Do Coding Club After-School Activities Improve Pupils’ Non-cognitive Skills and Performance in Coding?

The development of coding skills is considered important for a digital age, linked to broader learning and non-cognitive abilities. Schools in England integrate coding into the curriculum, perhaps supplemented by after school activities. “Code Club” is a structured learning programme offered as an after-school activity for pupils aged 9 to 13. This study evaluates Code Club using a quasi-experimental design assessing the impact on student attitudes to learning and coding skills. Pupils attending the 22-week programme were compared to non-participants in the same schools. Initially, 412 pupils (Years 4–9) participated, but only 239 from 13 schools remained for full analysis. The findings suggest positive effects for resilience (+0.22), confidence (+0.47), sense of belonging (+0.09), and coding skills (+0.24). 40% dropout rate limits the generality of the conclusions. Code Club, run voluntarily in schools, was well-received, with participants enjoying coding and digital projects. The paper discusses the findings and implications.