Exceptional Summer Pre-College Coding Program for High Schoolers at Cambridge University Campus

Outside of lessons, we are proud to offer a busy and diverse social programme to help you get the most out of your time in Cambridge. This includes activities such as punting on the River Cam, zorb football and a murder mystery night in the college. There are also two excursions during the programme, one day trip to visit Oxford and its constituent colleges, as well as an optional day out in London, seeing the city’s most famous landmarks as well as some free time for shopping. Those who choose not to travel to London are invited to afternoon tea in Cambridge. Activities and excursions are run by our team of friendly mentors – whose main job is to maximise your enjoyment.

Outside of lessons, we are proud to offer a busy and diverse social programme to help you get the most out of your time in Cambridge. This includes activities such as punting on the River Cam, zorb football and a murder mystery night in the college. There are also two excursions during the programme, one day trip to visit Oxford and its constituent colleges, as well as an optional day out in London, seeing the city’s most famous landmarks as well as some free time for shopping. Those who choose not to travel to London are invited to afternoon tea in Cambridge. Activities and excursions are run by our team of friendly mentors – whose main job is to maximise your enjoyment.

Participants should arrive between 2 pm and 5 pm on the first Sunday of the programme. Our team will be ready and waiting to welcome you, register you, and show you to your accommodation. Please note that your accommodation may not be ready until 3pm. 

If you are arriving at London Heathrow Airport, we are able to offer a shared airport transfer service. This is a chaperoned service departing from London Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 and travelling directly to the colleges in Cambridge/Oxford. Do not worry if you will be arriving to any other Heathrow terminal - our dedicated pastoral team will be there to meet you and escort to Terminal 3 for departure to your college

The transfers depart at 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00 on the Sunday of arrivals. On the final Saturday of the programme, the transfers to London Heathrow Airport depart at 07:00 and 12:00. This will be available to book for a fee per journey after enrolment.

Specific details, such as contact numbers, are shared with participants nearer the time of the programme.

If you are arriving at another airport, or by alternative means, further details about arrivals and departures are shared in your Welcome Pack, sent with your confirmation of enrolment.

To book the shared airport transfer service, which will cost £90.00 each way,

Throughout the Coding summer school for 16-18-year-olds, you will be introduced to the topics that form the working knowledge of Computer Programming, reside at a Cambridge University College campus, and develop new skills as you work through a carefully constructed syllabus. You will be equipped with insights to help decide if you should pursue studying Coding and computer programming at university level. You will learn first-year Coding topics such as using coding software including Python, Java, and coding for mobiles and apps, exploring a wide range of interesting topics and discussions within your class.

Learn directly from expert academics from world-class universities

You will explore novel concepts and share ideas in small groups of like-minded and ambitious peers from around the world. In small class sizes averaging 7 students, you will be guided by expert tutors who have honed their expertise through teaching undergraduate students at world-class universities, including the universities of Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard. Our rigorous vetting process guarantees that all participants are taught by engaging and supportive educators who are, most of all, enthusiastic about sharing their expertise to ensure our summer school teaching is of the highest quality. It is an unrivalled academic experience.

Boost your confidence and develop key attributes in academic skills workshops

Our workshops are geared towards unlocking participants’ potential, giving them the tools to prepare for the next steps of their education and future goals. Build upon existing study skills to support future university-level learning. These workshops explore a diverse and enriching range of topics – past examples have ranged from ‘Productivity tips’ to ’21st Century Technology Skills’. We’re sure that you’ll learn something completely new. Unlike traditional schools, it allows you to learn beyond the traditional curriculum. This programme is designed for students with at least an upper-intermediate level of English (B2).

Example Modules

• Introduction to Coding: Coding is the process of telling a computer what to do. You provide the computer instructions via ‘code’, the computer’s language, in order for it to perform a specific action. This can be as simple as adding code on a webpage to change the colour font to the code that informs traffic lights to change behaviour based on the flow of traffic. Coding is now integral to a vast number of industries, including healthcare, businesses, and schools (to name a few). In this module, you’ll learn the basics of coding, establishing a foundation that will be built on throughout the rest of the course.

• Introduction to Python: In this module, you’ll explore the most widely used programming language: Python. You will learn how to interpret error messages as well as read basic Python syntax, all while forming an understanding of basic programming concepts. You will have the opportunity to apply your understanding of Python to the real world by creating your own simple app designed to solve a problem.

• **Introduction to Game Design: **This module takes a look at coding through a game design lens. You will learn how to use code to custom behaviours and game mechanics using coding best practices. By the end of this module, you will have a firm understanding of essential programming concepts such as variables, branching, looping, events and how these tools are the building blocks of game design.

• Java Coder: In this unit, you will be introduced to Java Coder meanwhile learning how to theoretically examine coding logic using flowcharts and pseudo code. You will continue building on your understanding of coding best practices built in previous units as well as learning how to solve coding problems through solution building, as well as learning how to write code independently. You will also learn how to minimise the number of lines of code and functions in order to develop a more efficient coding process.

• Coding Languages: In this unit, we will take a brief look at the various coding languages available to use in computer programming for different purposes. You will learn the differences between coding languages and develop an understanding of the languages that are easier and more convenient to use for different purposes. We will explore certain programming languages that are more machine-friendly, making them faster to execute and more memory-efficient, but harder for humans to understand.

• Web Development Masterclass: The growth of languages like JavaScript and frameworks like Angular, React, and Node JS have over the years made web development a lot easier and faster. In this unit, we’ll take a look at how JavaScript and the relevant frameworks work together to provide the essential tools for web development and apply these to your own web building project.

• Coding for Mobiles and Apps: Did you know that the average mobile phone in 2022 is faster than the average computer ten years ago? Coding has played a pivotal role in the way phones work, which is why in this module we’ll take a look at how coding has changed over time in relation to mobile devices and the revolutions in mobile app development. You will apply your knowledge to create a more complex mobile app, using programming concepts to solve problems and build user-oriented solutions.

• Design and Analysis of Algorithms: An algorithm is a sequence of steps used to solve a problem in computer programming. The design and analysis of algorithms are essential when designing processes to solve different types of problems in the branch of computer science and information technology. This module introduces the fundamental concepts of designing strategies, analysis of algorithms, as well as graph theory and sorting methods. By the end of this unit, you will also have a basic understanding of the Complexity Theory and its applications in the world of coding.

Key Facts

• Average class size is 7
• Maximum class size of 10 students
• 1:1 Career Coaching
• Personal support and guidance for success
• Professional development workshops
• Building essential skills for success
• World-class experience

-Shared airport transfer service, which will cost £90.00 each way,