Breaking the code to a successful digital future

Thousands of Dorset school children have taken part in a week-long event to inspire them in a future career in computer programming.

Organised by Dorset Council, BCP Council and Barclays Digital Eagles, Dorset Coding Week brought together 49 schools, several home educators and more than 5,000 children from right across the county.

In addition, 30 local tech volunteers and 18 students from Weymouth College supported the event by offering their expertise to schools as they ran special coding lessons.

And this year there was a special theme of ‘internet safety.’

Children in years five, six and seven were tasked to create a quiz with questions that would help teach their peers how to stay safe online.

Using software supplied by Barclays Digital Eagles, the youngsters learned how to format and code to create their own quiz.

Ferndown Middle School’s computer teacher and careers lead, Melody Morris, said: “By taking part in Coding Week our students have explored important digital safety messages while developing problem-solving and programming skills.

“The enthusiasm and imagination shown by the students have been fantastic, and their finished projects highlight both their coding ability and understanding of responsible online behaviour. 

“We’ve really enjoyed taking part in Dorset Coding Week and we were especially grateful to be supported by our industry tech volunteer, Katie from Fresh Leaf Media.”

It is the fourth year running that Dorset Council, with the help of its partners, has held the event.

And it’s grown so successful that it has gone from being a Coding Day to a Coding Week, reflecting the fact that schools run many sessions and involve different classes across several days.

Cllr Richard Biggs, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Economic Growth, said: “It has been fantastic to see so many schools and children embrace Dorset Coding Week.

“By joining forces with our partners BCP Council this has become a truly pan-Dorset event, which has hopefully inspired lots of young people to follow a career in technology.

“To help Dorset’s economy to grow, it’s essential we not only inspire more children into STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) careers but also enable them to have a flourishing career right here at home.”