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Computing Curriculum

Intent

In today’s rapidly evolving technological world, Benhurst Primary School recognises the importance of instilling computational confidence and digital fluency from a young age. We understand that future generations will heavily rely on these skills to navigate their career paths and everyday life. With this in mind, our aim is to equip pupils with the relevant skills and knowledge across the three core areas of Computing—Computer Science, Information Technology, and Digital Literacy—offering a balanced and engaging approach to ensure high-quality teaching.

At Benhurst, ambition is woven into our curriculum, as we encourage pupils to pursue mastery in computing. We follow the Rising Stars Switched on Computing and Rising Stars Switched on Online Safety schemes, which provide comprehensive coverage of the primary computing curriculum. This structured programme introduces a ‘spiral’ approach, allowing themes and skills to be revisited and deepened year by year. This repetition not only helps pupils consolidate technical skills but also encourages fluency in key applications and promotes creative thinking and collaboration.

Through cross-curricular opportunities, we aim to make computing an integral part of our pupils’ lives, preparing them for the ever-changing digital landscape. Our computing lessons go beyond technical knowledge to develop compassion—ensuring pupils understand the impact of digital technologies on individuals and society. The curriculum fosters the courage to explore new technologies and solve problems, while empowering students to use these skills ethically and thoughtfully.

Implementation

At Benhurst, our Computing curriculum exposes students to a variety of software, programs, and hardware, providing a wide range of challenges and hands-on experiences. We emphasise the modelling of specific computing vocabulary in each year group, ensuring pupils develop both their technical language and understanding. The curriculum is designed with spaced repetition and chunking, allowing pupils to reinforce their understanding of core concepts from the three key strands of Computing: Computer Science, Information Technology, and Digital Literacy.

The Switched-on Computing scheme is structured into six units of work per year group, with each unit consisting of six sessions—covering approximately half a term. These lessons are designed to be flexible, adapting to the specific needs of the class while maintaining a clear progression of skills. Teachers continuously review and refine lesson content in collaboration with the subject lead to ensure it aligns with pupil needs and school-wide goals.

Our well-planned lessons inspire boundless creativity in how technology is used and shared. Pupils are encouraged to approach challenges with courageous optimism, building year-on-year in both competence and confidence. The curriculum also emphasizes online safety, compassion, and responsible digital citizenship, preparing pupils to navigate the internet safely and respectfully. With these strong foundations, pupils will be ready to use their computing skills in a world where technology is constantly evolving.

Impact

Our Computing curriculum fosters an environment where creativity and collaboration thrive, encouraging pupils to challenge themselves while working with others. The impact of our curriculum is evident in the enthusiasm, confidence, and resilience pupils demonstrate in their approach to Computing.

By the time pupils leave Benhurst, they will:

  • Be confident and adaptable Computational Thinkers, able to use key computing concepts across various areas of learning.
  • Demonstrate perseverance by identifying and debugging problems with a problem-solving mindset.
  • Create and evaluate their own project work, applying the skills they’ve learned in innovative ways.
  • Have a secure understanding of the benefits and risks associated with a broad range of digital technologies, approaching them with compassion and responsibility.
  • Transition to secondary school with a deep-rooted interest in computing and the courage to tackle new challenges in this ever-evolving field.

At Benhurst, we are proud to prepare our pupils for the future, equipping them with the tools and mindset to excel in an increasingly digital world.

 

Year Group Overview

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