Eric Schmidt references Nesta reports alongside pledge to fund computer science teachers

Two of Nesta’s reports were cited by Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt this week as he announced the company would be funding the training of more than 100 science teachers over the next three years, with a particular emphasis on computer science.

Referencing Nesta's landmark Next Gen report, on the state of the UK video games sector, and the new BBC Micro report which looks at the legacy of the BBC's 1980's Computer Literacy Project, Schmidt said it was vital to expose children to coding early "if they're to have the chance of a career in computing".

During his speech at the London Science Museum,  Schmidt said that progress on the UK's computer science curriculum had been made since he gave his talk at the McTaggart Lectures last year, but he stated computing education was still in a 'sorry state'.

The funding announced for teachers will be delivered through educational charity, Teach First. Some of the money has been earmarked for relevant teaching equipment, including the new Raspberry Pi computer.

"If the past has taught us anything, it's that if you connect people with information they will change the world," said Schmidt. 

"The success of the BBC Micro in the 1980s shows what's possible. There's no reason why Raspberry Pi shouldn't have the same impact, with the right support."

The new report, The Legacy of the BBC Micro, which Schmidt made reference to, shows how the BBC's Computer Literacy Project of the 1980s, which created the much celebrated BBC Micro computer, got the UK programming, and calls for a new push to inspire the next generation of computer programmers.