Welcome to our Computing page

"Computers themselves, and software yet to be developed, will revolutionise the way we learn."

-Steve Jobs

Our Aim

At Birkdale Primary School, we understand that children are surrounded by technology in their daily lives and are growing up in an increasingly digital world. They are both motivated and inspired by technology-centred experiences and need to have the knowledge, skills and confidence to be prepared for a future which we may not yet be able to imagine.

Our aim is to provide a broad and balanced curriculum whilst ensuring that pupils become digitally literate and digitally resilient. Our Computing curriculum is focused on a progression of skills in digital literacy, computer science and information technology. These strands are revisited through a range of themes during children’s time in school to ensure the learning is embedded and skills are successfully developed.

Our intention is that Computing also supports children’s creativity and cross curricular learning, giving them transferable skills that they can use to choose the best tools for future tasks and challenges.

We want to our pupils to learn to use technology safely, responsibly and positively, making informed choices and knowing how and when to seek help if they need it.

Computing and Our Curriculum

Computing is the subject title that covers the teaching and learning of specific computer skills, with an increased focus on computer programming. All children from Year 1 to Year 6 have one Computing session per week with access to Chromebooks and iPads to carry out their work. 

Computing is also embedded across the curriculum, giving our children opportunities to apply their skills in other lessons in a variety of ways.

We are proud to offer all children access to the fantastic Purple Mash software both in Computing lessons and for cross-curricular ICT. This provides a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum with clear progression and consistency across the school. All pupils have their own Purple Mash login and can also access their account from home. Teachers may set additional activities for optional homework, which children will receive in the 'alerts' on the website. They can also 'hand in' work and check what feedback they have been given, providing a fully interactive approach to learning!

Purple Mash provides software to cover all areas of the Computing Curriculum, from coding to spreadsheets to blogging to online safety... and everything in between! Aspects of computing are repeated and built upon each year to provide our children with a challenging and progressive curriculum. Take a look at our Learning Journey and Progression Map below to see how that looks from EYFS right up to Year Six. You can also find all of the vocabulary taught as part of our curriculum, as well as our Computing Policy.

Meet our Computing Ambassador!

Our ambassador is passionate about Computing and is always ready to help and support other pupils in this subject. He thinks that Computing is so much fun that you don't even realise how much you're learning along the way!

Staying Safe Online

Online safety is a key part of our Computing and PSHE Curriculum. Every teacher prioritises this at the start of the academic year and begins with an online safety unit to ensure it is at the forefront of children's minds. This is then re-visited and reinforced throughout the course of the year within Computing and PSHE lessons.

Our children also enjoy taking part in Safer Internet Day every year.

Here our some photos of our work from this year:

See below for useful links and documents to support parents and pupils with online safety.