Harrow Schools Coding and Robotics : Impact Report
In November 2024, the Maths Society launched a Coding and Robotics Camp designed for pupils aged 10 to 13 in Harrow. With invaluable funding from Securing Success, this free six-week program equipped young minds with essential skills for the digital age.
Over 50 pupils from two local schools, Whitchurch Primary and Avanti Secondary, participated. Below is the Impact Report of this Pilot Program.
About the Funder -
Securing Success
“Securing Success is committed to addressing educational inequalities and ensuring equal opportunities for all
children. This aligns perfectly with our objective to improve the life chances of children and young people
through access to STEM education and learning they might not otherwise have had. This camp not only teaches
essential programming skills but also fosters creativity, problem-solving, and a love of learning. We believe
these skills are crucial for success in the 21st century.” Joy Collins, CEO, Securing Success
Securing Success, a charity, has been funded by the John Lyon Charity for past nine years to support the
supplementary sector in Harrow. Through funding, training, and accreditation aligned with DfE guidance, in
partnership with The Young People’s Foundation/Centre for Supplementary Education, Securing Success is
proud to support The Maths Society in its mission to helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds
maximise their life chances.
Meeting The Aims of The Programme
52 young people aged 10-13 years old have taken part.
The program successfully achieved its five key outcomes for improvement, boosting confidence and independence in each area through targeted activities. Students demonstrated:
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Enhanced Digital Skills: Students developed a strong foundation in coding and robotics.
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Improved Problem-Solving Abilities: Students learned to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable steps and applied logical thinking to find solutions.
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Increased Creativity and Innovation: Students were encouraged to think critically, experiment, and developed innovative ideas.
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Boosted Self-Confidence: Students gained confidence in their abilities to learn new skills and tackle challenges.
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Enhanced Digital Literacy: Students became proficient in using technology tools and digital resources.
Harrow Coding and Robotics
Harrow Coding and Robotics
Robotics 6
Robotics 3
Robotics 5
Robotics 4
Parent Testimonials
Impact Report - outcomes and achievements
Survey was conducted with all 52 pupils who participated in the programme. Over 400 pupils has signed up to take part, however due to the limited funding only 52 pupils could take part in this Pilot Program.
Meeting The Aims of The Programme
This report summarises the findings of a six-week Coding and Robotics program involving 26 participants from two schools. The program was divided into three weeks of CS First Coding and three weeks of Robotics, aiming to enhance computing skills, boost confidence, and foster interest in STEM.
1. Program Overview:
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Duration: Six weeks
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Participants: 52 students from primarily two schools
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Structure: Three weeks of CS First Coding followed by three weeks of Robotics
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Objectives:
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Enhance computing skills.
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Boost confidence in coding and robotics.
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Foster interest in STEM fields.
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2. Key Findings:
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Satisfaction: The majority of participants were highly satisfied with the program:
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"Very Satisfied": 26 participants
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"Satisfied": 10 participants
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Confidence Levels: A significant increase in confidence was observed:
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Before: Many participants reported feeling "Somewhat Confident" or "Not Confident."
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After: Many participants reported feeling "Confident" or "Very Confident." The most common post-course confidence level was "Confident" (18 participants).
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Interest Levels: Interest in coding and robotics increased:
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Before: Interest levels ranged from "Unsure" to "Love it."
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After: A significant number expressed a preference for robotics or both coding and robotics.
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Recommendations: An overwhelming majority indicated they would recommend the course to friends.
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Skills Development: Participants reported improvements in various skills:
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Design and building (18 mentions)
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Problem-solving (6 mentions)
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Analytical thinking (4 mentions)
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Creativity (4 mentions)
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Programming skills
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Support for Schoolwork: Many participants believed the acquired skills would be beneficial in schoolwork, particularly in problem-solving and analytical thinking.
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Activity Preferences:
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Robotics: 6 participants
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Both Coding and Robotics: 26 participants
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Coding alone: 4 participants
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3. Achieved Outcomes:
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Increased confidence in coding and robotics.
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Enhanced computing and digital skills.
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Positive feedback and interest in advanced courses.
4. Participant Quotes:
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"Great introductory course."
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"Robotics."
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"That we got to build a working robot and we were given our own kits to continue this at home."
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"The very different approach to problem-solving and analytical thinking… and the fact that it's so engaging."
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"Building the Robot. At first, my son was overwhelmed… With time, dedication… he achieved it."
5. Challenges and Suggestions:
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Strengths: Hands-on activities, particularly robot building, were highly appreciated.
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Suggestions for improvement:
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More challenging coding exercises.
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Longer course duration.
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Clearer task instructions.
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Better integration of coding and robotics themes.
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6. Interest in Future Courses:
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"Yes" to future participation: 29 participants
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"Maybe": 5 participants
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"No": 2 participants
7. Conclusion:
The Coding and Robotics program effectively enhanced participants' confidence, skills, and interest in STEM. The combination of hands-on activities and structured learning had a positive impact. Future iterations could benefit from extended duration and more targeted challenges.
Visualisations illustrating satisfaction, confidence, interest levels, and other key metrics :
