ROBOTS were used in a Jersey primary school to help children develop “essential” skills in an “increasingly digital world”.
Year 6 pupils at Bel Royal School participated in a six-week pilot programme which was run by the Digital Jersey Academy. The Coding Through Robotics course aims to help foster problem-solving, and programming skills using miniature computers called BBC Micro:bits.
Following the successful pilot at Bel Royal, the new curriculum is now freely available to all teachers in Jersey, who can request live sessions from experts in their classrooms.
Rory Steel, the head of the Digital Jersey Academy, said digital skills were “essential” for the next generation.
Mr Steel added: “This course demonstrates that learning can be fun, accessible and impactful. By combining coding with robotics, we’re not just teaching programming, we’re encouraging creativity and critical thinking that will serve students throughout their lives.”
Helen Fairhead, who teaches Year 6 students at Bel Royal, said children’s excitement was “palpable” during the robotics sessions.
She said: “The children have been really engaged in learning. It has been really good to see them working out solutions when things are tricky, and developing their resilience.”
Mr Steel said: “Through initiatives such as this latest pilot programme, our aim is clear; to ensure Jersey people have access to the tools, knowledge and support they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”
