Twenty-two Year 8 students from Ark Alexandra Academy enjoyed an inspiring day of coding and career exploration at Hastings Direct in Bexhill-on-Sea on 4 March.
The day began with a tour of the offices, including the top-floor conference room with stunning sea views, and an introduction to insurance careers. Students asked questions about daily work, skills, and qualifications needed for success.
The highlight was a hands-on Code Camp workshop, where students learned line and block coding to create their own Flappy Bird-style games. They collaborated, tested each other’s creations, and developed problem-solving and programming skills. Five students even competed on a demo game, with Olly scoring 76 points on his first try.
At the end of the day, Hastings Direct awarded students certificates, notebooks, and pens. Thoughtfully, the students asked staff for messages and autographs in their notebooks, a gesture staff said was unique and greatly appreciated.
The students also impressed with their excellent behaviour and professionalism, even during a delayed train journey back to Hastings. A Revenue Protection Officer commented: “That has got to be the best-behaved school party I’ve seen.”
The day combined practical coding experience with career insight, teamwork, and creativity, leaving students proud of both the games they created and the way they represented the school.