On Saturday 28 February, nine boys took part in the prestigious Lockheed Martin Programming Competition, an international event held simultaneously at multiple sites across the UK. Competing in the Advanced category in Ampthill, the boys delivered a remarkable performance, securing an impressive second place. In a nail‑biting finish, they led for much of the competition before being overtaken in the final seconds by a school from Watford.
Their success reflects the strength of our thriving Competitive Coding Club, which Mr Forrester, Head of Computer Science, runs twice a week, and which attracts enthusiastic boys from across year groups. Far more than simply writing code, competitive programming develops problem‑solving and logic. The club operates as a collaborative community where boys learn by comparing solutions, debugging together and sharing techniques. While the skills they build support their Computer Science studies (particularly Paper 1), the broader aim is to nurture resilience, adaptability and the kind of logical reasoning essential in an AI‑shaped future. Work is already underway to introduce the same model in the Prep School, helping create a strong coding pathway through the school.
The team at this year’s competition consisted of Lower Sixth Formers George, Mihai and Rhys, whose teamwork and determination stood out throughout the day.
Reflecting on the boys’ achievements, Mr Forrester said, “We’re immensely proud of all the boys who took part in the competition. Not only for securing a fantastic second‑place finish, but for the spirit and camaraderie they showed towards each other and their fellow competitors. They turn up every week ready to push themselves and one another, tackle increasingly challenging problems, and refine their approach. Their success is a testament to their curiosity, discipline and teamwork.”
Competitive Coding Club runs every Wednesday and Friday at 1.00pm in S25, and all boys with a passion for problem‑solving are welcome.
