Pocklington School’s Second Year pupils have proved their coding skills in the recent ‘Your Voice is Power’ national coding competition. The competition challenged pupils aged 11 to 18 years to create beats using thousands of samples of music, and programming with Python, while promoting equity. Sponsored by Amazon with the support of hip-hop legend, Pharrell Williams, this competition received over 10,000 submissions from all over the UK.

Out of the numerous entries received, 12 entries from Pocklington School were ranked in the top 45 of the UK, each winning a prize of £50 in Amazon vouchers. Even more impressively, Joe Beckwith’s entry called ‘Gövernmënt Childrën’, placed in the top five, earning him a £250 Amazon voucher.

Pocklington School’s Computing Teacher, Manique Wilson, expressed her pride in the pupils’ achievement, stating, “programming can be challenging but our pupils have displayed a genuine love for this project and now they can reap the rewards. I am so proud of this achievement and delighted that so many of our Pocklington School youngsters have triumphed in a national coding competition.” The project was incorporated into the school’s computing curriculum, fostering a love for Python programming and a passion for musical creativity and self-expression.

Joe Beckwith was overjoyed when he received news of his success and said: “I was absolutely stunned to hear how well I had placed in the competition and pleased to hear that so many people enjoyed my piece of music. It really means the world to me. I never imagined that my music would reach the ears of someone as famous as Pharrell Williams!” Click here to listen to Joe Beckwith's entry.

Pocklington School congratulates all the winning pupils and looks forward to participating in the competition again next year.

The other winning pupils were Jesse Aniekwe, Austin Bailey, Annie Cosby, Jake Fairey, Alfie Foxton, Freddie Jennings, Keira Larvin, Isabel Moorhouse, Toby Morris, Lucy Parr, Jemima Slack and Bella Swanborough.