School of Code Bootcamp

• SoC is on a mission to change tech for the better. It is not a charity; there are bills to be paid, but you get more of a family feel here compared to other bootcamps. SoC changes the way you think, the way you work, and the way you interact with others.... Read More • SoC aims to bring people from diverse backgrounds; profession, country of birth, location, sex, or religion, into tech. This will only bring benefit to tech, as I have seen the pitfalls of remaining within your bubble and only speaking to the converted. In my previous role, I had to deal with a number of courier companies, from the managers to the drivers. For example, I remember delivery drivers complaining to me about the chaos caused by the reorganisation of delivery routes. Yes, it looked good to the tech team looking at Google maps, but it failed to take into account the experiences of the drivers. Try delivering around a city centre or an airport, and you will soon understand. • I asked eBay/Amazon management if they had former sellers on their teams, so they could hear the perspective from the other side. It was a resounding no. eBay/Amazon will hire a research company that expects a busy business owner to spend 30 minutes filling out a questionnaire to be entered into a competition where they can win a £30 gift voucher. They need SoC graduates as part of their teams. • You get used to feeling uncomfortable. This is so needed in tech because of how fast-changing it is. It also prevents you from getting obsessed with one particular technology. If you think you're going to hide in a corner and wing this one, it's not going to happen. Think about being butt naked in the rain; that is far closer to how exposed you will be in SoC. After this experience, I would not be surprised to hear they had communal bathtimes when it was on-site. • In my previous role, I had to hire candidates. I would be happy to bet on the students who will be the first to get roles. Don't be obsessed with just code. SoC teaches you to work on many of these other job skills, such as social intelligence. Some people bring so much energy to the team; don't want to jinx anyone, but everyone knows the energy of the Italians in our cohort. No wonder they conquered this place, thanks for Londinium; can you now bring the prices down there, please? • The speakers SoC brings in are as diverse as our cohort. There will be those who you gel with and those who you won't. You will hear different perspectives on the same subject. That's part of what makes tech great. One thing they all shared was a passion for SoC. • The best thing about SoC is the people you meet. Once I got onto the course, I understood why their filtering process was so extensive. This helps weed out many who could not fully commit. I was with a couple of people in one session whom I struggled with. They were not there when we started, so I guess the filtering process works. They had over 3000 applicants, so to get accepted was an honour. • The students are from all backgrounds, from a barman to scientists. In my last project, I worked with a former biochemist, two from the theatre/arts, a games creator, and an AI Master's student. Each week you work with a different team, so you get to appreciate the different perspectives and skill sets each person brings. • I understand they reduced the numbers from previous cohorts; this was probably so they could offer more support. Guys, you're going to get people you don't get on with, but this is a necessary part of the process. Obviously, they will deal with any sort of abuse or discrimination; it won't be tolerated, but if you get someone not pulling their weight, it's part of the process. You have to learn to deal with them and reach the finishing line. You can't expect SoC to put adults on the naughty step. Working with people who are different from you and with whom you might even clash is part of the process. It has to be seen like an army; if someone is injured, you don't leave him behind. It's about getting to the finish line. • We worked on real-life projects that will be used by companies. This was important to me as I'm used to creating products and services. I could not get myself motivated on a 'dud' project. • Thank you to SoC for giving me this opportunity to prove myself and be in the company of so many talented individuals.

The staff is just amazing. Coaches, admins and whoever else. Everyone has a great vibe and they really put their heart in it. I cried when the official course ended. I believe the curriculum, and the way it's presented, is strong, but, more importantly,... Read More it's the way we "learn how to learn" that makes the difference. After this bootcamp, I just feel confident picking up any role and any language because I know I will be able to feel comfortable with it in no time. I don't have any golden dream in regards to when I will get a job though. I mean, the support so far it's been amazing, but we're 90 candidates being thrown into a market that always feel saturated. I know it will take months, but I'm up for it. Like most of the industry, they work in an agile mode. That means some part of the curriculum might change on the fly, which is not great for the users (a.k.a. the bootcampers) given it's not the same as having Twitter test out a new feature on the next update. But I suppose ups and downs are always expected. Teamwork is a great component of the bootcamp (as well as the industry), but it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea. Sadly, that's just a matter of luck, so pray you've always going to get cool teammates. :) Ultimately, I feel lucky for having been chosen by them. I tried 42 for a bit before applying for SoC and I won't recommend that to anyone. School of Code is what you want to going for instead if you're ready to work hard for a bit. I would also highly advise to have a foundation of web development before joining. It makes a huge difference, especially in the most stressful weeks. Good luck for your application. <3 :)

The School of Code is a place for growth and change. I met amazing people who share with me the same passion and the same ideals. So many kind and respectful people working together to change their lives, supporting one another. These people were selected... Read More by the School of code staff who wanted to create an harmonious group of people, and who gave us the example every day in acting with kindness and consideration. The staff works endlessly to support each student and I could not be happier about my experience. I did learn so much and felt like I had support along the way, this experience has been life changing!

