Subject leader resources
The following resources are to assist you in your role as computing subject leader in your school. Please get in touch if you have any questions relating to these materials or if you require support in your role.
Curriculum
Scheme of work curriculum map (primary)
Our curriculum map follows the structure of how the units are laid out on the site. It shows an overview of how all the units and taught themes link together. You can use this to help plan the progression of your own curriculum and to help staff understand how the lessons they teach fit into the bigger picture of their students' learning across the whole primary curriculum.
The map shows the progression of main computing themes: computer science, IT and digital literacy, and sub-themes within those categories, including control and programming, computational thinking, online safety and multimedia work with text, sound, art and design tools, animation and video.
Example long term plan (primary)
Our example long term plan shows how you could convert some of our planning units into a long term plan for a typical primary school. It follows the layout of units in year groups on our site but please be aware that it is not rigid, and there are more units available than those listed in this document.
You can use this to create your own long term plan, but be aware that you may need to make adjustments based on the knowledge and experience of your students and, in some cases, the equipment you have access to in your school. Get in touch if you need any help and advice with tailoring things for your school.
Example long term plan (middle)
Our example long term plan shows how you could convert some of our planning units into a long term plan for a typical middle school. It follows the layout of units in year groups on our site but please be aware that it is not rigid, and there are more units available than those listed in this document.
You can use this to create your own long term plan, but be aware that you may need to make adjustments based on the knowledge and experience of your students and, in some cases, the equipment you have access to in your school. Get in touch if you need any help and advice with tailoring things for your school.
NT Example Computing Progression Document
This example Computing Assessment Document is a framework to support you in the writing of your own for your setting.
P Scale - Computing attainment targets for pupils with special educational needs
Pupils with special educational needs working below the level of the programme of study for their key stage should be assessed using the P-scale statements.
CAS Progression Pathways
Progression Pathways is comprehensive and detailed guide to progression of computing skills from KS1 (Y1) to KS3 (Y9). The guide is set out in coloured bands (think Karate belts!) and, in this version, divided into the three strands of Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy. The document was produced by Computing at School and can be found, along with many other really useful resources HERE.
CAS Progression Pathways, 3 strand 'I can' statements
Another version of the CAS Progression Pathways document, where the objectives have been converted to 'I can' statements.
TeachICTNT units mapped to CAS Progression Pathways
This document outlines which of our units of work cover each objective in Computing at School’s (CAS) Progression Pathways assessment tool. Coverage for a typical primary school (end of KS2) would be expected to reach good coverage of the blue band, with some purple coverage as well.
Monitoring and inspection
TeachICTNT Self assessment standards for computing
A framework to support you in self assessing your school's current position with computing and the use of technology. This may be useful for subject leaders to assist with development planning for your school.
Observing computing
Are you required to observe colleagues teaching computing in your school? This article from Miles Berry of Roehampton University provides some simple, but really useful tips for what to look out for in computing lessons.
Evidence collection tool guidance document
This guidance document accompanies our Evidence Collection tool (available separately on request). The tool uses online forms to allow you and your colleagues to quickly and efficiently gather evidence of students' work, tag the work with criteria of your choice and view it all in the cloud. You can easily search and sort the evidence to identify strengths, weaknesses or gaps in your school so you always have your finger on the pulse of your subject and clear evidence to be able to demonstrate it to others when needed. Get in touch if you'd like to find out more.
Computing 'deep dive' experience feedback
This really useful slide deck was shared by King Charles Primary School through Computing at School, and provides some excellent feedback and insights into their experience of a computing deep dive as part of an Ofsted inspection. It's a very helpful read for anyone wanting support in preparing for inspection and just developing the subject in your school.
Ofsted inspector guidance for computing deep dives
This document was produced for Ofsted inspectors as a crib sheet to aid them in the process of conducting a deep dive into computing in a primary or secondary school. It can be equally useful for subject leaders to get an idea about the structure of their approach and the content they may choose to focus on. It is not a comprehensive content list for deep dives.
Ofsted inspector subject training guidance: primary computing
This document was created for training and supporting Ofsted inspectors to conduct subject deep dives in schools. The training guidance provides
a structure to explain variation in subject-level quality of education.
Computing 'Deep Dive' sample questions
This document provides some guidance into the types of questions you may face during an Ofsted 'deep dive' into computing as a subject.
Other useful documents
TeachICTNT Example online safety policy
This example policy is a framework to support you in the writing of your own online safety policy. It is not intended for use in its entirety, it may be appropriate to remove whole sections for your setting.
Please read the document and make any relevant changes so that the document is appropriate and accurate for you.
CAS Barefoot 'The Computational Thinkers' poster
An excellent visual poster-style guide to computational thinking. Produced by The CAS Barefoot Computing project. You can find all their fantastic resources here: www.barefootcomputing.org