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Rack House Primary School

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Computing

“Learning to write programs stretches your mind, and helps you think better, creates a way of thinking about things that I think is helpful in all domains.” - Bill Gates

Computing Team: Mrs M Starczewska and Miss M Watson

Our Purpose

A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world.

At Rack House Primary School, computing is a vital part of our curriculum, ensuring children develop a deep understanding of how technology works, how to solve problems through logical thinking, and how to express themselves in the digital world. Computing has strong links with mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides powerful tools for exploring and modelling both natural and artificial systems.

Our curriculum is underpinned by the three strands of computing identified in the National Curriculum: Computer Science, which teaches the principles of information, programming and digital systems; Information Technology, which enables children to use and apply digital tools to create purposeful content; and Digital Literacy, which ensures pupils can use technology respectfully, responsibly and safely. Through this, pupils become confident, curious and creative users and makers of technology—equipped not just for the workplace, but to be active participants in an increasingly digital society.

National Curriculum Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-computing-programmes-of-study

Our Curriculum Overview:

Computing Long Term Plan

How We Teach Computing:

At Rack House, our computing curriculum follows the iCompute scheme, which is carefully sequenced, progressively building pupils’ knowledge, skills and confidence in coding, digital creation and online safety. Concepts such as algorithms, logical reasoning, decomposition, abstraction, repetition, and selection are revisited and deepened through a range of engaging, practical projects.

Each unit is framed around key computational concepts and includes opportunities for problem-solving, design, evaluation, and debugging. From programming Bee-Bots in Key Stage 1 to creating interactive games in Scratch and exploring physical computing in Key Stage 2, lessons are hands-on, challenging and fun.

Cross-curricular links enhance learning—for example, using data logging in science or creating multimedia presentations in history. Pupils also engage with real-world applications of computing, including digital citizenship, data handling and web research.

We foster creativity and curiosity through structured tinkering, pair programming, and collaborative digital projects. Online safety is woven throughout the curriculum and underpinned by clear Acceptable Use Policies and direct teaching of digital responsibility.

Assessment is ongoing and formative, focusing on pupils’ ability to apply computing knowledge and skills independently over time.

The Results of Our Approach:

By the time they leave us, pupils will:

Design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals
Understand and apply the core principles of computer science
Use logical reasoning to explain and predict program behaviour
Create digital content and evaluate its effectiveness
Understand how computer networks work, including the internet
Use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly

The impact of our computing curriculum is evidenced through:

Pupil Engagement: Children are enthusiastic digital learners, highly motivated by opportunities to program, design and create. This is evidenced by pupil voice, computing showcases and engagement in enrichment activities such as coding clubs.
Problem-Solving and Creativity: Pupils demonstrate resilience, collaboration and creativity when tackling coding and digital tasks. They are confident using algorithms, debugging errors, and improving their work through reflection and peer feedback.
Digital Responsibility: Children are informed, safe and respectful users of technology. They understand online risks and know how to seek help when needed, contributing to a positive digital culture across school.
Academic Achievement: Pupils make strong progress across all three strands of the computing curriculum, with clear evidence of skills progression in programming, digital content creation and understanding of digital systems.