A SCHOOL in Bexley is one of four chosen to pilot a new scheme to teach software programming to young people.

Townley Grammar School will be taking part in the scheme”Behind the Screen”, launched by David Willetts, Minister for Science and Universities.

The IT curriculum has been criticised for just teaching young people how to use software, rather than teaching them how to write it.

Townley Grammar School was chosen to pilot the scheme because it already teaches computer science.

Headteacher Desmond Deehan said: “Computer scientists are going to be as important in our lives as engineers were during the industrial revolution. It’s one of the few industries in the UK which is continuing to grow.

“We want our students to be the people we rely on in the future.”