Classes in IT coding launched to address skills gap
A LEEDS school has teamed up with an organisation dedicated to tackling the IT skills gap in classrooms to launch a programme that teaches coding skills to children from low-income families.
The sessions at Cockburn High School, which are being funded by IT consultancy BJSS, are designed to improve digital skills and increase interest in STEM-based careers.
Students will be introduced to computing concepts through the creation of games, animations and apps.
The programme will be taught by undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate alumni of the University of Leeds and the University of Oxford, who have been trained by education technology organisation Turinglab.
It is the first phase of a wider initiative in which Leeds-based BJSS will fund Turinglab scholarships for children aged 11 to 16 in the city, as well as Manchester and Bristol.
Emma Husband, assistant headteacher at Cockburn High School, said: “Cockburn is committed to ensuring that its students are fully prepared with the skills, aspirations and academic qualifications needed to take them forward in life.
“We work closely with local and national employers to provide workshops to develop these skills.
“This programme has given our coding group an excellent opportunity to build expertise that will be essential to the British economy over the next few years.
“These sessions also provide the opportunity to work with students from local universities, helping our learners to see where these skills can take them.”
Glynn Robinson, managing director at BJSS and a member of the Turinglab advisory board, added: “As an organisation that prides itself on hiring the best local talent, we recognise that socioeconomic circumstances should never be a barrier to opportunity. Our community investment will see BJSS finance 100 yearly scholarships so that children can develop their IT skills. I’m delighted that our partnership with Turinglab is benefiting children from local communities.”