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Computing Leader's Toolkit
March 25, 2024
Existing subscribers to Purple Mash have full access to editable versions of the toolkit here.
The computing leader's toolkit gives you all the tools you need to establish excellence in computing at your school, in one place. It's packed full of practical documents that no school should be without. Whether you're a new computing lead, or more experienced and looking to take your computing program to the next level, you're sure to find what you need right here.
Acceptable use agreements
These are essential in helping to establish a shared safe practice school culture. There are separate documents for:
- EYFS
- Key Stage 1
- Key Stage 2
- Parents/carers
- Staff
Action plans
Action plans which contain concise and achievable actions will help Computing Leaders demonstrate better impact. They should always consider the overall current position of a school and a school’s aims for the academic year.
The toolkit includes:
- An example action plan containing guidance on how to formulate a successful plan, that you can edit to suit your needs
- A template action plan for computing leaders without a set proforma
Auditing computing
Auditing computing will help you gain a better insight into strengths and weaknesses. Audits should be used to help support formulation of key actions for the Action Plan and measure impact of existing actions.
The toolkit contains a comprehensive set of questions to probe strengths and weaknesses of computing with space to formulate key actions.
Budget planner
Understanding your budget and knowing how to allocate it is an essential skill for any subject leader. This flexible tool allows you to track and compare spending over five years and generate a handy graph to help you visualise key areas such as 'teaching and learning' and 'consumables'.
Computing policy
Every school needs a computing policy, created in collaboration with senior leaders and nominated safeguarding staff.
This example policy is the ideal starting point and easily adapted to your school's needs.
Online safety glossary
Staff should have a good understanding of online safety. Their knowledge of current terminology and current trends should be secure in order to help them spot potential risks to children.
This glossary is a poster, designed for use in staff only areas.
Parent/carer voice
Understanding pupils, parents/carers experience and knowledge of computing and online safety is a must. The frequency and method of gaining insight from these important school stakeholders should be agreed with senior leaders.
The toolkit contains:
- Pupil voice for computing proformas for EYFS, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2
- Pupil voice for online safety proformas for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
- Parent/carer voice for computing and online safety proforma
Progression of skills
Having clearly-defined skills to be learnt in each teaching session supports teachers in delivering high-quality lessons that lead to high-quality outcomes for all learners. Furthermore, this supports greater precision when assessing pupil performance.
The toolkit contains:
- Years 1 to 6 progression of skills document
- Individual year group versions
- A large wall display for communal areas
- Individual statement versions to share with children when focusing on specific skills
Safeguarding poster
Does everyone know who the safeguarding team are in school? Would visiting teachers know who to go to with a concern? Having visual posters with images and contact details of the Safeguarding Team is reassuring and ultimately, good practice.
Self-evaluation
The more reflective a leader is, the more standards in their subject will be driven forward.
This comprehensive tool will help self-reflection. Best used once a term, it can be used as supporting evidence for appraisals.
Staff surveys
Understanding staff capability and overall knowledge will help a Computing Leader grasp a clear picture of which areas need attention. Whenever surveys are conducted, strong emphasis should be placed on staff being as transparent as possible with their responses.
The toolkit contains both an online safety survey and a computing survey for all staff.
Tips for computing leaders
A quick-start set of tips which are designed to be kept in a Computing Leaders file.