24 September 2025
Coding Made Easy: AQA’s Python on VS Code Resources - Secondary event
If you were unable to join us for Exploring AQA's python resources on VS Code - Secondary online community meeting, don't worry! You can catch up on all the content and a recording of the session above.
Exploring AQA’s New Python Resources on VS Code for Education
Key Takeaways
-
AQA has launched new Python resources designed for use on Microsoft’s VS Code for Education platform.
-
The resources follow a “functions first” approach, with expertly sequenced progression and built-in formative assessment.
-
Lessons combine explanations, worked examples, misconceptions, PRIMM activities, and capstone projects.
-
Teachers raised key questions around scalability, storage of student work, and integration with classroom tools.
-
Feedback from teachers will shape the development of further resources and features.
This session introduced AQA’s newly developed Python lessons, authored for the Microsoft VS Code for Education platform. Frances Sparrow, AQA’s Subject Lead for Computer Science, and Alan Harrison, an experienced teacher and resource developer, outlined the vision behind the project.
Alan began by setting out the challenges many computing teachers will recognise: limited curriculum time, varying student confidence with Python, and the need for resources that can be used flexibly for both classroom teaching and homework. The choice of VS Code for Education, a browser-based platform, was key. It avoids installation issues, reflects industry practice, and allows for live coding directly within the course pages.
The resources themselves are built around a clear pedagogical approach: concepts before syntax, “functions first,” scaffolded progression, and frequent opportunities for practice. Each unit blends static content with interactive coding, reflective questions, and short quizzes. A strong focus is placed on the PRIMM model (Predict, Run, Investigate, Modify, Make), encouraging students to engage actively with the code rather than passively reading it.
Teachers were given a live walkthrough of the first four units, which cover input and output, functions, arithmetic operators, string handling, and selection. Each unit includes programming challenges, worked examples, misconceptions, and a capstone project—such as creating a change calculator—designed to consolidate learning. Importantly, AQA’s style of pseudocode is embedded alongside Python code to support exam preparation.
The session also prompted discussion around practical considerations. Attendees raised questions about platform scalability when used by large classes, the technicalities of storage and data privacy, and the lack of teacher access to student progress. Integration with Teams and Google Classroom was also flagged as a future requirement. AQA confirmed these issues have been raised with Microsoft and encouraged feedback from schools piloting the resources.
Next Steps
As you reflect on the session, consider:
-
How could browser-based coding environments reduce barriers in your classroom?
-
What opportunities might PRIMM activities open up for your students?
-
How will you monitor and assess progress if platforms don’t yet provide teacher dashboards?
-
Could capstone projects become a useful bridge between structured practice and open-ended problem solving?
Example exercises to try in your own teaching include:
-
Adapting a simple “Hello World” program into a chatbot that asks and responds to questions.
-
Debugging exercises where students identify and correct errors in pre-written code.
-
Capstone challenges such as building a program to calculate the area of a circle or applying arithmetic operators to create a change calculator.
Further Resources