Making computer science the talk of the school during a week of coding activity was no mean achievement for a new initiative.

Roundwood Park School in Harpenden took part in Hour of Code Week - a worldwide initiative designed to demystify computer science and show that anybody can learn the basics - for the first time earlier this month.

And by the end of the week, around three quarters of students as well as teachers and ancillary staff had had an opportunity to try their hand at coding..

Among the events was an Apprentice-like challenge where students had two hours to code a product and create some kind of advertising and box cover.

Mark Allday, teacher of computing at Roundwood Park, said that some students, especially girls, found computer science a bit boring for them but they were surprised how the coding activities had brought it to life.

He added: “The students absolutely loved it and engaged really well. It was the talk of the school for the week.”