Author: codeclub

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Bits and bytes of 2023!

As we code our way through the final moments of 2023, members of the Code Club team take a byte-sized trip down memory lane and share their personal highlights from the year.

The Code Club team wearing silly Christmas hats.

Young people’s voices

Tamasin, Head of Code Club, has loved exploring the impact that being a member of a club has on young people.

“This year we’ve talked to lots of leaders and their club members about their experiences, and launched a research project to find out more about the impact of coming to Code Club. I’ve been blown away by how reflective our young members are and how much they value belonging to a group of like-minded people.

I am so grateful to all our club leaders for providing these experiences that are helping young people to develop a mindset of confidence and enthusiasm for digital technologies.”

Coming together in Cambridge 

Sarah, Code Club Community Manager, reflects on the success of our first-ever Clubs Conference, hosted in Cambridgeshire:

“One of our largest and most exciting events this year took place in March, when 140 volunteers and educators involved in Code Club and CoderDojo came together to learn, create, and connect at the first-ever Clubs Conference in Cambridge!

It was such a pleasure to meet so many members of the community in person. I left the conference completely inspired by their dedication, creativity, and enthusiasm – I can’t wait for the next one!”

The back of a person wearing a T-shirt with a Code Club logo talking to a blonde haired lady.

Community collaboration

Zoe, Programme Coordinator, loves how you always brighten her day. Your openness to answer her questions and share ideas on supporting the next generation of digital makers makes her job a joy! This is what Zoe has taken from the year:

“This year, our Code Club community has shone brightly. We’ve had great moments like chatting with you for our micro-interview blog series, hanging out at our ‘Coffee and conversation’ online meetups, and teaming up to improve our progress charts and resources.

You’re a friendly bunch, and it’s genuinely delightful to hear your stories and celebrate your wins. Thanks for always being open to this and for playing a big part in inspiring future Code Club educators. And don’t worry, I have plans for more stickers in 2024!”

Global coding community

Our global partner network has had an amazing year of growth. Izzy, Global Programme Coordinator, shines a spotlight on some achievements:  

“We welcomed twelve new organisations from eleven countries to our Code Club partner network! From Peru to Nigeria and from Burundi to the Philippines, we’re excited to be working with our new partners to bring Code Club to even more young people around the world.

We also took the opportunity to host a meetup for our partners on the African continent. Ten organisations joined us in Cape Town to share their experiences, learn from each other, and make connections, followed by a chance to attend Coolest Projects South Africa 2023, which the team thoroughly enjoyed!” 

Attendees sanding in a group having their photo taken

Launching new projects 

Pete, Learning Manager on the Raspberry Pi Projects Site, shares his favourite project from 2023:

“The team have done some fantastic work to simplify the language in our projects to make them more accessible and to transition the Python and web paths to use the new Raspberry Pi Code Editor.

If I had to pick a favourite project though, it has to be our ‘Sound level meter’ project in our Intro to micro:bit path. I love the way this project links with the path theme of wellbeing, allowing young people to consider the way sound levels can affect them and others..

I also set up my first Code Club this year AND LOVE IT!”

A laptop and two people holding a micro:bit

Learning together

It’s been a year of workshops at Code Club. Darren, Programme Coordinator (Ireland), reflects on our training offer:

“In 2023, we revamped our community training. Incorporating community feedback, I restructured workshops into two one-hour sessions focusing on programming languages such as Scratch, HTML & CSS, Python, artificial intelligence (AI), and micro:bit. Our goal is to provide accessible learning opportunities for everyone, regardless of where people are on their Code Club journey.

In total, we have run an impressive 41 workshops, which have been attended by 1187 individuals. Personally, meeting everyone at the workshops has been a highlight of my year. I hope I helped everyone gain new skills and confidence that they can take back to their Code Clubs.”

Here’s to another year of coding triumphs, shared learning, and creating vibrant and inspiring spaces for young people to code and grow in. See you all in 2024!

Dreams on track: Inspiring the next generation with industry connections

Children often dream about amazing careers as astronauts, inventors, or racing car drivers. By introducing them to industry professionals, we have the opportunity to bridge the gap between dreams and reality.

After more than 35 years, Gary Foote, Chief Information Officer at MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, returned to his former primary school in Cambridgeshire, UK. He brought with him not just memories, but also a box of Formula 1 car electronics, a wealth of experience, and a humble request to join their Code Club session. 

We accompanied him on this journey to discover why he believes it’s crucial for children to engage with industry professionals, and to hear what he thinks of Code Club. 

Gary a classroom at a table with a group of children surrounding him
Gary having fun at Code Club!

Someone like me

When children see professionals who they can identify with succeeding in STEM fields, it sends a powerful message and introduces a sense of possibility that they too can dream big and their dreams can become a reality.

Although few 6-year-olds (16%) worry about what job they will get in the future, by age 11, 46% are worried, and this increases to 65% by age 15. Seeing a future that they could aspire to is vital in supporting young people to understand how they can take action to make that future a reality.

