Computer scientist and educationalist Simon Peyton Jones to receive OBE

Prof Simon Peyton Jones, Chair of Computing at School (CAS) and of the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE), is to receive an OBE for his services to education and computing science.

Prof Peyton Jones is co-founder of CAS, the UK-wide, teacher-led network, supported by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

His work to deliver outstanding computing education is recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours ahead of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Computing at School (CAS) was founded in 2008 by a small group led by Prof Peyton Jones and Simon Humphreys.

CAS began as a small volunteer group working to establish computer science in schools and support teachers.

Today the network is made up of over 360 volunteer communities covering the whole of the UK and has 20,000 members sharing advice, guidance, and peer-to peer support, in person and across digital platforms.

As Chair of CAS, Prof Peyton Jones was at the heart of the reforms that led to the new National Curriculum subject, Computing, which was introduced in September 2014.

Since 2018, Prof Peyton Jones has been Chair of the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE). He leads the NCCE’s Academic Board, supporting and inspiring all those working in computing education, including industry partners, academics, and teachers.

Prof Peyton Jones said: “I am thrilled to receive this honour, but I do so on behalf of every member of Computing at School! The award recognises the re-imagining of computing as a foundational and creative subject that equips and empowers all children. It celebrates the passion, expertise, and sheer energy of CAS's volunteers, and the vibrant richness of the community that we have built together. There is no ‘them’; there is only us.”

Julia Adamson, Director of Education at BCS said: “Professor Peyton Jones is a force for good globally when it comes to computing education.

“His unrelenting enthusiasm is infectious - it’s because of this that Computing at School, since its beginnings as a small group of volunteers, has grown and supported over 43,000 teachers, academics, and others, all passionate about computing education.
“CAS's work continues today. It is a vibrant professional network extending support and guidance to one another, developing subject knowledge, sharing what really works in the classroom, and enhancing the computing offer for young people.

“On behalf of BCS and the CAS community, thank you Simon for getting us closer to our ambition that every child should develop the thinking skills to thrive in the digital world.”