The Black Country Schools Federation
Computing Curriculum
A curriculum that develops digital fluency, logical thinking, and future-ready learners

At The Black Country Schools, computing is a foundational part of the curriculum, equipping pupils with the digital literacy, computational thinking, and responsible online behaviours they need to thrive in a digital world. From EYFS through to Year 6, our computing curriculum builds knowledge and skills systematically, enabling pupils to use technology creatively, confidently, and critically.

Curriculum Intent

Our computing curriculum is structured to ensure that all pupils:

• Understand how digital systems work and how they are used in the real world.
• Develop computational thinking through programming, sequencing, debugging, and logical reasoning.
• Become responsible online citizens, with strong awareness of safety, privacy, and digital wellbeing.
• Use digital tools confidently for communication, data handling, and creative expression.
• See technology as a powerful enabler for future learning and employment.

We aim for every child to leave primary school confident in their ability to navigate, use, and understand the digital world with independence and responsibility.

Implementation: What Computing Looks Like at Black Country Schools

We follow a structured model that integrates the Teach Computing Curriculum within a CUSP-style framework. This allows us to:

• Build progressive, spiral learning across KS1 and KS2.
• Align computing units with wider curriculum links (e.g., digital art with art; databases with science).
• Use shared slides, final product briefs, and teacher CPD videos to ensure consistent high-quality delivery.
• Deliver adapted units where necessary due to hardware, ensuring parity of experience across both schools.

EYFS (Barefoot Computing & Integrated Technology Use):

Children in Reception and Nursery access early computing concepts through structured exploration, including:

• Using Bee-Bots for directional control.
• Exploring cause and effect with touchscreens.
• Engaging in unplugged computational thinking tasks (sorting, sequencing).
• Discussing online safety through stories and songs.

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2:

Each year group follows a clear sequence of six half-termly units, including:

• Computer Science – Programming, logic, sequences, and control using tools like ScratchJr and Bee-Bots.
• Information Technology – Creating media (videos, digital music, 3D models), word processing, and publishing.
• Digital Literacy – Online safety, cyber-ethics, evaluating online content, and digital resilience.

Final products are closely linked to wider curriculum learning—e.g., animations about the Stone Age (Year 3), vector graphics in maths (Year 5), or podcasts linked to PSHE (Year 4). This ensures computing is meaningful and purposeful across the curriculum.

Assessment and Evidence

Assessment is formative, practical, and skill-based:

• Digital work is saved via Google Classroom.
• Physical work is recorded in computing workbooks.
• Knowledge Notes are used at the start of units for clarity and retrieval.
• Insight tracking is used for unit assessments.

Online Safety and Digital Citizenship

Online safety is woven throughout the curriculum, using the Education for a Connected World framework. We teach children how to:

• Use technology responsibly and respectfully.
• Keep personal information private.
• Evaluate the reliability of digital content.
• Report concerns about content or conduct online.

Enhancing Computing Through Careers and Leadership

We embed real-world relevance and aspiration through:

• Computing Careers Focus – Each KS2 unit opens with a computing-related career (e.g., Graphic Designer, Cyber Security Analyst), linked to the skills being taught.
• Digital Leaders Programme – Year 6 pupils support computing lessons across the federation, manage digital systems, and model online safety for younger pupils.

The Impact

By the end of Year 6, pupils at The Black Country Schools Federation will be:

• Digitally fluent and confident with a range of technologies.
• Independent problem-solvers, able to plan, test, and debug.
• Responsible online citizens with strong digital resilience.
• Creators of digital content, not just consumers of it.

Further Information

For:

• Computing Overviews and Knowledge Notes
• Online Safety Guidance
• Final product exemplars and career links

To arrange a visit or find out more about Computing at Black Country Schools, please contact our Computing Curriculum Lead:
Lauren Johnson – info@brockmoor.dudley.sch.uk