on a reimagined and agile technology curriculum, tech being embedded across all subjects rather than being siloed off in computer science, and equitable access to STEM-qualified teachers to enable computer science to be offered at GCSE / National 5 level in all schools.

Co-CEO Dr Claire Thorne said: "So often we find that the voices of educators are missing from the debate on skills and talent. It's very siloed. The whole education system which is the beginning of the skills and talent pipeline are looked at completely separately from an industry and policy point of view."

This is why the launch event aimed to bring together speakers from all areas of the discussion, particularly those of educators and students. Maths teacher, columnist, podcaster and broadcaster Bobby Seagull explained how a maths confidence gap between boys and girls tends to open up between the ages of around 8 and 14 years old, and how seemingly small things compound to lever the gap open further as children move through the education system.

Joshua Wohle, CEO and Co-Founder of Mindstone, an online learning platform spoke about the need for AI upskilling at all ages.

Also contributing to the conversation about the need for more tech career pathways included Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor for Business and Chair of London Partners, Usha Kong, Careers & Social Mobility Manager at Tower Hamlets Council, and a local teacher Dr Aoibheann McNally from London Free School.

The content of the school computing curriculum is widely seen as outdated and uninspiring. A Year 12 student called Anna Wake explained why, along with her cousin, she set up Mission Encodeable, a platform offering coding and design tutorials to try and enhance the perception of computing and offer less abstract, more engaging content.

Completing an impressive lineup of educators and policy makers was Pepe Di'lasio who took on the General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders earlier this year who emphasised his support of the manifesto and understanding of some of the structural challenges that computing and STEM teachers face in schools and colleges.

The Tech She Can manifesto is also endorsed by Lord Jim Knight - member of House of Lords Education Committee, former Minister - Education and Skills, Chair of Trustees at E-Act Multi Academy Trust. In a testimonial he says:

"I am very happy to support the Tech She Can Manifesto and the work Tech She Can does. I firmly believe we need cross sector, cross-government, and cross-party collaboration to achieve real change in our education system. Our schools need support to adapt to a constantly changing world. I'd like to see schools promoting apprenticeships as well as degrees as pathways to work. I encourage you to support Tech She Can's Manifesto and help make our schools fit for the future."