Code Club Resources

Everything in one place: Helping beginners code with confidence with the Code Editor

We’ve been introducing a new way for creators to work on Code Club projects — one that keeps everything in one place, with no switching between tabs.

We’re building our Code Editor into Code Club projects, starting with Python, with more projects on the way. This free, online tool lets young people open a project and start coding straight away in their web browser.

We’ve designed our editor for learning — it provides a friendly environment with helpful features like syntax highlighting and error checking, so learners can focus on understanding their code as they write and run Python.

Screenshot of a coding project interface titled 'Python wild - Hop the frog', showing instructions to draw a frog using code on the left and a visual output of a lily pad in water on the right, with a green background.

Instructions and code, side by side

With our Code Editor, creators can see the project instructions and code side by side, which means:

  • No switching between tabs
  • No printing instructions
  • No split screens
  • Shorter instructions
  • Easier for creators to debug their code 

“The built-in Code Editor is a big hit. Having the instructions, code, and output all on one page is incredibly helpful — creators can see everything at once.”  – Tom Lund, Bootham School Code Club

New: Try our latest Python projects in our Code Editor

If you’re curious about what this looks like in practice, try running one of our new Python Bytes or Python Wild projects, all designed to run entirely in our Code Editor. They’re a simple way to see how having everything in one place helps learners stay focused and progress through projects.

A focused young boy working on a laptop, surrounded by other computers, with digital icons representing technology and creativity above him.

Python Bytes uses three playful, food-themed projects to make text editing approachable. Creators invent over-the-top dishes in Disgusting dishes, write a humorous shopping list in Gross groceries, and then subtly sabotage instructions in Recipe wreckers.

Python Wild brings a selection of wildlife to the screen while introducing graphics with Python. Creators draw an insect in Dot the bug, animate a slithering character in Wiggle the snake, and finish with a bouncy amphibian in Hop the frog.

“As we wrote these projects for the Code Editor, our aim was simple: remove the friction that can slow beginners down. When everything’s in one place, creators can try ideas quickly, recover from mistakes, and make progress with far more confidence.” – Marc Scott, Learning Team

What about saving creators’ work?

Creators can save their work to their Raspberry Pi Foundation account as they progress. Young people under the age of 13 will need permission from a parent or guardian to set up a Raspberry Pi Foundation account — we have a printable parental permission letter that you can share to make this easier.

What’s next for our Code Editor 

There’s more to come! We’re updating some of your long-time favourite projects for the new editor, alongside plenty of brand-new activities for creators to explore. Watch this space! 

Open and code instantly with our Code Editor: explore our Python Bytes and Python Wild beginner projects with your Code Club.

Game on! Bring sport into your Code Club

Sports have a way of bringing people together — whether you’re cheering from the sidelines, playing with friends, or sharing stories about your favourite team. That same sense of excitement and teamwork can make coding feel even more engaging for young learners. That’s why our learning team have created four new Scratch projects inspired by sports from around the world.

In these projects creators can enjoy cricket, kabaddi, and South Africa’s traditional game of jukskei, or design custom kits for any sport. The projects invite young coders to explore global games while building their programming skills. Each activity blends creativity, culture, and fun, giving learners the chance to code and play in meaningful new ways.

So, get ready to bring some sporting energy into your Code Club. Game on!

Exploring the new projects

Project one: Cricket

In this cricket game, you’ll programme the bowler to send the ball towards a randomly chosen stump, shrinking it as it travels to create a sense of depth and realism. The game will call out where the ball is heading, giving players just enough time to move their bat and try to score runs.

What creators will learn

Creators will use broadcast messages to coordinate bowling, batting, scoring, and wickets. They’ll animate the ball’s movement with loops, conditionally update variables to track balls, wickets, and scores, and trigger different outcomes depending on whether the bat connects. Complete the extra challenge to make the bails leap from the stumps for a dramatic wicket!

An illustration for a cricket-themed project featuring a young girl with curly hair smiling and pointing, and a male player in cricket attire holding a bat. The background includes colorful elements associated with the sport.

Project two: Kabaddi

Create a fast-paced tag game inspired by kabaddi that originated in India, where you must cross the line, tag opponents, and make it back safely, all while keeping your breathing going by tapping the space bar! Complete the extra challenge to make the opponents behave more unpredictably for even more excitement.

What creators will learn 

Players will animate movement using arrow keys, track lives and tags with variables, and use broadcast messages to coordinate opponents, wins, and losses. Opponents are created as clones and creators use loops and conditional logic to detect contact, manage the kabaddi countdown timer, and trigger different outcomes depending on whether the player tags an opponent, runs out of time, or gets surrounded. 

Illustration of children playing kabaddi, featuring characters in vibrant sports attire, engaged in a dynamic running and tagging scene. The background is a cheerful pink with elements indicating playful competition.

Project three: Jukskei

Jukskei is a traditional South African throwing game where players try to knock over a wooden peg by throwing wooden pins (skeis) at it. It takes skill, aim, and timing.

What creators will learn

Creators will build animations triggered by broadcast messages and controlled with key presses. They’ll use condition-controlled loops to program sprite movement and sound effects, and update variables when conditions are met to keep track of player scores.

Illustration of a smiling person holding a wooden pin for jukskei, with targets in the background.

Project four: Kit chooser

Many young people love showing support for their favourite teams, and designing custom kits gives them a fun, creative way to express that passion through code.

What creators will learn

Using Scratch, young people will create their own kit chooser where they can design custom sports kits, change colours with their own creative flair, and even add a toggle button to switch between styles.

