Launched at the beginning of the 2024 academic year, the Robotics Club at Loughborough High School are delving into the world of computer science and programming their own robots.
Aligned closely to the Key Stage 3 curriculum, the club encourages girls to pursue their interests in STEM fields. Head of Computing and Digital Literacy, Mrs. Benhamouda, aims to create a space for pupils to explore a typically male-dominated industry, develop their problem-solving skills and understand the vast number of future pathways linked to computer programming and robotics.
Coupled with their timetabled lessons, the club gives girls from Year 7 and above a solid foundation upon which they can build their programming skills.
This term, the Robotics club have been learning how to programme the mBot – a robot designed for use in educational settings to help pupils grasp complex Computer Science concepts.
Wirelessly connected to a specialist computer programme, the girls operate the mBot through written code. Year 7 pupils learn the logic through Block code, by clipping together a series of instructions for the robot to follow, before moving on to write their own code in Python in Year 8.
Designed to help the girls transition seamlessly between Block and Python, the programme allows instructions to be given through both platforms. From writing code that asks the robot to follow a specific path to instructions around obstacle avoidance, pupils are encouraged to problem-solve throughout the process.
Understanding the reasons why robots may not always perform exactly to the written code is a key part of what the club aims to teach; robotics, computer science and programming are a vital part of the world we live in.
Girls are encouraged to think about the practical application of what they’re learning through Robotics Club and the many different industries it impacts, from engineering to traffic controlling and medical scenarios. By bringing STEM activities to life, the club provides a strong foundation for girls who want to explore the possibilities open to them in this field.
Serena, who has been part of the Robotics Club since the start of the year, said “I think my favourite thing about the club is just making the robot do stuff that you just think you wouldn’t be able to do and learning the programming skills to be able to make them do it”.
The Robotics Club’s motto is that there’s a solution to every problem and by developing problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging environment, the High School continues to break down barriers for women in STEM.
