Student strand

Core Digital Skills

This strand builds the essential digital habits students need across the whole curriculum. It begins with turning devices on, using a mouse, and logging in, then develops into navigation, file management, shortcuts, operating systems, and troubleshooting.

Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6

Year 1

About logins, using a mouse, and being organised.

Spark

ClickToReveal

Routine: See, Think, Wonder

Look at a login screen, a mouse, and a device power button. What do you notice, what do you think each part does, and what do you wonder about using them safely?

Content

ExpandingAccordion

Method: Guided explanation

Model how to turn a device on and off carefully, how to hold and move a mouse, and how to click the correct icon. Build routines for logging in calmly and looking after equipment.

Plenary

InstantFeedbackQuiz

Task type: Quick check

Students identify the correct steps for powering on, choosing the right icon, and logging in to the school network.

Overview

In Year 1, students begin by learning how to switch a device on and off, recognise key login routines, and control the mouse accurately. These early actions help them feel confident and independent when starting digital work.

Achievement pathway

Level 1: Turn a device on and off.
Level 2: Target icons with a mouse.
Level 3: Log on to the school network.
Level 4: Use a mouse to target and select accurately.

Independent task

Typing practice: 5 WPM.

Year 2

About files, formatting text, and being balanced.

Spark

InteractiveDiagram

Routine: Zoom In

Zoom in on parts of a screen showing a taskbar, a save icon, a folder, and font tools. What clues help you work out what each one does?

Content

BeforeAfterSlider

Method: Guided explanation

Show students how to open apps from the taskbar, change font size and colour, and save or open files in the correct folder. Introduce simple vocabulary for folders, files, USB cables, and power cables.

Plenary

InstantFeedbackQuiz

Task type: Quick check

Students match symbols and tools to actions such as open, save, change font, and identify cables used with devices.

Overview

In Year 2, students begin to understand that digital work can be opened, changed, and saved. They also start to use simple formatting tools and identify common hardware connections.

Achievement pathway

Level 1: Open apps from the taskbar.
Level 2: Change font size and colour.
Level 3: Save and open files in a folder.
Level 4: Identify USB and power cables.

Independent task

Typing practice: 10 WPM.

Year 3

About navigation, split screen, and being principled.

Spark

ClickToReveal

Routine: Think, Puzzle, Explore

What helps people move around a computer quickly and carefully? Which actions feel obvious, which feel confusing, and what would you like to test?

Content

ExpandingAccordion

Method: Guided explanation

Teach students the difference between left click and right click, how to move between browser tabs, and how to use split-screen layouts for research and writing. Reinforce clear file naming so saved work is easy to find later.

Plenary

InstantFeedbackQuiz

Task type: Quick check

Students choose the best action for opening menus, switching tabs, arranging windows, and naming files meaningfully.

Overview

In Year 3, students become more efficient when moving around digital spaces. They begin to use left and right click properly, manage browser tabs, and organise work across more than one window.

Achievement pathway

Level 1: Use left click and right click appropriately.
Level 2: Navigate browser tabs.
Level 3: Organise a split-screen view.
Level 4: Save work with meaningful names.

Independent task

Typing practice: 15 WPM.

Year 4

About systems, changing profiles, and being persistent.

Spark

InteractiveDiagram

Routine: See, Think, Wonder

Look at examples of user profiles, keyboard shortcuts, and a frozen app screen. What do you notice about how systems help or slow a user down?

Content

BeforeAfterSlider

Method: Guided explanation

Model how to manage Chrome profiles, use key combinations such as Shift and Delete in the right context, and copy and paste between documents accurately. Give students simple routines for spotting and responding to frozen apps.

Plenary

InstantFeedbackQuiz

Task type: Quick check

Students identify the right response for profile changes, copying and pasting, and basic troubleshooting when an app stops responding.

Overview

In Year 4, students begin to work more independently within shared systems. They learn how profiles affect access, how key combinations save time, and how to recover from common technical problems.

Achievement pathway

Level 1: Manage Chrome profiles.
Level 2: Use Shift and Delete keys appropriately.
Level 3: Copy and paste between documents.
Level 4: Troubleshoot frozen apps.

Independent task

Typing practice: 20 WPM.

Year 5

About mastery, shortcuts, and being efficient.

Spark

InteractiveDiagram

Routine: I used to think...

I used to think computers had to be used one slow click at a time, but now I think efficient users know shortcuts, search tools, and quick ways to manage digital tasks.

Content

ExpandingAccordion

Method: Guided explanation

Teach students to use common shortcuts fluently, including Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, and Ctrl+Z. Build confidence with muting and unmuting inputs, searching for apps, and using more advanced search filters to find files or tools.

Plenary

InstantFeedbackQuiz

Task type: Quick check

Students decide which shortcut or search method is most efficient in a range of realistic classroom situations.

Overview

In Year 5, students develop fluency and begin to work with greater speed and independence. They use keyboard shortcuts, manage audio tools, and search systems more effectively to complete tasks.

Achievement pathway

Level 1: Use Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, and Ctrl+Z fluently.
Level 2: Mute and unmute audio inputs.
Level 3: Search the system for apps.
Level 4: Use advanced search filters.

Independent task

Typing practice: 25 WPM.

Year 6

About operating systems, folder management, and being reflective.

Spark

InteractiveDiagram

Routine: Step Inside

Step inside the role of a digital expert helping another student. What would you need to understand about the operating system, folders, and network problems to support them well?

Content

ExpandingAccordion

Method: Guided explanation

Develop fluency with Alt+Tab for switching tasks, teach the key functions of an operating system, and model how to solve common network issues step by step. Reinforce the organisation of multi-folder projects so work stays logical and easy to review.

Plenary

InstantFeedbackQuiz

Task type: Quick check

Students explain what an operating system does, choose sensible actions for fixing network problems, and organise project files in a logical structure.

Overview

In Year 6, students draw together the full range of core digital habits. They use task switching, explain how an operating system works, troubleshoot network issues logically, and manage larger digital projects with clear folder structures.

Achievement pathway

Level 1: Use Alt+Tab to switch between tasks.
Level 2: Explain key operating system functions.
Level 3: Logically fix network errors.
Level 4: Manage multi-folder projects.

Independent task

Typing practice: 30 WPM.