Senior Coding Framework for Enhancing Python Skills in Students Aged 13-16

The Senior Coding Club (SCC) was designed to teach Python programming to students aged 13 to 16, in the National College of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, aiming to enhance their skills and confidence in STEM fields. Raspberry Pis were used as the platform for teaching. The comprehensive framework included a pre-programme phase to assess readiness, a structured delivery phase with a balanced focus on theoretical and practical learning, and a postprogramme phase for impact analysis. Core activities included hands-on coding labs, daily assessments, and a culminating hackathon to showcase student projects, with active parental involvement throughout. For students, the program led to significant gains in confidence and interest in STEM subjects. More inclusive attitudes toward STEM was observed. Parents reported enhanced confidence in supporting their children's STEM education. They became more aware of local STEM opportunities and displayed greater positivity about their children's abilities and interests. The SCC boosted students' confidence, with 82 % feeling “Quite confident” or “Very confident” in computer skills (up from 29%) and 71 % in coding (up from almost none). Among parents, 100 % agreed it improved STEM skills, and 78.95 % noted increased interest in STEM, underscoring SCC's broad success.