What is the Code Creators Club?

The GT Scholars Code Creators Club is a series of coding classes for teens that are designed to help them develop and continually improve their coding skills. Our scholars learn in a fun & interactive environment with support from expert tutors. It’s a great way to introduce teens to coding in a structured yet enjoyable format that builds real confidence and technical ability.

The Code Creators Club is perfect for young people that are new to coding, as well as those that have some experience!

Did you know that Coding is one of the most valuable skills for the future?

According to research from KX which is a multi-million pound software company, nearly a third of students aged 16-23 in the UK, believe that being able to code is a core life skill! Also, according to TechNation, which is a global platform for leaders in the technological industry, careers in the Tech industry are still on the rise. Research shows that salaries in the Tech sector are nearly 80% higher, on average, than salaries for non-tech jobs in the UK!

This is why we’ve created the GT Scholars Code Creators Club – a programme designed to help your teen actively build the essential coding and programming skills needed for the future!

As part of this programme, your teen will build and improve their coding skills by attending weekly online coding classes and working on a project with support from their tutor. They can then choose to showcase their project to family and friends by adding their project to the Code Creators Club micro-site.

What’s Included in the Code Creators Club?

The Code Creators Club offers a complete online experience focused on coding for teens, blending expert teaching with fun, practical learning.

• Weekly Coding Workshops: These classes are led by seasoned facilitators, and they delve into the fundamentals of coding, fostering problem-solving skills and analytical thinking.
• Exciting Monthly Projects: From creating captivating web pages to developing interactive quizzes, games, and animations, your teen will hone their creativity and coding prowess.
• Diverse Programming Languages Mastery: Our comprehensive curriculum provides support for mastering various programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, and more, ensuring adaptability in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
• Live & Recorded Workshop & Q&A Sessions: Real-time access to expert guidance through live Q&A sessions and a library of recorded coding sessions enhances teens’ understanding, promotes independent learning, and addresses specific challenges.
• Online Hub for 1-to-1 Coding Support Hub: A dedicated support hub offers ongoing assistance, connecting your teen with a community of like-minded learners and providing a platform for collaboration and skill-sharing.

Here’s What Our Scholars Have Said About Our Coding Workshops!

– I would highly recommend the coding workshops. I’ve been able to learn different skills and it’s been a great experience – Genevieve, age 15

–I really enjoyed coding in html and CSS as these were both new languages to me. It was really fun to play around with the code and experiment with different ways the code was written. I also thoroughly enjoyed the mentoring hub as it was nice to get support from the ambassadors and the other scholars. When other scholars were stuck on a code I could help them. By doing this, I was also able to learn where I was making mistakes. The 2 key things we learned were how to make a website and a quiz. – Laura, age 13

-I enjoyed learning different coding languages and techniques and how to link them all to create one big project. – Thea, age 13

Thinking of getting started?

Please register your interest to sign up to the Code Creators Club.

Parent FAQs

What are the days and times for the coding classes?

The coding classes currently run on Tuesdays & Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 7.30pm. This means that in one month, you may have a four-week project that runs on a Tuesday and in the next month, you may have a four-week project that runs on a Tuesday again or a Wednesday.

What if we can’t attend the live workshop?

We record all live classes, so your teen can access them anytime in the online support hub to catch up on any missed coding classes or re-watch classes.

What is the online support hub and how can I get access to this?

The Online support hub is where we add all workshop replays and send any key messages and homework reminders to our scholars. It’s also the place for scholars to submit their homework and ask questions if they need help. Our Coding Tutors and Workshop Facilitators often come into the support hub during the week to provide 1-to-1 support, respond to questions and share any suggestions for improving their code or improving specific projects. The hub is essential when we offer coding for teens, providing them with continued guidance between live sessions.

What if my teen is just a beginner/What if my teen is very experienced?

The Code Creators Club has been designed to be accessible to all levels of experience. Each month, tutors provide your teen with a project to complete in four to five weeks. Your teen can choose to create an easy version or a more advanced version of the project. As your teen becomes more familiar with coding, they will most likely choose the more advanced version. Sometimes tutors may challenge them to write their own code and build projects from scratch with support.

How long will my teen need to finish a project and showcase it on the microsite?

We have set up projects to take anything from 4 to 5 weeks to complete. We often encourage scholars to create two versions of each project. They can make an easy version and a more advanced version when ready. Your teen can showcase the easy version on the microsite or create an advanced version if they feel confident.

Which programming language will my teen be learning?

Your teen will be working with a range of programming languages. The technological world is changing rapidly and new programming languages may be developed in the future. Our goal is that your teen becomes familiar with a range of programming languages. More importantly, your teen should feel confident and develop fluency in at least one programming language.

Do the weekly sessions run throughout the year? What happens during school holiday periods?

The weekly classes run throughout the year. However, we usually take a 3-week break for the Christmas to New Year holiday period. We also take a break for the last 2 weeks of Summer. During these breaks, your teen can access pre-recorded coding classes with homework to complete anytime. Tutors and facilitators will not be available to provide 1-to-1 support during these two short holiday periods. They will be able to respond as soon as we return from the break.

My daughter recently completed the GT Scholars GirlMeetsCode Summer programme. Is this a good follow-on programme? Are there any similarities?

As you may already know, there are approximately 2 million jobs in technology. Employers want to boost workplace diversity and hire more women into rewarding, challenging, and well-paid technology careers. This is why we run the Girl Meets Code programme – to help girls build tech skills and explore careers. If your daughter enjoyed the Girl Meets Code Summer programme, she’ll likely enjoy the Code Creators Club too.

The GT Scholars year-round Code Creators Club offers year-round weekly coding classes and is open to all genders. Please register your interest to join the programme.

How long does it take to build fluency in a coding/computer programming language?

This really depends on how much time and effort that your teen dedicates to learning. Our classes run every week and are 60-90 minutes long. The support in the online hub is available throughout the year. We recommend your teen completes homework weekly, asks questions, and builds skills by doing advanced projects in Code Creators Club.

How can I join the Code Creators Club and Can I get access to a free trial lesson?

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer free trial lessons. Please register your interest to join the programme.

GT Scholars is a social enterprise that runs a range of mentoring, personal development and career insight programmes for young people. Our mission is to empower the next generation of leaders, aged 11-18, by providing support, skills and strategies needed to design their own futures. If you’d like to know more about GT Scholars and future events, workshops and opportunities, please subscribe to our newsletter here: www.gtscholars.org/subscribe