Computing
Intent
At St. Philip’s Primary School our Computing Curriculum intent is to:
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Instil a sense of enjoyment around using technology and to develop pupil’s appreciation of its capabilities and the opportunities technology offers to, create, manage, organise, and collaborate.
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To allow children to explore with a range software / hardware and programs in order to develop pupils’ confidence when encountering new technology, which is a vital skill in the ever evolving and changing landscape of technology.
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Equip children for life in the digital world, including developing their understanding of appropriate online behaviour, copyright issues, being discerning consumers of online information and healthy use of technology.
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Enable children to be digitally competent and have a range of transferable skills at a suitable level for their future learning and future workplace.
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To be responsible online citizens.
The Computing Curriculum will work alongside other subjects within the school to cover objectives within the DFE’s Education for a Connected World Guidance.
Implementation
The National curriculum purpose of study for Computing states:
‘The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems, and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world’.
Therefore, our Curriculum is designed with three strands which run throughout it, these are:
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Computer science
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Information technology
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Digital literacy
Our curriculum is planned to ensure progression through each unit and each year group ensuring attainment targets at the end of each Key Stage are met. Although, there is no longer a Technology Early Learning Goal within the EYFS, we have chosen to deliver our Computing Curriculum within the EYFS for several reasons. Technology is a huge part of children’s lives even before they start school and by teaching Computing in EYFS, it allows us to have an impact on all children’s learning from their entry points. It also builds basic skills, knowledge and understanding in Computing, ensuring all children regardless of their previous access to technology, are prepared to access the National Curriculum on entry into Year 1.
The implementation of our Computing Curriculum ensures a broad and balanced coverage of the National curriculum requirements, and we have specific topics which provide pupils with the opportunity to learn and apply transferable skills. Where meaningful, topics have been created to link to other subjects to enable the development of further transferable skills and genuine cross- curricular learning.
Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work as well as unplugged and digital activities. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with a variety of learning styles. Knowledge organisers for each unit support pupils in building a foundation of factual knowledge by encouraging recall of key facts and vocabulary.
Strong subject knowledge is vital for staff to be able to deliver a highly effective and robust computing curriculum, therefore, our Computing Curriculum is based on the Kapow Computing Curriculum. Each of our units of lessons include teacher videos to develop subject knowledge and support ongoing CPD. Kapow has been created with the understanding that many teachers do not feel confident delivering the computing curriculum and every effort has been made to ensure that they feel supported to deliver lessons of a high standard that ensure pupil progression.
At St. Philip’s our Computing Curriculum is delivered by weekly discrete lessons in Year 1-6. In EYFS, Computing will have discrete adult led activities and opportunities will be available for children to practise and embed skills within continuous provision. Computing is delivered using a variety of resources such as laptops and iPad devices, as well as unplugged activities.
Impact
We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:
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Formative and Summative assessment takes place throughout the academic year. This is then analysed on a termly basis to inform and address any trends or gaps in attainment.
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Termly monitoring by the subject leader measures the impact of the curriculum through work scrutiny, learning walks to observe Computing lessons and through conversations with pupils.
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Annual reporting of standards across the Curriculum Subject.
After the implementation of the Curriculum, pupils should leave our school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and be active participants in the ever-increasing digital world. The impact of the Computing Curriculum is that children will:
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Be critical thinkers and be able to understand how to make informed and appropriate digital choices in the future.
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Understand the importance that Computing will have going forward in both their educational and working life and their social and personal futures.
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Understand how to balance time spent on technology and time spent away from it in a healthy and appropriate manner.
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Understand that technology helps to showcase their ideas and creativity. They will know that different types of software and hardware can help them achieve a broad variety of artistic and practical aims.
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Show a clear progression of technical skills across all areas of the National Curriculum- Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy.
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Be able to use technology both individually and as part of a collaborative team.
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Be aware of online safety issues and protocols and be able to deal with any problems in a responsible and appropriate manner.
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Have an awareness of developments in technology and have an idea of how current technologies work and relate to one another.
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Meet the end of Key Stage expectations as outlined in the National Curriculum for Computing.
