At St Mary’s, Computing is a cornerstone of our educational approach. It enhances learning across all areas of the curriculum and empowers pupils to explore, create, and communicate in a digitally connected world. Our curriculum is designed to spark curiosity, foster creativity, and develop essential computational thinking skills that prepare children for the future.

Curriculum Aims:

Our Computing curriculum is built around three key pillars:

- Digital Curiosity: Encouraging inquisitiveness and fascination with technology through hands-on exploration and problem-solving.

- Computational Thinking: Equipping pupils with logical reasoning, pattern recognition, and algorithm thinking.

- Wellbeing & Confidence: Promoting self-assurance and resilience by enabling pupils to express themselves through digital media and collaborative tools.

This is taught through the Teach Computing approach which provides comprehensive curriculum coverage, alongside supporting E-Safety resources.

Tools & Technologies

Pupils at St Mary's engage with a wide range of digital platforms and software to support their learning. Some of these include:

- Microsoft Teams- for communication and collaboration

- Espresso Coding- to develop coding skills in a structured, age-appropriate way

- J2e- for creative digital work including, writing, drawing, and data handling

Learning Environment

We are proud to offer a well-equipped digital learning environment:

- Computer Suite: 34 workstations and an interactive whiteboard for whole-class instruction and modelling.

- Tablets: 24 tablets available for use across all classes to support research, multimedia creation, access to computing software, and document production.

- Classroom Technology: Every classroom is fitted with:

o A dedicated teacher computer

o An interactive whiteboard

o A selection of pupil laptops for small-group or individual use

- Digitial Cameras: A class set is used in KS1 to capture still photographs, helping pupils document their learning and explore visual storytelling. In UKS2, pupils use cameras and software to create stop motion videos, combining creativity with technical skills in a fun and engaging way.

This infrastructure ensures that computing is seamlessly integrated into everyday learning experiences and supports pupils at every stage of their digital journey.

Cross-Curricular Integration

Computing at St Mary’s is a not confined to a single subject. It is woven into the fabric of our entire curriculum, supporting:

- English: through digital storytelling and publishing

- Maths: via coding and data analysis

- Science: with simulations and research tools

- Art& Music: using creative software and multimedia platforms

Teaching Approach

Our teachers model the use of technology with confidence and creativity. Lessons are interactive, inclusive and tailored to meet the needs of all learners. Pupils are encouraged to take ownership of their digital learning journey, developing independence and pride in their work.