Computer Science for Schools

Scratch or Python: Which Should a School Student Learn First?

By EG Digital Skills Training · Updated 18 October 2026

Parents often ask whether their child should start with Scratch or go straight to Python. Both are good. The better choice depends on age, confidence and goals.

Scratch: coding with blocks

Scratch lets students snap together colourful blocks to make games and animations. There is no typing and no syntax errors, so beginners can focus on ideas like loops, events and variables.

Python: coding with text

Python uses plain text and reads almost like English. Students learn to type code, read error messages and fix them. That is closer to what programmers do every day.

How to decide

• New to computers or younger: start with Scratch.
• Comfortable typing and enjoys logic puzzles: Python is a good start.
• Already finished a few Scratch projects: move on to Python.
• Studying school computer subjects that include programming: use Python alongside.

The same idea in Python

This small program repeats a message three times. In Scratch the same idea is a repeat block with a say block inside it.

name = input("Your name: ")
for i in range(3):
    print("Hello,", name)

What matters more than the tool

Logic is the real skill: sequence, decisions, loops, variables and functions. Once a student understands these, moving between languages is much easier.

Tips for parents

• Short, regular practice beats one long session.
• Let your child build small games or tools they care about.
• Ask them to explain their code to you in simple words.
• Talk about safe internet use, passwords and privacy early.