Computing

Computing plays a significant role across all aspects of a child’s life. With technology the way it is today, children are spending an increasing amount of time using electronic devices and accessing the internet for online learning, playing games, using social media etc. and the use of computing is now more habitual than it has ever been.

A high-quality computing curriculum equips children to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has links with mathematics, science and design and technology. The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

At Bywell, we intend to:

• Promote high ambition for all pupils; including disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND
• Deliver a computing curriculum that builds on pupil’s prior learning and increases subject knowledge and develops their skills throughout their time at Bywell
• Deliver a computing curriculum that results in the acquisition of knowledge of the world around them
• Build a computing curriculum that safeguards and prepares pupils to live safely in an increasingly digital British society; being kind, friendly, compassionate online citizens, and understanding the consequence of their actions and their right to justice if used inappropriately and in a way that disturbs the peace

• Computing is taught as discrete lessons to ensure pupils are able to develop depth in their knowledge and skills over the duration of each of their computing topics.
• Computing is taught weekly during Autumn 1, Spring 1 and Summer 1 In years 5 and 6. In years 3 and 4, it is taught weekly during Autumn 2, Spring 2 and Summer 2.
• Purple Mash’s scheme of work is being replaced by Kapow’s scheme which will be used for the planning of computing lessons, with specific topics selected to support the needs of pupils. Topics can be richly linked to engaging contexts in other subjects and topics.
• A balanced coverage of all three strands (Digital Literacy, Information Technology and Computer Science) is to be taught across each year group, covering all areas of the Computing National Curriculum.
• As pupils progress through school, learning will be scaffolded, taking in to account what they have done previously and building on this. Pupils begin with a unit on creating media/animation in the Autumn term, moving on to programming/coding in the Spring term and finally moving on to exploring computing systems and networks in the Summer term. Over the years, pupils’ subject knowledge will become increasingly specific and in depth, with more complex skills being taught from one year to the next. Pupils will be able to call upon prior knowledge to support them to acquire their new skills.
• Online safety is taught at least once every half term to ensure that it is embedded, whilst being current and relevant to the needs of the pupils. Topics include online self-image and identity, online relationships, online reputation, online bullying, copyright and ownership, health, well-being and lifestyle and privacy and security. As well as this, we celebrate Safer Internet Day annually and ensure that parents are kept up to date with developments in safeguarding pupils online through newsletters and guidance through our school website.

• Computing was taught successfully, in a block, once a term, across all year groups during academic year 2024/2025.
• Online Safety lessons were delivered once every half term across the school.
• Evidence of online safety lessons is in computing books.
• Pupil voice indicated that children are enjoying their computing lessons. However, children expressed exasperation over iPads ‘glitching’.

• Ensure knowledge organisers for each unit are given to children at the beginning of each unit and stuck in to Computing books.
• Find an alternative to Childnet Digital Leaders programme to empower children to lead online safety in school. (Suggested alternatives Natterhub or Digital Ambassadors, Wider Learning)
• A free 12-month trial with Natterhub has been arranged. A remote online introduction meeting as been booked for Thursday 17^th July at 3:45.
• Complete staff questionnaire to find out if staff feel that Purple Mash is still an effective tool and they are confident using this to support the delivery. Organise refresher sessions for teachers to become more familiar with Purple Mash scheme used in school, in particular teachers who are new to the school.
• Request the IT department to review the iPads, including checking screen functionality, to ensure that children are able to access Purple Mash and that all on-screen buttons respond correctly to touch.

• New subject lead took over computing in November2025.
• New computing scheme from Kapow Primary to be trailed by new subject lead.
• New subject lead to tailor a curriculum from the topics available on Kapow primary (current timetabling does not allow the teaching of all available Kapow topics).
• IT department to be consulted in relation to software/apps being available on ipads in order to facilitate all aspects of the new computing scheme.
• New computing lead to introduce changes to the curriculum during staff meeting time commencing January 2026.

• Teachers generally find the new Kapow scheme to be more accessible.
• Better accessibility means that teacher confidence in the topics being taught is increasing.
• Teachers report that children are initially engaging well with the new tailored curriculum.
• Computing lead consulted with IT department so that all pupils have the means of accessing the relevant areas of the new tailored curriculum.
• Computing lead introduced the changes during staff meeting time. Teachers were encouraged to try out the new scheme and give feedback/request support as needed.
• The new scheme and increased teacher confidence offer pupils a more structured approached to learning real world computing skills and knowledge.