Congratulations to all the incredible schools and volunteers who’ve made the first year of Microsoft TEALS (Technology Education and Learning Support) programme in the UK such a success!
10 schools and 30 volunteers from the IT industry have worked together over the past year to bring real-world experience into the computing classroom — in five regions of England: Manchester, Walsall, Reading, London and Torbay. And this is just the beginning as we gear up to launch TEALS in other regions, offering even more opportunities to make a difference in tech education...
What is TEALS?
“The benefit of being part of TEALS is the immediate impact you can have on changing a student's thoughts around pursuing a career in computing or IT, or actively taking IT or computing and further stages of their education.”
TEALS is a Microsoft Philanthropies initiative which is transforming computer science education around the globe with programmes already running in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Israel, Colombia, Kenya and India. The programme pairs schools with industry professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to co-deliver computer science classes with teachers. This collaboration helps to:
- prepare students with skills for a digital society
- offer real-world context for learning
- highlight diverse tech career paths
- accelerate professional growth for computing teachers
BCS is the implementation partner for TEALS in the UK. We tailor the programme to fit local needs, match schools with volunteers and offer training and support to create strong partnerships between teachers and volunteers.
Celebrating our first TEALS anniversary
“The biggest or most unexpected benefit of being part of TEALS is that we can improve the situation of people who need to get a chance in working with IT and also to help the newest generation understanding what's the role of IT in their lives.”
Coinciding with National Volunteer Week, Microsoft’s Paddington office was abuzz as TEALS volunteers and teachers gathered to celebrate the success of our first year.
During the event, we heard from an inspiring line-up of speakers including Charles Eales, UK Social Impact Lead at Microsoft; Julia Adamson, MBE, MD for Education & Public Benefit at BCS; and James Turner, CEO of The Hg Foundation. They spoke about TEALS' impact and its ongoing volunteer model connecting students with computing professionals.
I volunteer with TEALS because I want to make sure that there is someone there to be a role model for the students, especially girls in deprived areas, and make sure that they know that there is someone there that's just like them
For you
Be part of something bigger, join BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
We discussed expanding the programme; focusing on schools with greater need, TEALS is set to double to 20 schools across England and introduce hybrid and remote delivery options. Changes to the application process will enhance scalability, including plans for expansion into Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Volunteers shared touching stories of their impact on students' lives, highlighting TEALS' dedication to shaping IT education.
What’s next?
Following the success of the first year, we’re now doubling the size of the programme and expanding our reach to other regions across England, with the opportunity for more IT professionals, schools and organisations to get involved. If you’re inspired by the work TEALS is doing and think you or your organisation could help, we’d love to hear from you.
“From the TEALS programme, we can give back to the future generation the knowledge we have from technology. As a PhD student, it has given me a good opportunity to go to schools and interact with students and give and share my knowledge.”
