Mark Martin aka
@Urban_Teacher
Changing the world one classroom at a time.

Mark Martin MBE CITP, known as @Urban_Teacher, is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science and Education Practice. With expertise spanning AI and data science, he has been at the forefront of championing EdTech and computer science education, delivering digital skills for the last two decades. He's one of the most decorated educators in EdTech, having earned accolades from the top tech companies in the world. He's also a Chartered IT Professional (CITP), the top-tier qualification awarded by the British Computer Society to senior IT practitioners with over a decade of proven expertise and ethical practice. His deep knowledge has made him an influential voice in the UK tech scene, where he serves as an advisor to the government, big tech companies, institutions, and charities. He fervently champions home-grown talent, digital skills, and education equity. As a testament to his dedication and impact, he co-founded UKBlackTech in 2017, now one of the UK's leading tech communities championing innovation and digital transformation. Mark's contributions to education, technology, and diversity in UK tech were recognised in 2019 when he was honoured with an MBE, and in May 2022 he was listed among the top 50 most influential people in UK IT by Computer Weekly.

Leadership

Keynote Speaker
Curriculum Designer
Teaching and Learning Pedagogy
GCSE, A-Levels, BSc & MSc

Computer Science and Data Science Lecturer
Thought Leader in Emerging Tech & Their Real-World Applications
Advisor for Education Technology Integration

Leadership Roles

MEMBER
2023 - Present

Trustee
2023 - Present

Education Advisor
2024 - Present

Tech Advisor
2013 - Present

E-ACT manages 38 academies across England, educating over 25,000 pupils with a team of 3,500 employees and an annual turnover of £152 million.

BCS represents over 70,000 members across 150 countries, supporting a community of 40,000 educators through its Computing At School (CAS) network, with an annual group turnover of approximately £25 million

Apps for Good reaches over 30,000 young people annually across 700 schools, supported by a core team of 11–50 employees and 296 industry volunteers,

Global Tech Advocates connects over 30,000 members across 40+ global hubs—spanning from London and the Nordics to Shanghai and the Bay Area

Areas of Work

Education

I first entered the classroom in 2004 as an ICT Teacher, progressing through roles such as Head of Department and Second in Charge of Faculty. Now, I serve as an Assistant Professor in Computer Science and Teaching Practice.

Computing

As one of the most qualified practitioners in the field, I have shown excellent teaching in computer science and am recognized globally for using EdTech tools to promote teaching and learning.

Innovation

As a practitioner, I've formed some of the biggest tech communities in Europe, championing home-grown talent to use their skills to solve real-world problems. I have worked with various sectors to encourage new talent and drive innovation.

Air Pollution Research

The Book

"My Teaching Routine" takes you on a journey. It's not a linear book or one with a fixed narrative sequence which requires you to start at the beginning. The book takes you through different phases of the classroom and gets you to think about each stage and process."

The Book

The Website

The Campaign

National AI Awareness Day (4th June 2026) is a new nationwide campaign designed to build AI literacy across UK schools. The model is simple: schools commit to running just one activity. Our goal is to create a unified moment where the entire education community comes together to engage positively and critically with AI — preparing the next generation for a world increasingly shaped by intelligent technology.

The Platform

UKBT is an organisation managed by specialised professionals, whose main aim is to increase the wealth of its community by promoting the culture of innovation, tech and digital skills. To enable these goals to be met, UKBT stimulates and manages the flow of knowledge and technical insights amongst universities, R&D institutions, companies and markets; it facilitates the creation and growth of tech companies & tech talent through events and spin-off initiatives; and provides other value-added services to the sector.