At Burnside Primary School, we are committed to providing a purposeful, empowering, and progressive computing curriculum that prepares our learners for an increasingly digital world. We believe technology is integral to modern life, and we endeavour to foster a positive, enthusiastic attitude towards computing that stays with our children long after they leave primary school.

Through hands-on experience, practical problem-solving, and meaningful digital connections, our computing curriculum enables every pupil to thrive, achieve, and belong.

How Computing Reflects Our Values

• Be Safe: Online safety and digital resilience are embedded across all year groups. Children learn how to navigate the digital world responsibly, protect their personal information, recognise risks, and know exactly where to go for support. This creates a secure environment where pupils can thrive with confidence.

• Be Smart: Pupils build strong, sequential knowledge across programming, data systems, and hardware. By mastering computational logic, algorithms, and debugging, children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, empowering them to achieve their full potential and prepare for future careers.

• Be Kind: Technology is a powerful medium for communication and collaboration. We teach pupils to be respectful, empathetic digital citizens who use technology positively, value diverse perspectives online, and ensure everyone feels a sense of belonging in both physical and digital spaces.

Subject Aims

Following the National Curriculum for Computing, we aim to ensure that all pupils:

1. Understand and apply the fundamental principles of Computer Science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms, and data representation.

2. Analyse problems in computational terms through repeated practical experience of writing, testing, and debugging programmes.

3. Evaluate and apply Information Technology analytically to solve problems and present information effectively.

4. Become responsible, competent, confident, and creative users of Digital Literacy and communication technology.

Key Stage Progression & Curriculum Content

Our curriculum weaves through the three statutory strands of computing—Computer Science, Information Technology, and Digital Literacy—ensuring clear progression from EYFS through to Key Stage 2.

Key Stage 1

In KS1, pupils learn to:

• Understand what algorithms are, how they are implemented as programmes on digital devices, and that programmes execute by following precise instructions.

• Create, test, and debug simple programmes using logical reasoning to predict behaviour.

• Use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate, and retrieve digital content.

• Recognise common uses of information technology beyond the school gates.

• Use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private and identifying how to report online concerns.

Key Stage 2

In KS2, pupils build on these foundations to:

• Design, write, and debug programmes that accomplish specific goals, including controlling physical systems and decomposing problems into smaller parts.

• Use sequence, selection, repetition, variables, and various forms of input and output in programming.

• Use logical reasoning to explain how algorithms work and detect/correct errors in code.

• Understand computer networks, including the internet, and how they offer opportunities for global communication and collaboration.

• Use search technologies effectively, evaluate how results are ranked, and remain discerning when assessing digital content.

• Select, use, and combine software across digital devices to design systems, collect and analyse data, and accomplish complex goals.

• Use technology safely, respectfully, and responsibly, recognising acceptable and unacceptable online behaviour and applying clear reporting pathways for content or contact concerns.