A graphic showcasing a sports kit designer with two purple jerseys displayed, one highlighted with an arrow pointing towards its back. A color palette on the right offers various options for customization.

Three top tips for mentors

1. Bring cultural connections into the session
Ask creators if they’ve played or watched the featured sports, or if these games are popular in their communities. If they’ve not heard of some of these sports, why not show them some videos?

2. Celebrate different ways to play and participate
Many creators will relate to these sports in different ways: some may play them, others may follow teams, and some might enjoy the social or creative parts. Encourage them to personalise their game with their own rules, team colours, or sounds to reflect the way they engage with sport.

3. Support experimentation and iteration
Remind creators that sports and coding both reward practice. If something doesn’t work the first time (a ball overshoots, an opponent behaves oddly, or a variable doesn’t update), that’s part of the process. Guide them to debug step-by-step and celebrate each improvement as a skill gained.

Ready, set, code! Try these sport-themed projects in your Code Club and bring a burst of energy, culture, and creativity to your next session.

Get ready to code: This is our Code Club!

We’re kicking off a new season of coding fun with three new ‘This is our Code Club’ projects for registered Code Clubs that are all about creativity and storytelling. Get ready to bring your club’s story to life through code!

Two young girls engaged in a coding activity, smiling and collaborating while working on laptops, with a colorful 'This is our Code Club' graphic in the background.

These three new exclusive projects are designed to help creators bring their Code Club’s story to life. The best part? When you share your finished projects with us, you’ll get a special sticker pack, including brand new glitter stickers! You have until Friday, 24 October to share your projects with us.

For registered Code Clubs, full details can be found in your inbox. Search for “This is our Code Club”. Not a Code Club? Register today to unlock access to these exclusive projects!

Let’s explore the projects and how you can use them in your Code Club.

Our flatgame | Scratch

Our flatgame is a one-of-a-kind project that mixes video games with poetry! These games are simple — creators can quickly make a full game and focus on their ideas instead of complicated game mechanics.

Young people start by creating their own physical assets — sketches, drawings, or even cut-outs of things they love about their Code Club. Next, they’ll use Scratch to build a simple scrolling game where a player moves around their amazing creations. It’s a fantastic way to turn your ideas and artwork into a playable game.

An illustration showing hands pointing at a digital tablet displaying a green circular shape, surrounded by colorful craft materials and the text 'This is our Code Club — Our flatgame'.

Tips to get started 

  • Creators can work together and share photos. One person could focus on the text and storytelling while another handles the visuals.
  • Break the project into multiple sessions. The first session could be all about discovery and idea generation, including writing stories, drawing, and taking photos. The second session would then be for building the game in Scratch.
  • You could take the photos and upload them as new sprites in a starter project for each group. Creators can then remix the project, duplicate the sprite with all the pictures, and choose the ones they want to use.

What creators will learn

This project is about creativity and self-expression. Creators will learn the workflow of video game design and asset creation, and get to use Scratch to add movement, text, and sound effects.

Our beat | micro:bit

Ready to get musical? Our beat is a hands-on digital music project where you’ll build and code your very own Code Club theme tune! Using the BBC micro:bit and the MakeCode editor, you’ll create melodies, bass lines, and drum loops.

You can start with our unplugged warm-up activity to explore rhythms and sequences without a screen, then use the MakeCode simulator to test out your tunes before bringing them to life on a real micro:bit.

Illustration promoting the 'This is our Code Club - Our podcast' project, featuring a character playing drums, with musical notes and a BBC micro:bit in the background.

Tips to get started

  • Use the MakeCode simulator first to get creators to test and refine their tunes. This is especially helpful if you don’t have enough micro:bits for everyone.
  • Encourage pair programming: one person can write the code while the other suggests melodies or tests the playback. Make sure they swap roles so everyone gets a chance to try both coding and creating music.
  • Begin with a simple melody on one micro:bit, then add more features like play and pause buttons. This progression is built into the project, but managing creators’ expectations will help them see their music evolve instead of trying to do everything at once.

What creators will learn

This project is a great introduction to programming concepts like sequences, loops, variables, and conditional statements. Creators will also explore how radio communication works between devices and learn real-world debugging and problem-solving skills.

Our podcast | AI

Let’s make your club podcast stars! Turn your unique stories into a show that celebrates everything that makes your Code Club special. Play the Scriptville example podcast to get everyone excited and to give them a feel for what they’ll be creating.

Illustration of two children recording a podcast in a colorful setting. One child wears headphones and sits at a computer, while the other raises a hand in excitement. A microphone and sound wave graphics complement the scene.

Tips to get started

  • Start by introducing the concept of podcasts and asking creators what they listen to or if they’ve ever made one.
  • This is a collaborative project. Everyone’s voice will contribute to the final podcast, so there’s no pressure on one person.
  • Encourage them to write about their experiences. Stories about things that have happened in the club make for great listening! They can use the writing prompts to help, and remind them to use only first names in the podcast.

What creators will learn

Creators will learn to work with artificial intelligence (AI) tools and see their potential in new and different ways. By creating and sharing their own podcast, they’ll bring their stories to life and experience the process of collaborative creation, where their individual contributions come together to form a shared outcome. They will work with plain text files, workflows, and organising files, and have experience with digital publishing.

For registered Code Clubs, full details can be found in your inbox. Search for “This is our Code Club”. Not a Code Club? Register today to unlock access to these exclusive projects!

Ready to start creating? Explore the ‘This is our Code Club’ projects and showcase your Code Club story for the rest of the world! We can’t wait to see your projects.