Why do we learn computing?
Our approach
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6

Why do we learn computing?

Conway students are responsible online citizens and our whole curriculum is based in a belief that using technology safely and responsibly is at the forefront of our minds when accessing the online world. The skills learned during their time at Conway allow our children to explore the subject further at Secondary school and beyond giving them the basis to be online citizens who positively contribute to their physical and digital communities in an impactful and positive manner.

Our approach

Our blended approach to teaching computing creates pupils who are passionate about using and learning about technology. Pupils access computing through weekly discrete lessons as well as cross-curricularly during their other subjects. Children learn at Ark Conway learn how to code and create their own algorithms; use information technology to create blogs, websites and spreadsheets as well as use technology safely.

Teachers at Ark Conway intellectually prepare to deliver high quality sessions by using our robust and engaging computing curriculum. We use ‘Purple Mash’ to support the planning and delivery of our exciting computing lessons. This program teaches new skills in Reception and Year 1 and then progressively builds upon these skills through to Year 6. This ensures all children continually progress and improve their computing skills during their time at Ark Conway and are met with suitable challenge in each new unit and each new year group they enter.

Year 1

Autumn 1 Autumn 2
In this unit we will become familiar with how to use a computer keyboard so that pupils can confidently begin to login with assistance and navigate a programme using a touchpad. In this unit we will become familiar with how to log in more independently and work towards completing out first unit of Purple Mash and exploring grouping and sorting items by different criteria away from the computer. 
Spring 1 Spring 2
This unit is an introduction to pictograms and looking at how they can be used to represent data. We will be applying this knowledge to two projects. Our first project is discussing and illustrating the transport used to travel to school. Our final project we will be collecting, discussing, and illustrating the results of rolling a die 20 times as a pictogram. This term we will be moving onto our lego builder’s unit where we are encouraged to begin to think logically about scenarios. We will be introduced to the term ‘algorithm’. This concept is at the core of coding. The next unit (Maze Explorers), builds upon this, linking logical thought processes to the way that computers are programmed.
Summer 1 Summer 2
This term we will be moving onto our Maze Explorers unit by linking logical thought processes to the way that computers are programmed. We will learn how to use the direction keys in 2Go to move forwards, backwards, left and right working towards using additional direction keys to create a new algorithm. We will be challenging ourselves to use longer algorithms to complete challenges. This term we will be moving onto our animated storybook unit. We will learn how to add animation, sound effects and backgrounds to a picture. 

All Year 1 subjects Next Year 1 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 2

Autumn 1 Autumn 2
In our unit on coding we will be learning to:
  • understand what an algorithm is 

  • create a computer program using an algorithm 

  • create a program using a given design 

  • understand the collision detection event 

  • understand that algorithms follow a sequence 

  • design an algorithm that follows a timed sequence 

  • understand that different objects have different 
properties 

  • understand what different events do in code 

  • understand the function of buttons in a program. 

  • understand and debug simple programs 


In our unit on coding we will be learning to: 

  • understand what an algorithm is 

  • create a computer program using an algorithm 

  • create a program using a given design 

  • understand the collision detection event 

  • understand that algorithms follow a sequence 

  • design an algorithm that follows a timed sequence 

  • understand that different objects have different 
properties 

  • understand what different events do in code 

  • understand the function of buttons in a program. 

  • understand and debug simple programs
Spring 1 Spring 2

Search and share information safely and responsibly 


Send and receive emails and use emails appropriately 


Understand what a digital footprint is and identify what we would or would not want in our digital footprints 


Identify the different parts of a spreadsheet 

Use the copying, pasting and totalling tools 


Use a spreadsheet to add amounts

Create a table and block graph 
Summer 1 Summer 2

Search and share information safely and responsibly 


Send and receive emails and use emails appropriately 


Understand what a digital footprint is and identify what we would or would not want in our digital footprints 

This term we will be learning to:

Use spreadsheets to collect and organise data, as well as performing simple calculations 


Construct a binary tree to identify items and use one to answer questions 


Use databases and search tools to find information 

 

All Year 2 subjects Next Year 2 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 3

Autumn 1 Autumn 2
We will continue to learn computing through a curriculum called Purple Mash.

This term our Computing unit is called ‘Online Safety’.

We will be learning: 

To know what makes a safe password. 


To learn methods for keeping passwords safe. 

To consider the truth of the content of websites.

To learn about the meaning of age restrictions 
symbols on digital media and devices. 

Spring 1 Spring 2

This term we will be continuing our learning about Online Safety. This will include: 

Learning about game ratings, how and why they are given to certain games

Rules around keeping passwords private 


Advice for researching online and how to evaluate how reliable information is.

