Helping girls to thrive through creativity, collaboration and coding

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Running a coding club as a newly qualified computing science teacher, Toni Scullion aimed to create an environment where girls could thrive and aspire to enter the world of tech. The ongoing gender gap in all STEM subjects, particularly in computing science, compelled her to go further. dressCode was born, and the charity now offers a suite of resources to help teachers inspire their students.

What motivated you to set up dressCode?

In my early years as a computing science teacher, I ran a very popular coding club. However, only three girls attended, and they only came once. When I asked them why, they said it was too male-dominated, and they found the boys “a bit annoying”. They agreed to return on two conditions: I brought chocolate, and it was an all-girls club. That was the springboard for dressCode.

During my undergraduate degree in computing science, I was one of the few female students, but I didn’t give it much thought. I credit this to my upbringing and the inclusive environment at Edinburgh Napier University. However, when these 12-year-old girls were put off by a coding club, I researched the gender gap in computing science. I discovered it was a global issue and, sadly, still is.

I then examined the situation in Scottish secondary schools, not just in computing science but across all STEM subjects. I was shocked to find that computing science had, and still has, the largest gender gap of any traditional STEM subject in Scotland, by a significant margin, and this has been the case for over a decade. I felt compelled to do something.

What does a typical dressCode club involve?

A typical dressCode club provides a fun and engaging space where girls can learn about computing science through hands-on activities. They have the freedom to explore areas of interest, such as creating games, stories and animations, building websites, digital art and apps, or exploring cyber security. The emphasis is on creativity, collaboration, problem-solving and fostering a nurturing environment where girls can thrive.

What events does dressCode run?

Alongside our dressCode club portal, we run several other initiatives. We hold annual coding competitions for primary and secondary schools, allowing them to participate independently or integrate them into their school curriculum. We have both team and individual coding competitions.

We also organise dressCode hackathons, typically hosted at tech companies or universities. Participants work in teams to create solutions to themed challenges. No prior coding experience is necessary, as we provide resources and support from senior and industry mentors.

Additionally, we run Computing Science Scotland, which supports and champions teachers delivering computing science. We help connect teachers and facilitate industry support for their initiatives.

What resources does dressCode provide for teachers?

Download this resource

All images © Women in Computing

dressCode supports and empowers teachers to promote the subject. We created Choose Computing Science to help educators influence parents and guardians, who play a crucial role in shaping students’ subject choices. Our website provides comprehensive information to help them nurture talent and raise awareness of the diverse world of computing science.

We also offer a suite of resources for teachers and schools, including posters, information cards, display materials, door signs and postcards. These are ideal for open evenings, parents’ nights and school social media.

Our Scottish Tech Role Models resource helps teachers showcase real-life role models in the classroom, highlighting their backgrounds to provide relatable examples for students.

How does dressCode celebrate computing science achievement in schools?

dressCode offers awards to recognise and celebrate excellence in computing science from nursery to secondary school. We offer the Hopper Award for the best female student and the Turing Award for the best male student in each secondary school in Scotland. These are permanent awards passed on annually. We also maintain a roll of honour on our website.

For primary schools, we provide free Hopper and Turing award certificates. We also have the ‘Promising Software Developer of the Year’ award for outstanding Advanced Higher projects (usually undertaken by students aged 16 to 18).

What collaborations make dressCode’s work possible?

As a small team, dressCode relies heavily on partnerships and volunteers for judging competitions and running events. Sponsorship is crucial for our annual competitions and hackathons – currently, we are supported by J.P. Morgan and Skyscanner. We always welcome support with judging, volunteering and sponsorship.

What are dressCode’s key achievements?

I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. My personal highlights include receiving an honorary doctorate degree for dedication to computing science education and advancing women in technology, as well as being awarded a Point of Light award and meeting the Prime Minister at Downing Street. However, perhaps the most rewarding aspect is seeing dressCode alumni and former students thrive at university and in their careers. It’s particularly inspiring to hear how some of them, like Clara O’Callaghan, Rachel Copper, Amina Tahir, Catherine Fitzsimons and Molly Plenderleith, are now championing diversity in tech and inspiring the next generation of students to pursue computing science.

What’s next for dressCode?

We are currently redoing our dressCode club platform, which is really exciting, and creating a primary specific version with Scratch Junior. We have lots of new exciting ideas on the way for dressCode clubs! We are also in the process of capturing some students’ perspectives of dressCode.

There are two incredible schools who run dressCode clubs. The first is Mearns Primary School – their original ‘dressCoders’ started in P5 (aged 9-10) and are now in their final year of primary school. The second is St Ninan’s Secondary School – their original dressCoders are now in their final year of secondary school. It’s exciting to imagine what these dressCoders will go on to achieve in the next stage of their education.

Meet Toni

Toni Scullion
Computing Science teacher,
Founder of dressCode,
Co-founder of Ada Scotland Festival,
Co-lead of Scottish Teachers Advancing Computing Science (STACS)

Who or what inspired your passion for computing science?

I’ve always loved computers. I remember discovering HTML and CSS on the first computer my Dad got me and changing the background colour of a webpage. It felt like uncovering a secret. This sense of amazement and curiosity still drives me. I’ve also been fortunate to have inspiring mentors, including Mr Donogue, Chris Sinclair, Hazel Hall and David Muir.

What do you find rewarding about working in computing science?

I love that technology is integral to every sector and is so creative. You can turn ideas into reality, solve real-world problems, and make a difference. I enjoy recreating that ‘eureka’ moment for students and watching them achieve great things.

What challenges does your work pose for you, and how do you overcome them?

Time is my biggest challenge, as dressCode is run alongside my full-time teaching job. However, having done this for over a decade now, I’ve established a solid routine and learnt to adapt as needed. I overcome this by planning ahead, breaking tasks into smaller chunks, and being consistent.

Toni’s top tips

1. Give computing science a go and see if you enjoy it! It’s an exciting field with constant advancements and diverse career paths.

2. Computing science can be combined with any interest, such as data, medicine or art, so think about where your interests lie and explore their connections to computing science.

Connect with dressCode

Website: dresscode.org.uk

linkedin.com/in/toni-scullion/