School of Code is so much more than a tech course - it is a completely transformative experience. They don't just teach you to code, they teach you how to learn, how to work in teams, how to problem solve, think on your feet, adapt and grow. You emerge... Read More feeling like you haven't so much done a course as had your first full time job in tech, with all of the invaluable experience that comes with. The coaches are second to none, the amount of material covered in 16 weeks truly mind blowing. I cannot recommend SoC enough.

The School of Code gave me an incredible experience! 16 weeks of problem solving and team work. We learnt everything from computational thinking to how to build and test a full stack app, everything you need to know to work in the tech industry not just... Read More how to write JS. I would highly recommend to everyone!

I'm a lady in my mid-forties who has spent most of my life working minimum wage retail jobs. I had always wanted to work in tech but had been dissuaded by negative, disbelieving comments. One day I decided to ignore the naysayers and was thrilled when... Read More I was accepted to School of Code. I learned so much, achieved so much and by the end of the course I started to believe that I was a capable person. I loved the hands-on practical coding experience. The teaching is amazing: It is responsive and adapts to the needs of the bootcampers. My verbal communication skills improved drastically. At the start of the course I started shaking every time I had to speak (even in small groups). By the end of 16 weeks I felt confident talking and presenting to industry professionals. Every single person selected for the bootcamp was a uniquely talented individual and I learned so much from them. Cons: There is so much to learn in such a short period of time; Now that the bootcamp has ended, I will have to revisit everything I've learned in more detail. The job search could potentially take a while. The work is always done in teams. This means your experience is partially reliant on your teammates (luckily they choose bootcampers with care).

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the bootcamp and I wish it could've been longer! Coding is, of-course, a challenging subject; but the coaches did an excellent job with good pace, clear explanations, and endless patience. The structured format not only... Read More enhanced my technical skills but also fostered significant interpersonal growth. This course introduces you to people from diverse backgrounds, providing a refreshing and enriching experience. Weekly collaboration with new teammates and hackathons added a dynamic aspect to the learning process. The accelerated nature of the course is beneficial, and discovering effective learning methods and relying on the incredible support from mentors and peers is crucial. My bootcamp experience was transformative, pushing me out of my comfort zone while providing a safe space for mistakes without fear of judgment, thanks to the cohort's supportive environment. The mentorship from industry professionals and insightful guest talks, ranging from current leaders to past bootcampers, added immense value. Each talk left me with valuable lessons, contributing to my learning journey. There were occasional moments of disorganisation, though minor in the grand scheme. Overall, this has been a valuable and, dare I say, life-changing experience. The course extends beyond coding, as it imparts essential people skills invaluable for both personal and professional development, while also instilling resilience and a problem-solving mindset. This course is my starting point in the tech journey, and I couldn't have navigated this field as a self-taught individual. I highly recommend this course for career changers venturing into the world of tech!

The School of Code has created a unique learning environment for their bootcamp. There is a special culture that has been created between the organisers, coaches and is reflected in the bootcampers themselves. Each person is valued and encouraged to learn... Read More quickly by the structures that are in place. Mistakes are encouraged and viewed as learning opportunities. The course is intense and each week at least one new topic is covered. There are also mindset sessions, talks from industry and past boot campers to add value and variety to the days. Each boot camper is assigned a mentor to support and guide learning. A vast library of resources is used to support learning which would have been difficult to discover on my own. I was initially surprised by the emphasis on problem solving first and writing code second but after having been through the bootcamp, I now understand why. If this is something that you are even a little bit curious about then I would definitely recommend using the School of Code as your choice of course to aid entry onto the career pathway.

My journey at the School of Code was a rollercoaster of learning and growth. In an extremely short period (4 months), I acquired a wealth of knowledge. The program's collaborative nature, pairing me with different individuals each week, enriched my experience,... Read More offering diverse perspectives and teamwork skills. The mentorship provided was invaluable, with consistent weekly meetings that guided me through challenges. I wholeheartedly recommend this bootcamp to anyone seeking a transformative career change into tech.

I thought it was disgraceful they way the course was ran. It seemed very much like a money making exercise from the government. Not impressed at all. The worst thing was they pretend like everything is fine when it clearly is not. Way too many student... Read More being taught online with zero support. Absolute recipe for disaster.