I'm Chris Hopkinson, Head of Computer Science at Putney High School GDST in London. I built Coding Pathway because I wanted two things from a classroom coding platform: a clear, structured route through Python for students, and calm, practical tools for teachers to monitor progress, set work, and support students without adding to the workload. Nothing did both, so I started building.
It is now used daily in real classrooms. At Putney High we have used the platform with Years 6 to 12 for classwork and homework since the pilot began. I have also worked closely with a mixed state school in South West London using it from Year 7 to Year 11, where we have seen great progress, including significant student activity outside school hours. The platform is now in use across independent, state, grammar, mixed, boys', and girls' schools, which has been genuinely encouraging.
If it does not survive contact with a real Year 9 lesson, it does not ship.
Every feature starts as a classroom need: the trophy goals came from wanting a starter that runs itself, the live modelling from years of students squinting at a projector, the review workspace from carrying class sets of feedback around in my head.
One principle is fixed: students never see AI anywhere on the platform. AI tools exist only for staff, as authoring aids, and a teacher reviews their output before any student sees it.