Islington showcases its tech kids for the seventh year at Computing Celebration

The seventh annual event, organised by the council's Computing and Online Safety service saw hundreds of Islington pupils programming their own robots, coding and using virtual reality technology they had created in front of an audience of industry experts and digital champions.

Each year the home of Arsenal F.C hosts the Computing Celebration that showcases the latest tech designed from Islington schools. This year saw children producing their own digital newspapers, coding musical instruments and creating 'tech for good' guides which help other pupils use technology responsibly and healthily.

Alongside a panel of judges that included the council's very own Cllr Joe Caluori and Chief Executive Lesley Seary, Doniya Soni, Principal Policy Officer from the London Mayor's Office and Caroline Wright from the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA). BT, Microsoft, Lego and Google were just a few of the household tech and Edtech companies providing inspiration to the next generation of digital leaders.

Some of the borough's children were also the first to pilot the digital version of The Duke of Edinburgh Award, iDEA. Teaching digital awareness, providing tools and techniques for the workplace and how to create things in a digital world are all part of the badge earning process. Collaboration between the Computing Service and Buckingham Palace meant those undertaking the iDEA award were able to earn a specially designed badge for the event.

Cllr Joe Caluori, executive member for Children, Young People & Families said: "Once again the event was a huge success, young people came together in the community and showed the tech industry their amazing skills and interest in computing and related technologies.

Islington schools are leading the way with embedding computing and digital skills into the curriculum. As we saw today, our pupils are fast becoming the next generation of computer programmers and robotic designers."

These are important industries that are only set to grow in years to come. The industry will require minds like these to lead us into a bold new technical revolution. It is essential more days like this take place and children's passion for technology is harvested."

BBC Click's Kate Russell was a special guest on the day and celebrated the children's achievements. She said: 'It's vital that young people get excited about the opportunities in computing careers, and how varied and creative they can be.

Events like this give them direct contact with employers and hands-on experience with some of the most important new developments in tech."

They will leave the day inspired and with a much better picture of how they themselves might fit into the vibrant UK technology sector. That is good for the students, the employers and the economy."