Computing

Through our computing curriculum, we give our pupils the skills that enable them to embrace, manipulate and create with new technology in a socially responsible and safe way.

Four strands of our curriculum

Strand 1: Digital Literacy and E-Safety

Our e-safety curriculum is imbedded in our teaching whenever we are learning about digital literacy. We also teach e-safety in discrete, dedicated lessons throughout the year. For more on our e-safety programme, including e-safety week each term, please see the wellbeing section of our website.

Strand 2: Systems and Networks

This strand builds throughout the school, enabling pupils to build on concepts and information learned in previous years. Pupils will learn how different components of computers work together, as well as how networks of computers interact. They will model the key processes that enable the internet to function such as packet transfer and address protocols.

Strand 3: Desktop Publishing

We teach computing and computational thinking in specific lessons each week, as well as the medium by which other subjects are encountered. Using computers, pupils research their topics, compose, edit and publish their written work, and record and analyse data. Pupils use computers creatively, recording, shooting, editing and manipulating photographs, audio and video material.

Strand 4: Computational Thinking and Coding

We teach computational thinking and logic through the coding part of our curriculum, often a focus of the summer term. Using physical Bee Bot robots in Key Stage 1 and software simulations throughout the school, pupils learn how to translate ideas into coded instructions. Pupils use loops and other simple algorithms to process inputs into desired outputs.

Intent

It is our intention for children:

• to be taught the National Curriculum content through high quality teaching.
• to embed computing across our wider curriculum.
• to be equipped to participate in a rapidly changing world with lifelong learning skills enabling them to be confident and creative users of technology
• to be taught how to use the internet and digital communication safely and responsibly, both in school and outside the school environment. 
• to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including algorithms, logic, abstraction and data representation.
• to analyse and solve problems in computational terms by writing algorithms and programs.
• to evaluate and apply information technology, including the use of new or unfamiliar technologies.

Implementation

This will be implemented by:

• Computing supports learning across the curriculum and also in computing skills are taught through discrete lessons, providing clear progression across the school.
• Teachers ensure meaningful contexts for the teaching of skills and, where relevant, these link to the cross-curricular topic being studied.
• All our classrooms have interactive screen. We have a dedicated IT suite with a PC available for every child. Every class has iPads and Chromebooks to support learning, and other devices such as digital cameras and video cameras are available to support teaching and learning.  There is also a variety of software and other carefully selected online resources used across the school.
• Children are encouraged to use the internet at all times in a safe way. They are explicitly taught about e-safety using age-appropriate material. The school’s computer system has filtered access to the internet. 
• Parents and pupils are also required to sign an Appropriate Usage Form to ensure that they understand the risks and sanctions relating to misuse of the system in and beyond the school.

Impact

The impact is monitored through:

• Teachers use assessment tasks throughout each module to to record if children are working towards, expected or greater depth for knowledge across different  stands of the curriculum.
• Samples of work are monitored by the subject leader
• Pupil voice sessions provide information on children’s viewpoints. The subject leader uses this information for the future development of a subject.