Coding club at Leadgate Primary School has been successfully running for the last two years across the age groups of year 5 and 6 pupils (aged 9-11) with an average of 10 pupils per term. Initially we focussed on Scratch projects – Lost in Space, Haunted House, Boat Race, Chat Bot, Paintbox and Snowball fight. We then progressed onto using the Microbits, projects included Mood faces and Fortune Teller. For those confident pupils they were challenged to debug a program using Purple Mash and to use Python – Rock, paper, scissors. Continuing to develop pupil’s skills, inventor kits were then introduced. The pupils independently worked through a series of interesting but challenging projects from the booklet. Our most experienced coding club members explored HTML programs including Happy Birthday Cards and a Wanted Poster. After much perseverance by our coding club parent volunteer, we have finally managed to program and explore the Robot.
Our parent volunteer, who works at SAGE Software, has fully supported and been an invaluable team member throughout coding club. Our volunteer helps in the planning process and provides us with many resources including a stand-alone laptop for use with the Robot.
The pupils are far more confident in using coding through Scratch and support other pupil within their classes during computing lessons. They particularly enjoyed the Inventor Kits as it was more technical and seemed to be more practical programming. I feel that coding club has introduced our pupils to basic HTML and Python and have begun to write code for Web Pages. Throughout these projects they have developed resilience and problems solving skills, which are valuable skills they are developing in readiness for Secondary School and beyond.
‘I really look forward to going to coding club because it is fun and I don’t want to miss a week.’ Lauren Y6
‘I like it when we solve things together’ Kate Y6
Pupils are noticeably more confident and resilient in a variety of lesson where problem solving and following a clear set of instructions is required. They offer support being Peer mentors throughout computing sessions within their own year group as well as for younger pupils in school.
Nicola Edwards, Clare Hannon, Catherine Brough
