Devizes pupil wins national coding competition with racing game

A Wiltshire schoolboy says he is “proud” to have won a national coding competition.

Wilf, 10, from Wansdyke Primary School in Devizes, took joint first prize in the Discovery Education 2024 Summer Coder Challenge.

He designed a racing game using block coding to win the top prize in the popular computer programming competition for UK schools.

Wilf’s teacher, Jennifer Murray, said: “Block Coding was fantastic for showing pupils how their favorite technology is made and giving them a try themselves.”

“We hope it will inspire more future programmers, just like Wilf,” she added.

Students at Wansdyke Primary School were able to complete their projects over two or three days at school during coding lessons and at home on their own devices.

“I’m very proud to have won,” said Wilf. “I’d like to make another game.”

Anna, 10, from Lee Chapel Primary School in Basildon, Essex, was jointly awarded first prize in the challenge.

Wilf’s mum Katey Daltry-Hunt said everyone was so proud of him.

“He has a natural passion for it,” she said. “Coding is completely foreign to me and my husband.

“He really flew with it and was obsessed with the project for days until it was finished.

Michael Savitz, Managing Director of Discovery Education, UK and International, said: “The Discovery Education Summer Coding Challenge inspires children to have fun with computer programming while mastering this essential skill for the future.

“This year’s entries were very impressive and I congratulate our winning students on their achievements.”

WIlf won a coding robot plus a free one-year subscription to Discovery Education Coding for his school.