NEWTON Aycliffe youngsters embraced the digital age when they enjoyed an online chat with the Prime Minister and mastered the art of computer coding.

Year six pupils at Vane Road Primary School spoke to David Cameron and children from schools across the country via an internet application called Google Hangout.

The Hour of Code also saw the youngsters use block code to write their own computer algorithms, which they shared with children in Downing Street in London.

Armed with tablet computers, the class also created their own applications and conducted a live webcast with Diane Pearlman, director of Microsoft Ventures, who they quizzed about her working life and how to forge a career in computing.

Kathryn Costello, ICT leader at the school, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our children to share their learning with a national audience; they were thrilled to speak to Mr Cameron and learnt lots from being able to chat to a major player from Microsoft UK. “Coding is a key skill for the new technological age and we were thrilled to be invited to take part in such an important activity.”

All key stage two children at Vane Road have now completed the Hour of Code and will build upon these skills as part of the new computing curriculum.