Forth Valley College launched two new coding clubs last week (w/c Monday 20 February) thanks to a £12K Digital Xtra Fund grant.
Pupils from Victoria Primary School in Falkirk are taking part in a Junior Code Club which offers an introduction to ALICE programming. A Senior Code Club will explore Greenfoot programming and is being offered to pupils from Graeme High School.
Both clubs are based at the College’s Falkirk Campus and take place after school – the Junior Club on Tuesdays and the Senior Club on Wednesdays. They will run for a six week period.
The funding will also cover CPD for teachers in order to encourage them to start up their own coding clubs.
The computing team within the College’s Creative Industries Department will deliver the training to both the pupils and teachers.
Digital Xtra has been developed and funded by the Digital Scotland Business Excellence Partnership whose partners include Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Funding Council, Education Scotland, ScotlandIS, and industry representatives.
Funding is intended to support enterprising organisations that give young people aged 16 and under opportunities to learn computer science related digital skills and contribute to widening the provision of extracurricular computing science related activities across Scotland.
Graham Martin, Business Development Partner, Forth Valley College said:
“Employers have identified a significant skills gap across Scotland in regards to computer programming and it’s important we encourage young people to consider a digital career. These new clubs will introduce computer programming in a fun and engaging way and create an awareness of the types of jobs that may be available to the pupils in the future.”
Pauline Barnaby said:
“We’re delighted to have been awarded funding from the Digital Xtra grant. These new clubs will hopefully play an important role in inspiring more young people to think about programming as a future career option.”
Vivien Gallacher, Curriculum Manager in the Department of Creative Industries said:
“This is an excellent opportunity for young learners to become involved in coding in a fun but educational environment. Adding CPD for teachers will hopefully allow coding clubs to continue in schools and add to the sustainability to the project.”