Code Ninjas celebrates 300 black belts milestone

Now, eight years after the brand’s inception, Code Ninjas is celebrating a remarkable milestone – 300 black belts achieved by its clan of talented young ninjas.

“Reaching 300 black belts is not just a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students – who we call ninjas – but also to the incredible support of our Senseis and the entire Code Ninjas community,” said Bill Marsland, Director of Education. “It’s inspiring to see these young minds excel and develop skills that will serve them well into the future.”

In nearly 40 locations, from the streets of Edinburgh to the shores of Bournemouth, Code Ninjas provides kids with a safe, inclusive, and social learning environment where gaming is celebrated and STEM is cool. The programme enables children to immerse themselves in fun, challenging, and rewarding projects and activities that engage them and develop skills crucial for their future.

To achieve the rank of black belt ninja, students progress through different levels – beginning as white belts and advancing by tackling increasingly challenging projects, learning new programming languages and refining their problem-solving abilities along the way. The programme culminates in earning a black belt, achieved by completing an advanced final project – often involving creating a fully functional and sophisticated game or application.

“Our curriculum is designed to make coding accessible and enjoyable for kids,” explained Bill. “By gamifying the learning process, we’ve seen remarkable engagement and retention rates. The black belt represents a deep understanding of coding principles and the ability to apply them creatively. These young coders are truly the future innovators.”

Earlier this year, 13-year-old Melisa Deniz at Code Ninjas Enfield made history by becoming the first female in the UK to achieve black belt status. “I chose to start with Code Ninjas to increase my skills,” explained Melisa. “In the black belt programme, I embraced the opportunity to think creatively and turn my imaginative ideas into enjoyable games.

“Trying something new can be challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding. If I was going to give advice to any other girls out there, especially those my age, thinking about coding but worrying it might not be for them, I would tell them to be confident in their abilities. Pursue your interests with passion and don’t be afraid to stand out. You can achieve remarkable things in any field – including technology and coding!”

Looking ahead, Code Ninjas plans to expand its curriculum, introduce new technologies to keep pace with the latest trends in coding and digital literacy, and explore partnerships with schools and other educational institutions to further integrate coding into mainstream education.

“Our mission at Code Ninjas is to create a world where every child can thrive in our increasingly digital world,” added Bill. “Celebrating 300 black belts is a major milestone, but it’s just the beginning. We are committed to continuing to inspire and educate the next generation of coders, leaders and problem solvers in the years ahead.”