Frequently Asked Questions

Having online accounts is a common part of life, and it's crucial that children learn how to do this safely. The Scratch website is set up with children in mind, so there is a clear Code of Conduct and behavioural expectations from the outset. Also, setting up a teacher account means you can see what the children are doing and have control of their accounts to reassure you.

However, nothing is ever risk-free. Sometimes, children are unkind and may, for example, leave a comment that isn't supportive. The Scratch team are very efficient at removing these comments once they have been reported (another valuable skill to teach the children!). If you need clarification, refer to your school's online safety policy and see the advice about online accounts.

A teacher account in Scratch lets you link the students to your account so you can see what they're working on, change their password and easily access their projects. Children having their accounts means they learn the valuable skills of signing in and out and managing their files. They're less likely to access other children's projects by accident.

You can also use Scratch without using the online accounts by downloading it here: https://scratch.mit.edu/download

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility; all of our STEM Ambassador judges have been through safeguarding training and have a valid enhanced UK DBS certificate.

Click here to register your interest to receive the FREE RESOURCES; if you have already registered and are struggling to access the resources, please email codingcompetitiongroup@gmail.com 

If it is a specific problem with Scratch, maybe a tricky bit of coding or something you can’t work out how to do, we have some STEM Ambassador Scratch wizards on hand to help you. Just email us with your problem or contact us via social media (the links are at the bottom of this page)

Want to learn more?

• Check out our YouTube channel to learn more about the competition, or sign up for our next webinar, where we discuss this year’s theme, answer questions and showcase the free resources and lesson plans we provide.
• If you would like to request help from a STEM Ambassador with the Scratch platform. STEM Ambassadors are volunteers working in Science, Technology, Engineering and maths-related jobs who volunteer to work with Young People (aged 5 - 19) to inspire them about careers in these sectors. All Ambassadors have been through safeguarding training and have a valid enhanced UK DBS certificate. You can sign up and create a request on www.stem.org.uk

UK students aged between 7 to 13 years old are allowed to enter the competition for the chance to win a monetary prize for their school. As long as the students fit into this age range, they are eligible to win.

Our Young Coders Competition is open for children in years Y4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 (P5, 6, 7 and S1 Scotland, Y5, 6, 7 and 8 Northern Ireland) who can work individually or in teams of 2 - 6 children to create their project. 

Suppose you have students not in this age range entering the competition. In that case, they will still receive feedback on their entries and a certificate of participation. They just won't be eligible to win.  Following receiving many entries from overseas, there will be a certificate for 'Best International Entry', but unfortunately cannot win any prize money.

Teams can consist of two to six children of the eligible age. We will accept individual entries as well.

Yes, you are still able to enter the competition!

Unfortunately, the prize money will only be awarded within the UK, but we are happy to receive entries from overseas. There will be a certificate awarded for the ’Best International Entry’; you will still be able to receive feedback on your entry, too! 😊 

Yes, absolutely! But please make sure that no single child registers for more than one team. Any team containing a child registered to more than one team will not be able to compete. A multiple entry form is available in the resource pack to reduce the effort it takes to fill out a form individually. There is a tutorial on how to use this form on our YouTube channel.

Click here to register your interest to receive the FREE RESOURCES; if you have already registered and are struggling to access the resources, please email codingcompetitiongroup@gmail.com for a copy of the most recent multiple entry form.

The competition is currently only accepting entries that are formatted as Scratch projects. 

The Young Coders team are discussing and hoping to expand the competition to include other formats. However, this year, we will continue to accept Scratch projects only. If you have suggestions on how we could do this or supporting links, you can share them with codingcompetitiongroup@gmail.com to discuss with the team. We are always looking to learn more and further improve our competition! 😊

Parents/carers can use the resources with their children to enter the competition. 

We ask the parent to submit the entry using the form so that we have contact with an adult and to ensure the Young People entering can accurately receive their certificate of participation and feedback. If your child is eligible to win the monetary prize, it will go to their school, so it would be best to let them know you have entered. We are always happy to have as many schools, parents, and STEM clubs as possible enter! 😊 

Click here to register your interest to receive the FREE RESOURCES; if you have already registered and are struggling to access the resources, please email codingcompetitiongroup@gmail.com

Want to learn more? 

• Check out our YouTube channel to learn more about the competition, or sign up for our next webinar, where we discuss this year’s theme, answer questions and showcase the free resources and lesson plans we provide.
• If you would like to request help from a STEM Ambassador with the Scratch platform. STEM Ambassadors are volunteers working in Science, Technology, Engineering and maths-related jobs who volunteer to work with Young People (aged 5 - 19) to inspire them about careers in these sectors. All Ambassadors have been through safeguarding training and have a valid enhanced UK DBS certificate. You can sign up and create a request on www.stem.org.uk 

By participating in this competition, the children get a chance to become the Young Coders Crew and get their work showcased the following year on our YouTube channel, Scratch winners list and during any future events we may do. Each winning child will receive a personalised certificate. Every entry will receive certificates of participation and feedback from the judges. 

Both the winning UK primary (UK school years 4,5 and 6 - aged 7 to 11) and secondary schools (UK school years 7 and 8 - aged 11 to 13) will also receive Prize Money:

1. First Prize: £200
2. Second Prize: £100
3. Third Prize: £50

Upon receiving many entries from overseas, there will be a certificate for 'Best International Entry'. Unfortunately, the prize money will only be awarded within the UK, but we are happy to receive entries from overseas. You will still be able to receive feedback on your entry, too! 😊

Young Coders Competition has been assessed as meeting the required standards of the British Science Association CREST Awards - Discovery level at KS2 and Bronze at KS3.

British Science Association's CREST Awards scheme is the nationally recognised accreditation scheme for STEM project work. This is an excellent opportunity to gain a nationally recognised certificate of achievement, which can encourage students to progress in CREST further education.

As of 23/01/2024, the Discovery Level costs £3.00 per student and the Bronze Level £5.00 per student.
Funding may be available for underrepresented audiences (30% pupil premium/FSM, high-level ethnic minorities/rural area) – more information can be found here.

Did you know we are featured on their CREST-accredited resources and activities page?

The Discovery level CREST Award is typically for students who have completed approximately 5 hours of open-ended project work. A basic version of the Young Coders project is a perfect example. Students can each earn a CREST award, even if they have worked within a group. However, all students must have a role in the project, putting communication, teamwork and project management skills into action!

To earn the Discovery CREST Award, each student fills out a CREST Discovery passport and reflects on their work. Download the passport here.

Once the Discovery passport has been completed, teachers, you will create an account on the CREST Awards website; if you don’t already have one, log in to your CREST account, pay the entry fee and request personalised certificates. These will be posted to your school delivery address.

Each Discovery Award is £3 per student; however, when entering the Young Coders Competition, you may be eligible for free CREST awards. Contact us to find out more about funded CREST Awards eligible schools

The Bronze level CREST Award is typically for students who have completed at least 10 hours of open-ended project work. The Young Coders project is a perfect example. Students can each earn a CREST award, even if they have worked within a group. However, all students must have a role in the project, putting communication, teamwork and project management skills into action!

To earn the Bronze CREST Award, each student fills out a Bronze Award Workbook and reflects on their work. Download the Bronze Award Workbook here

Once the workbook has been completed, teachers, you will create an account on the CREST Awards website; if you don’t already have one, log in to your CREST account, pay the entry fee and request personalised certificates. These will be posted to your school delivery address.

Each Bronze Award is £5 per student; however, when entering the young coders competition, you may be eligible for free CREST awards. Contact us to find out more about funded CREST Awards eligible schools

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