The Computing Curriculum at St Mary's 

At St Mary’s, we recognise the importance of providing our pupils with a computing curriculum that gives pupils the life-skills that will enable them to embrace, utilise and understand new technology in a socially responsible and safe way in order to flourish. We want pupils to use their skills to develop a positive understanding of themselves as individuals and members of their community but also as members of the wider digital community and to ensure that they keep themselves happy, healthy and safe in the way that they communicate online.

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Our computing programme also provides opportunities for children to develop the skills needed to reflect our learning values and promotes learners who are responsible, resilient, creative, independent, reflective and collaborative.

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The use of technology also supports learning across a broad and balanced curriculum and ensures that children are confident and digitally literate, developing skills that can support life-long learning and promote success in their future career choices.

At St Mary’s we understand how important it is to ensure children are safe online and take internet safety incredibly seriously. Our E-Safety Policy provides guidance for staff and pupils about how to use the internet safely. Each year group participates in an annual e-safety unit of work, helping them to use technology safely and responsibly.

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As they come to the end of their primary journey, St Mary’s expects all pupils to be responsible, competent and creative users of information and communication technology, who can apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science and who find computer science engaging and exciting.  

Learning Platforms

Computing at St Mary’s is taught through discrete computing lessons with digital skills being reinforced and utilised through cross-curricular learning. Computing lessons are taught using the Purple Mash scheme of work and encourage children to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding during each unit of work. Progression is carefully mapped every year to ensure that pupils deepen their subject knowledge as they move through their school years. Where appropriate, meaningful links are made between the computing curriculum and the wider curriculum, often themed around a year group’s learning journey.

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We place great importance on the provision of high quality resources in order to support quality-first computing teaching. We are able to offer a modern computer suite, which is available to all classes and can provide iPads and kindles for children to access digital resources in the classroom. Clever Touch boards also support teaching staff in delivering lessons, which are interactive and engaging.