Star Clubs

New Star Clubs for 2016!

We are delighted to be welcoming a grand total of 23 new clubs to the Code Club Star Clubs network.

Welcome to: Derby Central Library, Chuter Ede Primary School, Ipswich County Library, Enterprise and Innovation Hub, The Spinney Primary School, Stokenchurch Primary School, Shacklewell Primary School, Bishop Ian Ramsey CofE Primary School, Liverpool Central Library, UKFast, Rolls Crescent Primary School, St Raphael’s Catholic Primary School, Lundavra Primary School, Duddingston Primary School, Fryern Junior School, Castlewood Primary School, Longlevens Library, Plymouth Central Library, Penarth Library, Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd, CHESS Centre, Tile Hill Library, Cedars Academy, Thirsk Library.

 

“ We were so pleased to find out we had been made a Star Club.  The trophy has taken pride of place in our school awards cabinet, alongside the school’s other achievements.  We will continue to enjoy the excellent projects provided by Code Club and look forward to sharing our adventures with visitors and online.”
– Tim Head, teacher, Chuter Ede Primary School

Star Clubs have committed to sharing their expertise to help grow the Code Club community. They do this through hosting visits from VIPs, contributing to online discussions and hosting training sessions for new volunteers. They are also happy to have visits from potential volunteers who would like to experience a club before they start.

Funsi, a new volunteer in Nottingham, told us how visiting a club really helped her on the road to getting up and running as a volunteer:

“I got to observe the club in action as they created a game on Scratch – for instance I observed how the children supported each other. Also I had the chance to interact with some children by asking what aspect(s) of the programme they liked and why. So, yes it was worth visiting to see how a club runs!”

Head over to the Code Club website to find your local Star Club and get in touch to arrange your visit.

15 new Star Clubs joining the network!

Lots of our volunteers asked us if they could visit and see a Code Club in action before they started volunteering. So, about a year ago, we created a network of Star Clubs – totally awesome Code Clubs who were open to welcoming visitors who wanted an insight into what a Code Club session was like.

So far, our Star Clubs have had visits from volunteers, politicians, journalists and even VIPs from other countries. They have participated in photo shoots, filming and some of them have been on the television!

Now we are really proud to say that we are welcoming an additional 15 Star Clubs to the scheme, including our first ever library Star Club! Woohoo!

Welcome to Abbey Community Primary School, Bournemouth Collegiate Prep School, Bucklebury C Of E Primary School, Bun-sgoil taobh na Pairce, Christ Church Carnforth CofE Primary School, Coleg Meirion Dwyfor, Exeter Library, Groggan Primary School, Little London Community Primary School, Ludworth Primary School, Meriden CE Primary, Rosebank Primary School, St Wilfrid’s RC Primary School, Towngate Primary School, West Town Lane and Ysgol Tycroes :)

“There are thousands of Code Clubs up and running around the country but there is also the potential for many thousands more to be created to open up the fun and excitement of coding to even more young people – being recognised as a Star Club not only acknowledges the achievements of our club members but also allows us to help spread the love of coding to others by supporting new and existing clubs to flourish in our area.”

Jon Rogers, Code Club volunteer, Meridan C of E Primary School

You can check out their locations on the Star Clubs map and if you want to visit, you can contact them through our website.

Congratulations to the new Star Clubs! We look forward to another year of exciting visits.

#VolunteersWeek: A star volunteer at a Star Club!

Robin Blackstone is one of our super-talented volunteers who runs a Star Club at Irchester Community Primary School in Northamptonshire.

Star Clubs are outstanding Code Clubs with friendly volunteers and supportive teachers and venue representatives, which are open for new or prospective volunteers to visit as an example of best practice and all round awesomeness.

Robin told us a bit about what inspired him to volunteer with us:

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“I got involved with volunteering for Code Club because I was tinkering with Raspberry Pi computers and wanted to do something to support the educational ethos of the project. When I then stumbled upon Code Club, it was a natural fit. Code Club was the kind of thing I would have loved to have done when I was 10 but didn’t get the opportunity.

I find that there is an enormous sense of satisfaction when a child finally gets their own game working after spotting a critical bug, or when you realise that the children can navigate their way around Scratch quicker than you! As a parent, volunteering at the Code Club has also enabled me become more involved with the school that my daughters attend.

My best Code Club moment was when we took three of our coders to Cambridge to take part in Pi Wars. Together we built and programmed a robot and competed against the “big kids.” We didn’t win but it really inspired the children.

Code Club is important to me, firstly because it is important to the kids in my club. Secondly, because when I was at school an interest in computing made you a nerd. Now, Code Club is helping to make coding cool – even Will.i.am is into it – who would have ever thought!

I am lucky that I finish work in time for Code Club. That said, my employer is supportive, I’m never held back for any reason when it’s time for my club!”

Want to pay a visit to Robin at his Star Club? You can arrange a visit here. Alternatively, you can search for your nearest Star Club on our website: https://www.codeclub.org.uk/star-clubs/visit

Already volunteering and think your Code Club could achieve Star status? You can now apply to become a Star Club here. If you are already a Star Club, you don’t need to reapply, we’ll contact you to tell you how to renew.