SPOTLIGHT: TECH SKILLS IN SCHOOLS
Apps for Good: digital solutions from the next generation E
ducation journalist Sal McKeown explores the work of Apps for Good, a charity which supports students to create their own apps by providing step by step training materials. Teachers benefit too - and beyond helping young people develop coding skills and an interest in tech, Apps for Good also encourages them to think about how they might tackle real world problems.
How often do your students get the chance to identify a problem they really care about and then design the solution? Apps for Good has been going for 15 years and lets learners hone their digital skills while focusing on issues that affect their families, communities and the wider world. The charity provides a bridge between schools and industry experts. They produce free step by step training materials on how to create an app, so that even teachers with no confidence in their computing skills can run a training programme. Over the years I have seen apps covering everything from helping children with the periodic table to a guide to the best local surfing spots; a reward system to encourage children to help around the house and apps for elderly people with dementia. The innovation continues apace
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www.education-today.co.uk
but these days I see an increasing emphasis on climate change and sustainability. Apps now look at recycling, reducing food waste and limiting the environmental impact of festival goers. Chiltern Academy Trust has a remarkable track record. Students from Denbigh High School have entered every year since 2014. According to their website, they have been shortlisted seven times, won four national awards in the Digital Explorers, Accessibility, Social Pioneer and People’s Choice categories and won the ‘School of the Year’ Award.
The trust now organises its own Apps for Good local derby called Climate Change and Digital Innovation Summit, as well as encouraging schools to enter the national competition. The Showcase for CCADIS 2025 took place in a sports complex near Luton airport. The winner was Cedars Upper School in Leighton Buzzard. Computer Science teachers Stephen Birtles and Dave Anderson run lunchtime computer clubs and three sessions a week are reserved for young people wanting to try Apps for Good. With teacher support, students work through the e-book, mastering the principles of app design using App Lab and creating apps to meet needs. Just as the government announced plans
June 2025
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