Computing Intent

At St. Mary of Charity Primary School, we want pupils to be prepared for the ever-changing digital world and become competent users of technology. Technology has become an integral part of the world we live in and will play an important role in our pupil’s futures. Our broad curriculum includes computer science, information technology, and digital literacy to ensure that children are confident in using technology safely. The progression of our knowledge-rich curriculum offers pupils the opportunity to learn creatively, ensure learning is embedded with skills being successfully developed through revisiting previous learning, and engage children by enriching their experiences across the school. 

We want pupils at SMC to achieve computing fluency by the time they leave primary school and have the confidence and independence to make informed choices when using technology. 

Computing Implementation

Curriculum Design and Sequencing 

Our computing curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive and progressive learning journey, building on prior knowledge and skills. It is aligned with the National Curriculum, incorporating the three key aspects of computing: digital literacy, computer science, and information technology. We equip our young people with the knowledge, understanding, and skills they need to thrive in the digital world of today and the future. 

We have structured our curriculum into coherent sequences, ensuring a logical progression of concepts, skills, and knowledge. It is planned so that students have ample opportunities to practice and apply their knowledge in practical and real-world contexts. Our teachers are provided with a detailed curriculum map, highlighting the intended learning outcomes for each year group. 

We use a range of resources, including high-quality schemes of work from iLearn2 and LEGO Spike, to ensure our curriculum is current and at the forefront of technological developments. Our teachers attend regular training sessions to enhance their subject knowledge and pedagogical approaches in computing. 

Teaching and Learning Strategies 

We adopt a range of teaching and learning strategies to engage our students effectively in computing. Our lessons are learner-centred, fostering an environment that values collaboration, independent thinking, and problem-solving. We encourage students to take ownership of their learning, allowing them to explore and ask questions. 

Our teachers use a combination of direct instruction, opportunities for practical activities, group work, and independent research to cater to various learning styles and abilities. We incorporate the use of digital tools and technologies into our lessons across the wider curriculum, providing students with first-hand experiences in using software, hardware, and programming. 

We make cross-curricular links to embed computing across other subjects, enabling students to apply their computational thinking skills in real-world scenarios. We also promote the responsible use of technology, discussing e-safety, digital citizenship, and ethical considerations in all year groups. 

Enrichment and Extracurricular Opportunities 

We offer a range of enrichment and extracurricular activities to complement our computing curriculum through organised coding clubs, Minecraft clubs, and online challenges to further develop our pupils' skills and nurture their interest in computing. These activities foster teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience while promoting a growth mindset among our students. 

Computing Impact

At St. Mary of Charity Primary School, we recognise the pivotal role that computing and technology play in preparing our pupils for the digital world they will encounter. Our computing curriculum aims to equip our students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and confidence to thrive as competent users of technology. The implementation of our comprehensive computing curriculum has had a positive impact on our pupils' learning and development. We have observed the following key outcomes:

• Increased confidence and competence in our pupils' use of technology, as evidenced by their ability to independently navigate and utilise a variety of digital tools and applications.
• Improved computational thinking skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, and algorithmic reasoning, which our pupils are able to apply across the curriculum.
• Enhanced digital literacy, with our pupils demonstrating a deeper understanding of online safety, responsible digital citizenship, and the ethical considerations surrounding technology.
• Stronger engagement and enthusiasm for computing, as reflected in the high participation rates in our computing-related extracurricular activities.
• Improved academic achievement in computing, with a growing number of our pupils attaining age-appropriate or above-expected levels of knowledge and skills.