Digital Jersey launched an innovative six-week pilot programme, ‘Coding Through Robotics’, at Bel Royal School recently, as part of an enhanced focus on helping local school pupils and the wider community develop valuable digital skills this year.
Spearheaded by Rory Steel, Head of Academy at Digital Jersey, the course, designed for Year 6 students, uses ‘BBC Micro:bits’ mini computers to help foster logical reasoning, problem-solving, and programming skills through engaging robotics activities.
In addition, the 6-week curriculum accompanying the course, developed by the Digital Jersey Academy, will be freely available to all teachers in Jersey, who can also request live sessions for their classrooms, ensuring students in other schools can receive expert-led tuition and support.
Commenting on the pilot programme, Rory Steel said: “Digital skills are essential for the next generation and, perhaps contrary to popular belief, children do not acquire them by simply being around technology. This course demonstrates that learning can be fun, accessible and impactful. By combining coding with robotics, we’re not just teaching programming – we’re encouraging creativity and critical thinking that will serve students throughout their lives.”
Year 6 Teacher at Bel Royal School Helen Fairhead said: “The children have been really engaged in learning; their excitement is palpable every week when the team comes in. It has been really good to see them working out solutions when things are tricky and developing their resilience!”
The course forms part of a wider strategy for the Digital Jersey Academy to expand its community digital skills programme across the island this year, building in particular on its ‘Thinking as a Coder’ course, which was launched last year for local secondary school students and offers the opportunity to earn a British Computer Society Level 2 qualification. In addition, Digital Jersey also became the Channel Islands ‘Centre of Excellence’ for the global ‘F1 in Schools’ programme in 2024.
Rory added: “The addition of this latest pilot programme reflects our focus this year on supporting digital skills development right across the community. That includes providing opportunities to pupils and teachers at both primary and secondary schools, as well as parents, traditionally non-digital businesses, the public sector, and the wider public. Through initiatives such as this latest pilot programme, our aim is clear – to ensure Jersey people have access to the tools, knowledge and support they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”
