Computing

Curriculum Design at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School

Curriculum Area: Computing

Curriculum Leader: Mrs Pritchard

Intent

Our Computing curriculum aims to equip children to use computational thinking and creativity, to understand and change the world. We intend to motivate and inspire children through lessons that engage and challenge all learners.

We use a scheme called ‘Purple Mash’, which provides a structured computing curriculum based on the Computing National Curriculum and encompasses the 3 strands of Digital literacy, Information Technology and Computer science.

Each strand is progressively built upon and is complemented by identified space learning opportunities, and pupil-led prior learning tasks. Objectives for each unit are clearly laid out and staff may choose alternative resources to deliver content e.g. Teach Computing units and Barefoot computing resources.

Please click below for the overview.

Implementation

In computing, we implement an inclusive curriculum that meets the requirements of the National Curriculum.  Our curriculum is well-planned and provides cross-curricular opportunities.

The computing curriculum has three strands: Computer Science, Digital Literacy and Information Technology, and children develop their knowledge and skills in these areas. They are taught the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation.

Children analyse problems in computational terms and have practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve problems. They evaluate and apply Information Technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies. By instilling creativity and enthusiasm in our children, learning can be extended by accessing a range of software at home.

Our curriculum is delivered through highly effective ‘quality first teaching’. Children have dedicated computing lessons for 1 hour per week and they are taught computing skills across other curriculum areas.  Enrichment opportunities, including inspirational visitors and working within the community, provide our children with rich experiences and enhance teaching, learning and knowledge.

Our Computing curriculum promotes children’s Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development, ensuring that they are reflective and responsible citizens. Fundamental British Values are actively promoted in Computing lessons in order to prepare the children for life in Modern Britain.

Impact

Our Computing curriculum enables children to become both users and creators.  Across all phases of the school, children understand algorithms and programming and how this all fits into our digital world.

We pride ourselves on using and implementing new and innovative technologies to prepare children for the ever–changing digital world we live in, whilst embedding the safe, respectful and responsible use of technology, recognising both acceptable and unacceptable online behaviour and identifying a range of ways to report concerns about content or contact.

Children are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

Computing at St Mary's

At St Mary's we use Purple Mash alongside other software to develop our computing skills and give us a wide breadth of experience. 

E- Safety

E-Safety is intertwined throughout the Computing curriculum at St Mary's. As well as having focused units it is also regularly revisited through PSHE, assemblies and competitions. Here's us celebrating Safer Internet Day this year with a visit from our PSCO to discuss how to stay safe online.