The Future is bright: Why should young people learn to code?

When we talk about coding and digital making, the question ‘why should young people learn to code?’ will often come up in the conversation. It’s a great question with lots of interesting answers. Let’s dig deeper!

There’s no doubt that there is a buzz about the future of technology and where this fast-paced digital era will take us. The demand for computer science and coding expertise is already at unprecedented levels. While much remains unknown about this shifting landscape, we know this for sure: coding skills will empower young people to meet the challenges of their future.

With Code Clubs in over 100 countries, one of the things that binds us together as a community is that we all see the benefit in young people learning to code. So we’ve asked four colleagues from our global team to reflect on this topic. This is what they said…

Giving young people agency

Equipping young people with the tools, knowledge, and skills to code enables them to develop a sense of purpose within their community and address real-world problems that are important to them. We love to see how young people begin harnessing these skills through the use of problem solving, resilience, and collaboration during Code Clubs that we visit.

On this, Sofia Mohammed, Executive Director, USA, said:

“Learning to create and solve problems with digital technologies is important for young people, especially those from historically disadvantaged communities, because digital skills can lead to high-paying jobs in technology and other areas. This can help break the cycle of poverty and marginalisation in their communities. Knowing how to use technology can also help young people stand up against social injustices, support their communities, and fight for their rights.”

Five people stood in a garden, holding paintings of the sunset. — Sofia with members of the USA team

Our Country Director in India, Anuj Alphonson, contributed his thoughts:

“Young people should learn to create with digital technologies to drive innovation and adapt to an ever-evolving world. By learning to create and solve problems with these tools, they gain essential skills for the future such as critical thinking and resilience in a tech-driven society, which prepares them for diverse career opportunities and challenges.”

Six people standing in a line behind a wall mural. — Anuj and the team in India

Future opportunities

Learning to code opens doors to a world of exciting career possibilities for young people. It’s not just about becoming a software developer; coding skills are increasingly valuable in fields like design, marketing, science, and even the arts.

Attending Code Club teaches young people problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity — vital skills for any career path. Whether a Code Club member dreams of creating the next big app, designing stunning websites, or analysing data to solve global challenges, coding gives them the tools to turn their passions into fulfilling and successful careers.

We have a couple of new faces around here, so we’d like to introduce our new Community Coordinator in the Code Club team, Yuki Hazlewood. She said:

“It’s so exciting to see what young people can dream up and create through digital making. And there’s no doubt that learning to code opens a world of opportunities for young people’s career paths. Computing careers are seeing double the growth rate of other industries, so it’s truly a new frontier that we should be preparing them for.”

Yuk and Rachel stood behind a table. On the table are boxes and screwdriver's, in the background is shelving with boxes on. — Rachel and Yuki in the Maker Space

We asked Rachel Arthur, our new Chief Learning Officer at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, to wrap things up. She shared that:

“Everyone should have the chance to shape the world around them. Learning these skills gives young people the tools to create and solve problems using technology. Digital technology is also everywhere, and it’s changing fast. Learning these skills helps young people keep up and take an active part in this exciting world.”

Thank you to Sofia, Anuj, Rachel, and Yuki!

Are you ready to spark a passion for coding in your community? Start a Code Club today!

Unlocking potential: How Code Clubs benefit young people with special educational needs

Code Clubs offer a fantastic way for young people with special educational needs (SEN) to develop essential skills like coding, computational thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. In today’s digital world, inclusive education that promotes digital literacy is key to ensuring all young people have a chance to succeed.

A boy is sat in a classroom looking at a laptop. — Exploring Scratch

SEN covers a broad range of learning needs, including learning adaptations for people with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and physical disabilities. Young people with SEN may find traditional classrooms challenging, but Code Clubs provide a supportive environment where they can learn and grow at their own pace.

Anne Proctor, the headteacher at East Morton Church of England Primary School, has seen how their Code Club helps young people learn to code and explore their interests:

“In our Code Club, we have several children who are neurodiverse. They typically struggle with core subjects and can lose interest quickly if work is not linked to their special interests. In Code Club it is a different story — they are excelling, and they can work at a much quicker pace than their peers. It is absolutely delightful to see the level of engagement from these children.”

Why a flexible learning space is important

Code Clubs create an accessible and inclusive learning environment for all young people, especially those with special educational needs. Our free, self-guided projects offer flexibility, predictability, and consistency, which are important for young people’s development.

A young girl looking at a laptop which show the Scratch interface. — Code Clubs create an accessible and inclusive learning environment

Pete Bell, Learning Manager at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, shares an insight into how our projects have been designed to support young people with SEN:

“We prioritise thoughtful design to support everyone. This includes using consistent fonts, colours, and layouts to clearly highlight different project elements, like tasks, hints, and keywords. Our collapsible sections for additional information help reduce cognitive overload.”

Using our projects, young people can explore coding at their own pace, which is essential as some may need extra time and support to understand concepts fully. This individualised approach ensures everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Janine Kirk, from King’s Academy in Stoke-on-Trent, shares her experience of the differences between teaching in a classroom setting and at a Code Club:

“In a lesson, we’ve got quite a lot of structure, we’ve got a curriculum to get through. We have to make sure we stick to the lesson content. In a Code Club space, it’s a lot more creative and fun. We have more time to interact with the children and, actually, they can go off on a tangent and explore what they want to do!”

