- Leading charity wants to ensure more young people have the digital skills to thrive.
- Raspberry Pi Foundation has 2,000 free Code Clubs in the UK, and is committed to providing the training and educational resources to support setting up clubs in every school and library.
- A new survey shows that 60% of parents of school aged children say it’s important their child learns how to code.
The leading education charity for digital skills, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, is calling for a free Code Club in every school and library in the UK, to ensure more young people can thrive in a digital future.
A new survey of parents of school aged children in the UK suggests parents understand the growing need for Code Clubs, with 60% saying that it’s important that their child learns how to code. More than half of parents (51%) say that coding should be a compulsory school subject through to GCSE. Despite this, the nationally representative survey conducted on behalf of the Raspberry Pi Foundation by Opinium, reveals more than 70% of parents report that their child is not taught coding at school as part of their regular lessons.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation already supports 2,000 free Code Clubs in schools and communities across the UK, where school-aged children can learn to code in a fun, supportive environment. By coding and creating with technology, young people attending are also being equipped with vital skills for a world being shaped by artificial intelligence (AI). The Foundation provides free training, ongoing support and digital resources for all teachers and volunteers setting up Code Clubs.
Philip Colligan CBE, CEO, Raspberry Pi Foundation said:
“With the rapid advances in AI technologies it is more important than ever that every young person develops the skills, knowledge, and confidence to understand and create with tech. Attending a Code Club is a fantastic way for young people to get hands -on and creative with digital technologies in a safe and fun environment. We also know that attending a Code Club develops wider life skills like confidence, resilience, problem-solving and communication.
“There are already over 2,000 Code Clubs meeting regularly in schools and libraries across the UK and we want to see that number grow. We think that every community should have a Code Club. The Raspberry Pi Foundation supports schools, libraries and other community organisations to set up and run Code Clubs at no cost to the government, the venues, or parents. ”
The survey suggests a clear lack of confidence among parents when it comes to coding and digital technologies. 52% of parents reported that they would not know how to help their child with homework related to coding, yet 60% of parents of school aged children believe that understanding STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and coding will give their child a career advantage later in life.
Janine Kirk, Computer Science Teacher at the King’s C of E Academy in Stoke on Trent who runs a Code Club said:
“There can be some misconceptions that coding is only for boys, or it’s only for students who excel at maths – but having run a Code Club myself for over 10 years, I can tell you it really is accessible for everyone. I see my students being creative with code and translating the most imaginative ideas into apps, games, animations, music and digital art. They are working together, gaining confidence and a sense of belonging with new friends, and building their skills in problem solving and teamwork. I have been inspired by this campaign to set up a Code Club in six other schools in the Three Spires Trust.”
Code Clubs are run by teachers and volunteers from all backgrounds – it is not necessary to have experience in coding or technology to set up a club. The Foundation provides resources to make starting a club straightforward, with hundreds of free, step-by-projects young creators can enjoy and use to learn different coding languages (Scratch, Python, HTML/CSS, and more.)
In June, the Foundation published a new position paper calling for urgent action to prepare young people for the age of AI. Why Kids Still Need to Learn to Code in the Age of AI, argues that all young people should learn to code to enable them to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by AI technologies. Young people who learn to code now will shape the future, but this power needs to sit with a diverse group who can design systems that serve everyone.
To achieve this, there must be more opportunities for hands-on and creative learning, to empower young people to use digital technologies to bring their ideas into the world, building their confidence and agency. The Foundation believes that coding must be embedded in the school curriculum, and that young people should also have the opportunity to explore and create with digital technologies outside of lessons, including in Code Clubs.
Code Club has already supported 2 million school-aged young people around the world to create with digital technology. Today’s announcement is part of the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s aim for Code Club to reach 10 million children globally by 2035.
To find your nearest free Code Club and give digital making a go – or to find out how to set up a Code Club – go to codeclub.org
