How Purple Mash Helps Schools Meet the Challenges Highlighted in the DfE's Technology in Schools Survey 2024-25

The latest Department for Education Technology in Schools Survey (2024–25) offers a clear snapshot of the digital landscape across England’s schools. While the picture shows steady progress in device access and connectivity, it also highlights persistent challenges: uneven staff confidence, inconsistent digital strategy, and a continued gap between the technology schools have and how effectively they can use it.

The survey makes one finding very clear: technology only makes a difference when staff feel confident, when it aligns with curriculum intent, and when it meaningfully reduces workload rather than adding to it. This is exactly where Purple Mash plays a crucial role for primary schools.

Purple Mash: A trusted solution for the primary computing curriculum

Purple Mash offers a complete, curriculum-aligned approach to computing and digital literacy in the primary phase. For many schools, particularly those without computing specialists, it provides the essential structure and support needed to deliver the subject well.

The Purple Mash Independent Impact Report (2022) demonstrates how powerful this support can be:

• 90% of teachers increased their confidence in delivering computing
• 89% reported a reduction in workload
• 94% felt Purple Mash improved overall teaching efficiency
• 85% of children enjoyed learning to code using Purple Mash

In an environment where the DfE survey shows that staff confidence and workload remain significant barriers to effective edtech use, these findings matter.

Purple Mash provides schools with a reliable, evidence-based foundation for digital learning — without relying on specialist staff. This is supported by a wide range of CPD options from on-site and online sessions to look at pedagogy and digital strategy, to webinars and 1:1 chats, all provided at no extra cost.

Reducing Teacher Workload with Purple Mash

One recurring theme in the DfE’s technology report is the pressure on teachers’ time. Even when schools have appropriate devices, many teachers do not have time to source resources, create lessons, or keep up with changes in curriculum expectations.

Purple Mash addresses this by offering:

• A complete Computing Scheme of Work, Online Safety, Spelling and Grammar for Writing Scheme
• Editable and ready-made lesson plans and PowerPoints
• Formative assessment tools and self-marking activities
• A broad range of cross-curricular resources, helping schools make the most of their technology investments

This means teachers can focus on facilitating learning rather than building lessons from scratch.

Purple Mash and Effective Whole-School Digital Strategy

The Technology in Schools Survey identifies digital strategy as a significant weak point across the system: many schools have technology in place but lack a coherent plan for using it effectively.

Purple Mash supports leaders to build a consistent digital approach by:

• Providing a clear progression pathway from EYFS to Year 6
• Offering consistency across year groups, regardless of staffing
• Giving teachers confidence to deliver statutory RSE and online safety lessons
• Supporting leaders with dashboards, reporting, and clarity around impact

For MATs, this consistency is especially valuable. Purple Mash provides a unified approach to computing, online safety and digital literacy across multiple schools, helping reduce variation and support improvement.

Bridging the Gap Between Technology Access and Effective Use in Schools

The DfE survey shows that although more schools now have appropriate devices, technology is not always embedded into everyday learning. Teachers often lack support or structured materials to make use of what they have.

Purple Mash bridges this gap by giving teachers:

• Engaging tools for coding, multimedia, design and creativity
• Structured activities that make meaningful use of technology
• A safe environment for children to explore, create, and collaborate
• Easily able to share work with the wider community and engage parents
• Home access included in every school subscription

This turns devices from “occasionally used extras” into high-value learning tools.

Develop Digital Literacy and Future Skills with Purple Mash

The report highlights digital skills as an essential foundation for pupils’ future success. Purple Mash is designed to help children develop not only computing knowledge, but also:

• Problem-solving skills
• Logical thinking
• Digital resilience
• Online safety awareness
• Creative digital expression

With growing expectations around AI, creativity, and digital fluency, Purple Mash offers a solid foundation for the skills pupils need in Key Stage 2, in secondary school, and beyond.

Purple Mash: Helping Schools Move Forward with Confidence

The Technology in Schools Survey paints a picture of a sector making progress, but also one that needs support. Schools face real pressures — workload, staffing, expertise, and time.

Purple Mash helps address the exact areas leaders are concerned about:

• Staff confidence → improved through guided lessons
• Curriculum consistency → ensured through progression and structure
• Workload → reduced through ready-made planning and resources
• Effective use of digital infrastructure → supported through meaningful activities

As schools continue to embed technology across the curriculum, Purple Mash provides a reliable, effective, and evidence-backed pathway to success.