“I’ve been obsessed with anything four wheels since I was a toddler, and began programming computers while still in primary school. It wasn’t until I was in my teenage years that I realised I could combine my two passions, and that combining motorsport and computing was a career possibility. I love being able to show children that there are opportunities in Formula 1 for people across all walks of life and expertise, not just driving! From STEM subjects like maths and engineering well into the arts, design, and creatives.”

Gary Foote, CIO at Haas F1

Code Club in action

The journey from school to the workplace becomes real for young people when former students like Gary come back into schools as speakers or Code Club leaders. These experiences can help broaden students’ horizons and enable them to make more informed choices, helping them to shape their future lives.

“It’s important for children to have the opportunity to talk to industry professionals, as they are the future. They will be driving the innovation of future technology platforms — they will be solving big world problems.”

Gary Foote, CIO at Haas F1

How many sensors?

In a Formula 1 car, more than 220 sensors meticulously monitor every input and output throughout a race.

Inputs and outputs are key concepts we teach young learners at Code Club. Thanks to the knowledge gained through their Code Club sessions, the children had an insight into how sensors function within a car, learning how the information gathered by these sensors enables engineers to ensure optimal performance of the car.

“The children were brimming with curiosity and loved hearing about the world of Formula 1. It can sometimes be challenging for children to understand the real-world
application of STEM, so to hear how the concepts they are learning at Code Club can be used to solve problems in Formula 1 was enlightening for them!”

Zoe, Code Club Programme Coordinator

Don’t forget that Code Club has a ‘Code Club explains computer science’ poster series showcasing key concepts such as inputs and outputs, selection, and variables. If you run a Code Club, you can log in and download the posters from the website.

Our ‘Code Club explains computer science’ poster series

Gary sums up his Code Club experience

We regularly ask young people to summarise Code Club in just three words, and we were keen to ask Gary for the three words he would choose too!

Here are the three words Gary picked to sum up his Code Club visit:

Encouraging
“These kids are the future of technology; we have an obligation (and especially as a technologist) to mentor, guide, and help these children come up through these technology platforms, so technology can keep on developing. I really see this in Code Club.”

Inspiring
“The enthusiasm these children have is wonderful! As adults, we could take a lot from that.”

Enjoyment
“Children (and adults) perform at their best when they do something they enjoy.”

Following Gary’s Code Club visit, who knows, maybe a Code Club graduate will join the motorsport industry in the future!

If you’re interested in inspiring the next generation, why not consider setting up a Code Club in your local school? Find out how: https://codeclub.org/en/get-involved

Micro-interview with Code Club alumni, Oliver

In our micro-interview blog series, we’re chatting to educators and young coding enthusiasts to hear about their Code Club experience.

When we received a message from 17-year-old Oliver, asking about the possibility of obtaining a Code Club lanyard to serve as a reminder of his experiences at Code Club, we knew we needed to find out more!

So we asked Oliver to tell us about his time at a Code Club in Dursley Library, Gloucestershire, which fueled his passion for computer science, leading him to study it at both GCSE and A level. Here’s what he said…

What inspired you to join Code Club?

I’ve always been fascinated by computers, but my primary school (like many) had a very limited ICT offering. I wanted to take a step on from Scratch, so joining Code Club was a natural choice for me!

So, when I was 8, I attended Code Club at Dursley Library. Among the local clubs my mum discovered, Code Club was by far the best — the resources were really well planned and helped to build up your coding skills.

How did participating in Code Club influence your interest in computer science?

Code Club at Dursley Library shaped my interest in computer science. The engaging activities and the guidance of the sixth formers running the club fuelled my passion for the subject. Every week we learnt a new skill and combined it all into a short Python game. The sessions were really fun, and I still sit down some weekends and just play around with Python!

What skills did you gain from Code Club that benefit your current studies?

The experience of coding helped, as coming into secondary school I already had some knowledge of Python. As well as this, I built a small Python script that colour-codes my virtual timetable, which I still find incredibly helpful!

Away from computer science, my existing knowledge of Python helped enormously when learning algebra, as I could apply my understanding of variables to maths! Don’t all laugh at once!

How has Code Club influenced your career direction?

I think Code Club had a huge impact! As soon as I joined my secondary school, I knew that I enjoyed programming and that I wanted to study computer science for GCSE. I attended activities, went to workshops, and even managed to go on a school trip to Silicon Valley. All of this got me excited for the future, and my experiences in Code Club played a pivotal role in shaping my career direction and is a key factor in why I now study computer science for A level.

What makes Code Club a great space for learners to explore computer science?

In my experience, the groups in Code Club have always been small, so there’s loads of time to play around and try new things. One of the key things I took away from it was that it’s OK to play around and get things wrong.

What advice would you give to other children thinking of joining a Code Club?

Go for it! It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore your interest in computers and learn in a fun and engaging way. It can be challenging, but once you get started, there’s nothing more satisfying than having your ideas appear on the screen before you!

Thank you, Oliver, for sharing your experience with us. And yes, we sent him a lanyard!

If you enjoyed this micro-interview, check out our micro-interview with young coder Terrell (9) and learn more about his experiences.

You don’t need any coding experience to run a Code Club, and you can help more young people like Oliver learn vital coding and digital skills for the future. Start a club today!