Computing at St. Anne’s Catholic Primary:

At St Anne’s, our Computing curriculum aims to develop pupils’ knowledge, understanding and application of computing so that they become confident, capable and responsible users of technology. Following the CUSP Computing curriculum and the National Curriculum, pupils develop knowledge across the three key strands of Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy.

Our curriculum is cumulative and carefully sequenced, enabling pupils to revisit and build upon prior knowledge over time. Through explicit teaching of key concepts, vocabulary and knowledge, pupils develop computational thinking, problem-solving skills and an understanding of how computers and digital systems work.

We want every child to develop the knowledge and skills to use technology purposefully and creatively, while understanding how to stay safe and behave responsibly in an increasingly digital world.

Implementation

Our Computing curriculum follows the CUSP sequence, where knowledge is carefully organised and revisited so that pupils can know more, remember more and do more. Prior learning is deliberately connected to new learning, helping pupils develop increasingly secure and sophisticated understanding.

Across the curriculum, pupils develop knowledge in:

• Computer Science – understanding algorithms, programming, computational thinking, data and how digital systems work.
• Information Technology – using digital systems and software to create, manipulate, store, retrieve and communicate information.
• Digital Literacy – developing the knowledge and understanding needed to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly and critically.

CUSP places a strong emphasis on vocabulary and disciplinary knowledge. Subject-specific terminology is explicitly taught and revisited, enabling pupils to explain their thinking, articulate processes and communicate their understanding accurately.

Programming is taught progressively, with pupils learning to create, test and debug algorithms and programs. They develop resilience and logical thinking by identifying errors, refining solutions and evaluating outcomes.

Online safety is embedded throughout our curriculum. Pupils learn how to recognise risks, protect personal information, communicate appropriately and critically evaluate information and content online.

Teachers use CUSP curriculum materials, including knowledge and vocabulary guidance, to support strong subject knowledge, consistent teaching and effective modelling. Computing is also used meaningfully across the wider curriculum, allowing pupils to apply their knowledge and skills in authentic contexts.

Assessment

Assessment in Computing is formative and cumulative, with teachers continually checking pupils' understanding through questioning, discussion, retrieval and practical application.

Teachers assess whether pupils have secured the substantive knowledge and vocabulary they have been taught and whether they can apply this knowledge effectively. Misconceptions are identified and addressed through responsive teaching and deliberate revisiting of prior learning.

Pupils are encouraged to explain their thinking, apply their knowledge, debug and refine their work, and reflect on the effectiveness of their solutions. This enables teachers to build a clear picture of progression and ensures that pupils leave St Anne’s with a secure body of computing knowledge and the confidence to use technology safely and effectively.

 

	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
EYFS	People and Things	Commands	Smartie the Penguin	Building Blocks to Make Animations	Introduction to iPads	Share a Story
Year 1	Light and Shadows in Photography	Functions and Loops	Smartie the Penguin	Creating a Quiz	Grouping Data	Patterns and Shapes
Year 2	Drawing People and Places	Variables and App Design	Smartie the Penguin	Musical Action and Sequences	Technology All Around Us	Photo Collages
Year 3	Your First Movie	Using Loops and Repetition	Online Reputation, Passwords & Behaviour and Opinions and Differences	Selection in Quizzes	Branching Databases	Artistic Adjectives
Year 4	Storyboards and Movie Pitch	Using Variables in a Game	Making Good Decisions Online, Being Brave Online and Speak Up & Report It	Commands and Functions	The Internet	Infographics
Year 5	AR - Ancient Greek Civilisation	Loops and Variables	Positive Digital Footprints, Spotting Fake Information Online and Sharing, Settings & Passwords	Conditional Code and Types and Initialisation	Flat-File Databases	Podcasts
Year 6	Special Effects in iMovie	Functions with Parameters and Logical Operators	Relationships & Being Kind, Refusing & Reporting and Handling & Reporting Mean Behaviour	While Loops and Arrays and Refactoring	Communication and networks	Year 6 Short Film