Pupils design and develop retro arcade games as part of ‘Girls Can Code’ event at NTU

Bringing together more than 100 girls aged 9-10 from schools across the trust, the event aimed to build confidence in computer science, showcasing female career pathways into STEM and providing an authentic experience of software development in a university setting.

The pupils explored the Department of Computer Science’s cutting-edge facilities, including access to advanced computing laboratories, robotics and immersive virtual reality research development areas. These experiences aimed to give pupils an insight into the scale, creativity and innovation involved in modern computing, as well as a glimpse of what studying at university is like.

The event was made possible through funding from The Royal Society Partnership Grants, alongside the support of industry and university collaborators. Microsoft's MakeCode Arcade team provided sponsorship and support for the event, enabling students to learn coding through game development using the MakeCode Arcade platform.

Microsoft volunteers, together with NTU staff and students, played an important role in mentoring and inspiring the girls throughout the day, helping bring technology careers and digital skills to life.

At the heart of the event was a hands-on coding challenge where pupils designed and developed their own retro-style arcade games. Working in teams, the girls learned fundamental programming concepts while also developing creativity, resilience and problem-solving skills.

The activity was designed to go beyond simply writing code. The pupils became designers and researchers, exploring a key question at the center of the wider Royal Society project: ‘what makes a game engaging?’

By testing each other’s games, sharing feedback and refining their designs, the girls began to understand how user experience, challenge and creativity impact gameplay. This iterative approach introduced them to real-world development practices, where testing, evaluation and improvement are essential parts of the process.

The Girls Can Code initiative is designed to be more than a one-day experience. The university visit marked the beginning of a longer-term project that will continue back in participating schools over the coming months.

The children will build on their work by collecting feedback, analysing patterns in player responses and further developing their games. This ongoing approach encourages deeper thinking about how technology is designed and used, aiming to support understanding that coding is not just about making something work, but about creating meaningful and responsible digital experiences.

Dr Thomas Johnson, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at Nottingham Trent University, said: “Throughout the day, the girls demonstrated enthusiasm, teamwork and determination as they engaged with new challenges and environments. They were supported not only in developing technical skills, but also in building confidence and seeing themselves as future innovators.

“The Girls Can Code event has played an important role in widening participation in computer science by providing early exposure to female role models, industry partners and real-world applications of technology.”

Andy Sawford, Deputy Headteacher at Heymann Primary and Nursery School, and Computing Lead for Equals Trust, said: “One of the most important parts of the day was the chance for the girls to meet, work with and learn from women in STEM and industry. That representation really matters. It helps pupils see that computing is something they can be part of.

“Events like Girls Can Code are so valuable because they give children a genuine experience of creating, testing and improving technology, while also helping them imagine where those skills could take them in the future.”