New playground to get kids coding

Tuesday 03 March 2015

Barclays is banking on getting more youngsters learning the basics of computer coding.

It's launched the Barclays Code Playground giving both parents and children the chance to play around online under the eagle eyes of their team of technology experts.

The free service - which you can see if you click here - is based on Scratch, a popular online games and animations application, and aims to help children aged seven to 17 develop a range of digital skills including creating websites, apps, programs and games.

This year, coding was introduced as part of the UK National Curriculum and a recent study found that 24% of children choose computing as their favourite school subject.

Parents and grandparents, who often feel left behind by their children’s new digital skills, can access the Code Playground online with their children to learn more or they can get support from Barclays Digital Eagles in branch. 

Head of local markets at Barclays, Carol Bisson, said: “For children growing up in the digital age, learning to code is an important skill. It is a crucial part of many businesses and not knowing how to code could hold children back in their choice of future career.”

“At Barclays, we believe we have a responsibility to share our technological expertise and are committed to ensuring that all members of our community are confident in the digital sphere, whatever their age. Our Digital Eagles are helping people get to grips with technology, whether that’s sending an email or by setting up online banking.

“Barclays Code Playground will help children and their parents learn the coding language and make sure they are an active part of the digital revolution.”

On Wednesday the bank is holding a special two-hour workshop in its Broad Street branch involving fun challenges and activities designed to teach basic coding principles. The session is developed with the support of CoderDojo, a global network of coding clubs for young people. 

Parents can book a place for their child on tomorrow's workshop here. All those taking part must bring a laptop and an adult along with them.