Camden Council is teaming up with Google to teach every primary school child computer programming skills in a bid to find the next generation of technology experts.

From September, after-school “coding clubs” will begin in all of Camden’s 41 primary schools offering nine to 11-year-olds the chance to learn how to write computer code.

Experts from Google and engineering science students from University College London (UCL) will go into Camden schools to run the after-school clubs.

It is an initiative running in partnership with Code Club - a non-for-profit organisation in charge of 900 after-school coding clubs nationwide - and was officially launched by Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, at Camden City Learning Centre, in Somers Town, last Wednesday.

Cllr Theo Blackwell, Camden’s cabinet member for finance, said: “Last year there were no pupils in Camden’s schools taking computing at A-level.

“As in other local authorities, pupils have been put off by a boring ICT curriculum and a failure to make coding relevant and exciting. Camden wants to lead the way in changing this, taking advantage of the new curriculum.”

Clare Sutcliffe, co-founder and CEO of Code Club, said: “This partnership between Google, UCL Engineering, Camden Council and Code Club shows what can happen when innovative people get together to create change and improve opportunities for our next generation.

“Camden have shown that they are a forward thinking council and we would like other councils around the country to get in touch to discuss how we might do something similar in their area.”