Creating a safe space to learn

Code Clubs offer a supportive space where learners can develop their coding skills without judgement. Unlike traditional classrooms, where the pressure to perform can be overwhelming, Code Clubs allow learners to progress at their own speed and focus on learning the basics before moving on to more complex challenges.

This approach builds confidence, motivation, and a sense of ownership over their learning journey. By accommodating individual needs, Code Clubs ensure that all young people have the opportunity to succeed.

Two coders sat at a desk in a classroom looking at a laptop. An adult stands behind them. — Code Club provides a supportive space

Code Clubs also offer opportunities for social interaction and collaboration, allowing young people to work together on projects and learn from one another. For learners with SEN, who may struggle with social skills, participating in Code Clubs can help them develop communication and teamwork abilities in a supportive environment.

“In my Code Club members will come up to my big screen and show each other their projects and every learner is engaged. They have the opportunity to ask questions and learn how they can do that to their projects too. You can see how social skills develop in Code Club. Many of my students with additional needs might not have this opportunity in a regular classroom. The teamwork aspect is crucial for them.”

– Janine Kirk, King’s Academy, Stoke-on-Trent

The importance of celebrating achievements

Code Club has a collection of certificates that can be handed out as learners complete projects or develop new skills. This feeling of success is important as many young people with SEN may face barriers to other academic achievements. By celebrating their milestones, we can help to boost young people’s self-esteem and motivation to learn.

On your dashboard, you will find lots of certificates that you can use to celebrate your learners’ progress. Take a look and see which ones you can hand out at your next Code Club session.

Code Clubs are a fantastic resource for all young people, especially those with SEN. Explore the possibilities and help these inspiring young minds reach their full potential by starting a Code Club in your school!

Welcoming all young coders: Building inclusive Code Clubs

In today’s increasingly diverse and interconnected world, creating inclusive and engaging learning environments for all learners is more important than ever. This is especially true in STEM fields like computer science, where underrepresented groups, such as women, certain ethnic groups, and learners from lower social and economic backgrounds, have historically been marginalised.

Culturally relevant and responsive teaching is an approach that takes into account the cultural backgrounds and experiences of learners, whether that’s youth culture, heritage culture, or even popular culture! It involves understanding and respecting the diverse ways that learners learn and valuing their cultural identities. In a culturally responsive Code Club, all learners feel welcome, respected, and supported, creating a truly inclusive learning environment.

In this blog, we’ll share three actionable tips for creating a more inclusive and engaging club environment for your learners.

Tip one: Find out about your learners

Code Club leaders often share their own passions and interests, shaping activities around topics that excite them and use these to inspire club members about the possibilities of computing and digital making.

Another approach to running a Code Club is to discover your members’ interests and passions. By tailoring activities to their preferences, you not only increase engagement but also demonstrate how their unique identities and perspectives are valued in the world of computing.

Boys sat a row in a classroom looking at laptops — A Code Club in England

In clubs with learners from diverse backgrounds or different schools, hosting a showcase or show-and-tell can be a fantastic way for everyone to get to know each other better and celebrate their individual contributions.

Our ‘Mood board’ project, from the ‘Introduction to web: HTML, CSS, and animations’ path, is a great way for club members to customise and personalise a project to contain their current likes, interests, or feelings. Kevin, Club Programs Manager, USA, explained in a recent blog why ‘Mood board’ is a fun way for young people to share their interests and creativity.

Tip two: Contextualise

Code Club projects offer many ways to contextualise them to suit club members’ interests. In particular, the visual elements of Scratch can easily be changed to add different Sprites or backgrounds so that the project reflects a learner’s youth culture or heritage culture. This makes computing more relevant and meaningful to learners because they see how computing relates to things that matter to them.

Three girls sat in a row working on Scratch projects — Exploring Scratch

Learners in Scratch can also create their own assets using the paint editor. Explore this helpful tutorial explaining some of the basics and think about how to introduce this into your Code Club. For example, you could create a Sprite with the Paint Editor.

Want to see how this is put into practice? Watch this video that shows how the Scratch team collaborated with STEAM Vietnam to create an asset pack to reflect Vietnamese culture.

“I used to think that Code Clubs should be all about coding and that time spent customising and changing Sprites was wasted time. But then I saw how engaged my club members were when they could make a project that aligned with their interests. They were more persistent in solving problems and more motivated to complete their project. They definitely got more out of the club sessions when they had the freedom to make a project that reflected who they were.” – Katharine Childs, Code Club community member

Tip three: Collaboration

Collaborative activities such as working together in groups are highly effective in Code Clubs. When learners exchange ideas and opinions, they not only deepen their understanding of the material but also develop essential skills like active listening, respecting diverse viewpoints, and valuing the knowledge and experiences of others.

Our ‘Ways to run your club’ page has a great section on learner-led clubs, which includes ideas on how to introduce pair programming or digital leader roles.

A Code Club in India where the girls are sat in rows looking at a laptop whilst working on Scratch — A Code Club in Udaipur

Culturally relevant and responsive approaches can make a significant difference in creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment for all Code Club members. By understanding and respecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of learners, we can make a space where everyone feels welcome, respected, and supported. Why not try some of the strategies discussed in this blog post and see how they can benefit your club?

If you’d like to learn more about how you can make your Code Club more inclusive, have a read of our 10 areas of opportunity for making computing culturally relevant.

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