Mr Alsaigh, Deputy Head of Ethics and Computing, tells us about a recent trip to the Computing faculty at Cirencester College for a group of Year 8 and 9 students.
“Our students were introduced to a series of Digital Futures “Plugged-in” sessions. The event was clearly oversubscribed from the outset, reflecting a high level of interest overall and particularly strong engagement from girls in exploring digital career opportunities. These half-day workshops were designed to inspire and inform students about the rapidly growing world of digital careers.
Students took part in a range of engaging, hands-on activities, beginning with a code-breaking challenge where they worked in small groups to apply computational thinking and problem-solving skills. The programme was delivered in partnership with Aberystwyth University, Cirencester College lecturers, and sixth form students, offering valuable insight into both further education and future career pathways.
Further sessions included “Pseudo-Random Numbers”, where students explored the importance of randomness in science and computer security using Python programming. Year 9 students extended their experience by creating graphical representations of their data. Another highlight was “Gene-Coding”, which linked computing with science by exploring genome coding and how data can be used to categorise and identify characteristics.
Students also had the opportunity to speak with industry experts in the field of computing and technology. These discussions helped them gain a broader understanding of the wide scope of careers within the sector and encouraged them to consider the next steps needed to pursue their interests and aspirations. Students were also introduced to Cirencester College Sixth Form, including the range of Computing courses on offer and the pathways available beyond secondary school.
Feedback from lecturers and industry experts was very positive, with pupils described as inquisitive, hard-working, and highly supportive of one another. Staff also commented that it was a real pleasure to teach them throughout the sessions.
Thank you to Mrs Holmes and Mrs Gordon for their support and contribution in helping to make this first link with Cirencester College a success! We look forward to continuing to develop our partnership and taking part in further sessions in the future”.
Find out more about Computing courses at Cirencester College
