We have been following the Government consultation on the future provision of ICT and that stage has now concluded with a report.
The source document can be found here on the DoE site.
In the Overview section two key statements are made
Having carefully considered the responses to this consultation, the Government has decided to proceed with disapplication of the ICT Programmes of Study at all key stages from September 2012, and of the associated Attainment Targets and Key Stage 3 statutory assessment arrangements from the same date.
So that leaves schools free to deliver the kind of ICT provision they wish, but only up to September 2014.
The second extract from the document states
The Government has made clear that it considers ICT to be an important subject that should be taught to all pupils. As a clear statement of the importance that it attaches to ICT education, the Government has decided that ICT will continue to be a National Curriculum subject, with new statutory Programmes of Study at all four key stages, from September 2014.
So ICT provision will remain statutory, with a bit of leeway in the period up to September 2014, then a new formal PoS comes into force.
In order to create the new PoS the document states
The Department for Education will look to work with experts from industry, IT organisations and the teaching profession to develop the new Programmes of Study as a national standard for all schools, whilst providing sufficient flexibility and scope to meet the changing demands of the subject.
It will be interesting to see how this new Programmes of Study will develop of the next two years or so.