The next time Selwyn Ridge School pupils open an app on their iPad or computer, they'll understand what goes on behind-the-scenes to control what's happening on screen.

They're a long way off creating their own apps just yet, but a group of 15 Year 5 and 6 pupils are already learning how to programme, or code, computer software.

Code club members Ethan Mudford, 11, and Grace Darcy, 10, with Ethan's project.

It's part of a new nationwide network of volunteer-led after-school coding clubs called Code Club Aotearoa. Coordinated locally by The Venture Centre, Code Club Aotearoa was launched in Tauranga in April by founder Michael Trengrove.

Selwyn Ridge School information technology teacher Matthew Thomas says the school signed up to Code Club Aotearoa at the beginning of Term 2.

'From a teaching perspective, it's not actually about teaching children the code; it's about teaching them creative thinking skills, logical thinking skills, problem solving, communications – it's all those skills that we want them to develop.

'They think they're coding, but we know we're developing way more than that.”

So what exactly is coding? Kids Rewired E-learning facilitator Sandy Bornholdt says coding is the language that sits behind everything you see on the internet or on apps.

'Behind the hood of a real website is loads of ‘script'. We teach the children a visual version of that, which teaches them the concept of instruction, loops, procedures – the basic concepts that underpin what you need to do when you're programming in the real world.

'But it's not something you can learn overnight. The aim is to produce creative problem-solving thinkers for the future.”

Code Club Aotearoa teaches children how to code through creating games, animations and websites. Matthew says the students have been learning the basics with an online tool called Scratch.

'It's pretty cool. I was watching one of our five-year-olds teaching one of our nine-year-olds how to work it. That's really cool to see those children of all ages having different skills and being able to share that with each other.”

Code Clubs are operating at Oropi School, Omokoroa No 1 School and Selwyn Ridge School.