TATTON MP George Osborne welcomed the Google Code Club roadshow to Knutsford on Friday.

Code Club, a nationwide network of free volunteer-led after-school coding clubs, visited Bexton Primary School on February 7 as part of their roadshow to inspire the next generation of digital makers.

With help from Google and Code Club experts, pupils learned how to make their own computer games, as well as how to stay safe online. Educational resources were also provided so that pupils and teachers could further develop their coding skills in the future.

Mr Osborne said: “In an increasingly digital world, it is more important than ever that we equip our young people to make the most of the opportunities offered by the burgeoning tech industry.

“The Google and Code Club roadshow is a brilliant initiative that is getting children in Tatton and across the country excited about coding. And this new partnership is a great opportunity for teachers to get the skills they need to prepare for the upcoming curriculum change and teach children the computing and coding skills that will stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.

“We must make sure that kids in our schools are not just consumers but creators of technology. They shouldn't just know how to open up programs like Word and PowerPoint; they also need to understand how those computer programs are put together. In the 21st century, knowing how to code is no longer a nice-to-have, it's an essential.''