Making a game is sneaky. It teaches a lot while feeling like play.

To build a game that works, a child has to plan it, think through the logic, tell a story and solve the endless small problems that crop up when something misbehaves.

That means creativity, logical thinking, planning, storytelling, problem-solving and resilience, all wrapped up in a project they actually care about. And because they are building rather than just playing, game design turns screen time into something active and creative.

Every session is built around making a real game, so the skills stick.

Children get to grips with the building blocks of game design: characters, levels, goals and challenges, and how those pieces fit together into something fun to play. Where the activity calls for it, they add coding and sequencing to control how the game behaves, and they learn to plan logically and think step by step. They practise problem-solving by testing their gameplay, spotting what is not working and improving it, and they bring in creative storytelling and digital design along the way.

Most importantly, they see how games are actually built, tested and refined. Tools are matched to age and stage, from visual, block-based tools like Scratch for younger designers through to more advanced platforms as children progress.

Our game design classes are designed for children aged 7 to 13, and no experience is needed to start.

They suit complete beginners just as well as children who already love games, coding, animation, storytelling or creative technology. Because activities can be adapted to age, confidence and ability, every child works at a level that feels like a stretch rather than a slog. Nervous first-timers get support and quick wins. Confident young designers get room to build something more ambitious.

Children learn game design by designing games, not by watching a lecture about them.

Sessions are practical and project-based. Children are guided through designing, building, testing and improving their own game, at their own pace, with an instructor on hand for the tricky bits. You will find our game design across several formats: after-school clubs, holiday camps, local sessions, home-education activities and online programmes. Whichever suits your family, the approach stays the same. Hands-on, creative and genuinely fun.

The best way to picture a game design class is to look at what your child will make.

Children create simple digital games, designing their own characters, levels and challenges, then adding movement, scoring and rules to make them play properly. Some build interactive stories or animations, and everyone tests and improves their gameplay until it feels right. Game design also links naturally to other activities, so the same skills feed into coding & programming, digital creativity, web & app development and robotics & engineering. It is all real creative technology, learned by making something your child is proud of.

We have spent years working out how to make creative technology click for children, and it shows.

Our classes are led by people who are great with children first and technical second, which is exactly the right way round. Activities are hands-on, pitched at the right level for each age, and designed to build confidence rather than show off the software. Children pick up practical digital skills, creativity and a solid grounding in STEM, wrapped up in something that feels like play. That mix of real learning and genuine fun is what keeps parents coming back.