Coding Clubs and Programming Classes

 
 

It is now widely accepted that the process of learning computer programming can greatly benefit a child’s intellectual and cognitive development. Seymour Papert, author of Mindstorms, captured the essence of what programming skills bring to the young mind when he wrote:  

‘Many children are held back in their learning because they have a model of learning in which you have either ‘got it’ or ‘got it wrong.’ But when you programme a computer you almost never get it right the first time. Learning to be a master programmer is learning to become highly skilled at isolating and correcting bugs ... The question to ask about the programme is not whether it is right or wrong, but if it is fixable. If this way of looking at intellectual products were generalized to how the larger culture thinks about knowledge and its acquisition we might all be less intimidated by our fears of ‘being wrong.’’

The aim of our courses is to convert children from consumers of computer programmes into creators who understand how a computer works and how to make it work for them instead of just knowing how to work a computer.

We provide an environment where students develop essential 21st century learning skills that will be critical to their success in the future: thinking creatively, communicating clearly, analysing systematically, collaborating effectively, designing iteratively and learning continuously. We teach students to develop a deeper level of fluency with digital technology and to become creators, not just users.

Our aim is to make our classes enjoyable at the same time as being educational. We also help children see the connection between programming and maths and use the excitement created by programming to drive a deeper interest in mathematical problem solving.

From a practical perspective, we note that the US Bureau of Labour Statistics projects that there will be one million unfilled jobs for programmers in the U.S. by 2020. This is because the more software and hardware humans create, the more jobs in software will exist, driven by new platforms like smartphones and robots as they spawn their own software ecosystems. At the London School of Mathematics and Programming we are delighted to be giving children a head start for such a valuable future role.  

Enrolment in Coding Club

Ahead of enrolment we discuss with parents each child’s needs to make sure they attend the appropriate class or classes. Please call us to discuss this further.


Led by professional programmers, our courses teach both the theory and practical applications of coding. Pupils learn the construction of an algorithm, syntax and how to debug a programme to make it work:

Junior Coding Club (Junior Scratch), Reception to Year 2
  • the world of programming starts here. The puzzles based drag and drop approach of MIT’s Scratch JR is highly intuitive for children starting coding and learning algorithm development.

Coding Club (Scratch), Years 3 to 5
  • most children in this age group will already be familiar with Scratch, however instead of teaching them the programming environment we go further and, using games as a learning tool, teach them all the major programming constructions and how to compose effective algorithms.

Algorithmical Drawing (Java based), Years 5 to 7
  • the beauty of the Object Oriented way of thinking in programming begins with our Java classes. Pupils start with the basics and move on to development patterns, animations and applications.

Processing Programming (Java based), Years 6 to 10
  • if a child’s mind is drawn to art, design and graphics, this is the programming course for them. Pupils learn to program using a Java-based language, building dynamic, visual and interactive applications.

Python Programming, Years 6 to 13
  • as well as being an ‘industrial strength’ programming language, popular in web development, data analysis and machine learning, Python is also an ideal teaching tool. Pupils learn algorithm construction, syntax, the theory and practice of coding as well as Python itself.

Python Blender 3D, Years 8 to 13
  • the use of 3D techniques in the film and computer gaming industries capture the imaginations of teenagers. Pupils learn to program using Python for 3D development in one of the most well known 3D environments - Blender3D, where pupils can generate motion graphics, 3D fractals, physical simulations and data visualisation projects.

Olympiad Programming (incl. British Programming Challenge Preparation), Years 8 to 13
  • excellence in programming requires skill, knowledge and practice. This course is designed to take committed young programmers towards olympiad level. The world’s most ‘in demand’ programmers are invariably olympiad winners - who also teach this course for us.

C# Programming for Unity, Years 8 to 13
  • explore best practices in game development and design; learn C#, a powerful programming language and advanced programming techniques such as object-oriented programming; create 2D, 2.5D and 3D games in Unity, both as desktop video games and as mobile games.