Swansea Youngsters programme their way to career success

Schools across the city are teaming up with local companies and the city’s university to open up the world of computer coding to pupils.

The move aims to introduce a wealth of ICT careers to the city’s young people and ensure Swansea has the skills base it needs to attract hi-tech companies and boost the local economy in future too.

Jen Raynor, Swansea Council Cabinet Member for Education, said: “The ICT needs of pupils is changing as more and more youngsters are familiar with the general use of digital technology in their day to day lives.

“Getting young people to understand coding principles provides them with an additional range of skills and understanding of digital technology.  It also helps identify and inspire those gifted individuals who have the potential to build this into a successful career.”

Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “It is great to hear that computing is firmly on the curriculum at so many schools in the city at an early age.

“This will ensure that young people in Swansea will not get left behind in the digital age and have fundamental skills not only for their everyday lives but also for future careers on which the success of the city will be based in years to come.”

Schemes include a partnership between the Swansea-based DVLA, charity Code Club and primary schools to help children learn about coding and digital skills.

The DVLA Code Clubs are run by eight volunteers from DVLA’s Systems Development team, who are now registered Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Ambassadors as well as Code Club volunteers.

The Code Clubs take place once a week for one hour after school during term times, across a number of local schools at  Morriston, Gwyrosydd, Dunvant, Llangiwg, Saron, Gorseinon and Gors Community School.

Mark Jones, Head of DVLA Systems Development , said: “We’ve had a fantastic response from these schools. All are eager to get involved and associate themselves with both Code Club and DVLA. Our support of Code Club offers a lot of benefits to the schools and children involved, as well as the Agency. It will help ensure that DVLA has the skills and talent to manage and deliver our services now and in the future. It also promotes DVLA as an employer of choice for those with digital skills.”

At the city’s secondary schools the Technocamps programme based at Swansea University has been working with young people to deliver workshops in computer science.

The project which also delivers throughout Wales with regional hubs at Aberystwyth, Bangor, Glyndwr, Cardiff and Cardiff Metropolitan Universities and the University of South Wales (Glamorgan), has engaged with over 15,000 young people from 185 secondary schools through 600 workshops and extra-curricular activities.

Professor Faron Moller, Director of Technocamps, said “Having created Technocamps in 2003 based on a perceived problem with the delivery of computational thinking and digital literacy in the school curriculum, it is delightful to see that our efforts are bringing real change in the form of educational reform and, thus ultimately, to people’s economic livelihoods in Swansea and across Wales.”