Schools from Swansea and Neath Port Talbot have swept the top prizes at the DVLA’s annual Code Challenge, with local pupils taking first and second place in both age categories.
Parkland Primary in Sketty was crowned winner in the 7–11 age group, while Welsh-medium school Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur took the top prize in the 11–16 category.
The runners-up spots also stayed local: Blaenbaglan Primary in Baglan came second among the younger coders, with Gowerton Comprehensive School second in the older category.
Teams from across Wales went head-to-head in the competition on 7 July for the chance to win IT equipment for their schools.
Parkland’s winning team collected a prize of £2,000 worth of IT equipment, while Gowerton’s runners-up took home £1,500 worth.
The winners were announced at an awards ceremony at the DVLA’s Richard Ley Development Centre in Swansea, hosted by TV presenter Sian Lloyd and livestreamed across the country.
This year’s entrants were tasked with coding a game based on themes set by the event’s sponsors — including the army, programming a robot, creating a virtual escape room, exploring ‘growth’, and online, road and fire safety.
Tim Moss CBE, the DVLA’s Chief Executive, said: “Congratulations to Parkland Primary and Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur on a fantastic achievement. The creativity and skill on display this year was outstanding, and every team that took part this year should be proud of what they accomplished.
“As one of the largest employers of digital and technology professionals in Wales, we’re passionate about supporting STEM education and helping young people develop the skills they’ll need in the future. It’s inspiring to see so much coding talent across Wales.”
Third place in the primary category went to Hawarden Village Church School in Flintshire, while Newport’s Rougemont School took third among the older age group.
The Code Challenge is part of the DVLA‘s volunteer-led STEM programme, founded in 2014 to promote science, technology, engineering and maths learning from primary school through to sixth form and college across Wales.
This year’s competition was supported by sponsors including the Ministry of Defence, British Army, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Swansea Council, South Wales Police, Tarian ROCU and the British Computer Society.
The agency — one of Swansea’s biggest employers — also runs a Digital Inclusion scheme, which donates equipment the DVLA no longer needs to local authorities for redistribution to schools.
Since launching in September 2021, the scheme has handed out more than 1,000 refurbished laptops across Wales.
More information on the DVLA’s STEM programme is available at stem.dvla.gov.uk.
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