The Code Zone Responds to Telegraph Article "Don't let kids waste their time learning to code"
Kids SHOULD learn to code and here's why!
So, The Telegraph dropped a click bait bombshell claiming coding for kids is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. But fear not, we're here to share some (albeit passionately biased) code mentor views on this madness!
Ok then Andrew, where to begin…
Comparing coders to outdated job roles like diecasters and old fashioned horse butchers? That's like comparing apples to... well, horses! Coding isn't just a get rich quick scheme as a software engineer; it's a gateway to a rainbow of careers like web development, data science, and even video game magic (clearly a favourite of ours!). But the benefits don't stop there, it's not just about having a career in coding, it's about giving children digital skills and confidence that will last through to adulthood!
And hey, while the Telegraph is getting lost in old-fashioned click bait news, the rest of us are embracing the digital age! Learning to code isn't just a trend; it's a skill-building, creative hobby with real world applications.
Learning to code isn't just about prepping for a big paying job; it's like exercising your brain's creative and strategic muscles. It's about problem-solving, unleashing innovation, and gaining confidence with each skill gained! Plus, who wouldn't want to join the Code Zone? We’re a fun bunch of gamers!
This blanket statement alone is reason to stop reading such a click baity, fear mongering article. It's as if they’ve had their head in the sand ignoring the wonder of the digital landscape over the past few years.
With the pandemic shaking things up, digital transformation has been spreading like wildfire! Thanks to "work from home" becoming the new norm, along with the rise of AI, the Cloud, and Big Data, it's like the digital world threw a party and everyone's invited! And who's behind all this digital exploration? You guessed it – the unsung heroes of the tech realm: coders!
And speaking of regrets, learning to code is about as regrettable as discovering a forgotten £20 in your pocket. It's a life skill, like learning to swim or mastering the art of dad jokes. Trust us, nobody's ever said, "Gee, I wish I never learned to code in year 7!"
And don't let the bogeyman of AI scare you! It's like having a superpower if you know how to wield it. And guess who's behind the curtain pulling the AI strings? You got it – coders! Our mentor Nick sums it up pretty well!
So, in conclusion, learning to code isn't just about securing a future job; it's about equipping kids with digital superpowers, unlocking their potential, and ensuring they're ready for a world full of technology and innovation!
We’ll end this discourse with another comment from our cheeky mentor Nick:
About The Code Zone
We run coding clubs for children aged 6 to 16, online across the UK and in person across Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. Over 1,000 children are enrolled.
In 2026 we were ranked second in the UK in Club Hub UK’s Top 100 Children’s Activity Providers, scored by five independent judges on safeguarding, inclusivity and community impact.
We were the global winner of the Xero Beautiful Business Fund for Upskilling For The Future in 2024, and won the STEAM Educator category at the 2026 Full STEAM Ahead Awards. In 2025 we received the Autism Inclusion Award from the National Autistic Society.
A live club is one hour a week, in a group of no more than six, with the same DBS-checked, STEM-certified mentor every week. Children build their own games rather than working through a set course, starting in Scratch or MakeCode and moving to Python and TypeScript when they are ready. Our awards programme is STEM accredited.
More than a third of our members are autistic or have ADHD, based on what parents tell us when they join, which is part of why the Autism Inclusion Award matters to us more than the others. Children can keep the camera off, type instead of speaking, and take a break without it disrupting anyone.
More like this
The blog is in two halves. Guides are the evergreen explainers written by the mentors who teach the clubs, covering the questions parents actually ask: what comes after Scratch, how to support a coding-mad child when you cannot code yourself, and what works for autistic and ADHD children.
Club news is the other half, and it is where posts like this one live: game jams, Minecraft builds and weekly roundups, written up by whoever ran the session. Neither is marketing. If you want to know what an hour actually looks like before you book anything, club news is the more honest read of the two.
The first session is a free taster and we do not ask for card details. Book a free taster session, see what it costs, or read about support for neurodivergent children.
