We are committed to giving our pupils inspiring learning experiences beyond the classroom, and our recent visit to the HSBC Innovation Centre did exactly that. The Imagi coding session took place on the 42nd floor, the highest floor in HSBC, offering pupils an exciting setting to explore technology and creativity. The session was led by recent graduates who guided pupils with enthusiasm and encouragement throughout the day.

The workshop began by asking pupils about the coolest technology they had ever seen, sparking curiosity and confident discussion. They were then introduced to programming languages and learned that there are many different types used for different purposes.

A particularly memorable moment was learning about what a bug is in coding and where the term comes from, dating back to when early computers were so large that physical insects could cause errors.

Using Imagi Charm on iPads, pupils worked in groups to learn about an 8x8 matrix, rows and columns, and how coding uses numbers to identify each square. They practised simple commands such as m[1][1]=on and began by colouring single pixels before progressing to creating their first full shape, a heart.

As their confidence grew, pupils explored variables, colour design and functions, learning how coding can be made more efficient. Some pupils even went above and beyond by filling in entire shapes rather than just outlines. The visit ended with pupils trying the Meta Quest headset, adding another layer of excitement.

This experience reflects one of our school values, Aspiration. By exposing our young learners to innovative environments and future focused skills, we encourage them to dream big, build confidence and believe in what they can achieve.