Things to consider when posting or blogging online. 

This term our Computing unit is called ‘Spreadsheets’. We will be learning: 

To use the symbols more than, less than and equal to, in order to compare values. 


To use 2Calculate to collect data and produce a 
variety of graphs. 


To use the advanced mode of 2Calculate to learn 
about cell references. 
Summer 1 Summer 2

This term our Computing unit is called ‘Spreadsheets’. We will be learning: 

To use the symbols more than, less than and equal to, to compare values. 


To use 2Calculate to collect data and produce a 
variety of graphs. 


To use the advanced mode of 2Calculate to learn 
about cell references. 

Our computing learning this term will focus on Graphing. The children will learn: 

To enter data into a graph and answer questions. 


To solves an investigation and present the results in graphic form. 

All Year 3 subjects Next Year 3 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 4

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

This term our Computing unit is called ‘Coding’. We will be learning: 

To design code, test it, and debug 

What IF statements are and how to use them 


How co-ordinates are used in programming 


To use a number variable in our code 


To make a playable game 

This term our Computing unit is called ‘Online Safety’. We will be learning to: 

Understand the term ‘phishing’ and identify scam 
emails 


Identify the risks associated with malware 


Know the difference between plagiarism and 
research 
Spring 1 Spring 2

This term our Computing unit is called ‘Writing for Different Audiences’. We will be learning: 

The key vocabulary around writing in computing 


To edit pieces to change font and font size 


To write newspaper articles 


To write for campaigns online 

This term our Computing unit is called ‘2Logo’. Year 4 will focus on: 

The structure and language of the programming 
software 2Logo and how it creates patterns 


Using 2Logo to create letter shapes 


Using the Repeat command in 2Logo 


Using an building procedures in 2Logo 
Summer 1 Summer 2

This term our Computing unit is called ‘Logo’. We will be learning: 

To use the program 2Logo to create mathematical 
and artistic patterns 


To create letters using 2Logo 


To use the ‘repeat’ command in 2Logo 


To use the ‘procedure’ feature effectively 

 This term we will learn how to use effective searches to find our desired results when using the internet. We will then become hardware investigators and discover how computers work. 

All Year 4 subjects Next Year 4 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 5

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

We will be using Purple Mash to develop our coding skills. 


We will also use computers for research in Literacy and History. 

Using the Purple Mash curriculum, pupils will:

Understand the impact of sharing digital content

Review their responsibility to one another in their online behaviour
Spring 1 Spring 2

Using the Purple Mash curriculum, pupils will: 

Use formulae within a spreadsheet to convert 
measurements of length and distance. 


Use spreadsheets to model real-life problems. 


Use a spreadsheet to help plan a cake sale. 

Using the Purple Mash curriculum, pupils will:


Understand the impact of sharing digital 
content


Review their responsibility to one another in their online behaviour 
Summer 1 Summer 2

Using the Purple Mash curriculum, pupils will:

Use formulae within a spreadsheet to convert measurements of length and distance

Use spreadsheets to model a real-life problem and plan a sale

Using the Purple Mash curriculum, pupils will:


Use formulae within a spreadsheet to convert 
measurements of length and distance


Use spreadsheets to support planning their 
business for the Summer Fair. 

All Year 5 subjects Next Year 5 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 6

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Coding

This unit builds upon the coding work pupils completed in Year 5. They will be designing and coding a digital game, and learning the key components of a coding language.

Online safety

To know what makes a safe, password and learn methods for keeping passwords safe.

To consider the truth of the content of websites.

To learn about the meaning of age restriction symbols on digital media and devices.
Spring 1 Spring 2

Spreadsheets

We will be learning how to use a spreadsheet, learning how to input data and use formulas to manipulate this information. This will be applied to problems such as calculating the sale and final prices of items, planning how to spend pocket money and effective money saving.

Blogs

Pupils will explore the criteria of a blog, building up to planning on writing their own blog on a subject of their choice.

We will also discuss how to share, post and comment on others in an appropriate and safe way.
Summer 1 Summer 2

This term we will:

• To find out what a text adventure is.
• To use 2Connect to plan a story
adventure.
• To make a story-based adventure
using 2Create a Story.

This term we will: 

To create a picture-based quiz for
young children.
• To learn how to use the question types
within 2Quiz.
• To explore the grammar quizzes.
• To make a quiz that requires the player
to search a database.
• To make a quiz to test your teachers
or parents.

All Year 6 subjects Next Year 6 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages