Coding the Future

Shiplake College is strengthening its commitment to preparing pupils for a rapidly evolving digital world with an expanded focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its Digital Literacy and Computing curriculum.

Building on ten years of innovation, the College is increasing opportunities for pupils to explore emerging technologies and develop confident, critical digital skills. At Key Stage 3, pupils study Computing and Cyber Skills each week, gaining a solid grounding in coding and digital citizenship. The spiral curriculum moves from Scratch to JavaScript and Python, while cyber lessons cover touch typing, spreadsheets, Microsoft 365, Teams, and online safety.

Head of Computing Mr Redrup is leading the development of Shiplake’s new AI strand. With Copilot now available to pupils aged 13+, students can safely explore AI tools within the school network. He explained that: “Training their own Machine Learning models helps demystify the principles of them so they can understand, for example, why the results can be useful sometimes and suboptimal at other times. As concerns grow about uncritical AI use, cognitive offloading and the erosion of higher order thinking, we aim to help learners use Large Language Models intentionally and critically while staying actively engaged in their own thinking and learning.”

This shift allows the College to teach not only how to use AI, but how it works, encouraging pupils to think critically about the strengths and limitations of different models. As part of this work, Shiplake was the first school to pilot The Raspberry Pi Foundation's new Experience AI programme machine‑learning training, enabling pupils to build and test their own simple AI models using Machine Learning for Kids. Mr Redrup is also part of a Raspberry Pi Foundation Experience AI Teacher Advisory Panel, helping to shape the development of their new AI teaching resources.

Digital Literacy has evolved significantly since its introduction a decade ago. A highlight of the programme is the iDEA Award, which offers bronze, silver and gold accreditation while teaching pupils essential ‘online street smarts’ and safe digital practices. In Year 9, pupils progress to more advanced computing, including Python. Using Minecraft Education, they apply their coding skills to solve challenges and navigate in‑game tasks, boosting engagement and strengthening problem‑solving with increasing emphasis on online safety, proficiency with Microsoft tools, and the responsible use of AI.

 Head of Academic Mr Jones notes that Shiplake’s digital strategy continues to adapt to pupils’ needs, stating: “We remain committed to developing pupils' digital skills, and this is the reason we introduced bespoke digital literacy lessons back in 2016. This has enabled us to adapt the curriculum to reflect the changing needs of our pupils, and to respond to changing priorities including a focus on staying safe online, exploring Microsoft tools as part of our transition to using Surface devices, and most recently a focus on the responsible use of AI tools.”

By embedding these skills across the curriculum, Shiplake ensures pupils are not only capable users of technology but thoughtful, responsible digital citizens ready for the future.