In preparing for the new computing curriculum in September, deputy head Rebecca Stacey has worked with the charity Apps for Good. She explains what the project entailed.

The change to a new computing-based curriculum for primary schools in September is giving teachers and school leaders lots to think about. For the first time, the computing curriculum has been given a complete overhaul and changed into a much wider, and arguably more relevant curriculum area. 

The curriculum now covers aspects of digital literacy, such as understanding the world wide web and making informed choices. Aspects of e-safety, always important, now look at recognition of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour while online.

Coding, which includes debugging code and explaining how simple algorithms work, begins in key stage 1. Sounds exciting? Definitely! It gives schools freedom to develop, select and play with technology in a way that I don’t think primaries have ever done before. At the same time we need to ensure that the computing curriculum is a meaningful and relevant experience, and not just a bolt on. 

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