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South View Primary

Computing Curriculum

‘Alan Turing gave us a mathematical model of digital computing that has completely withstood the test of time. He gave us a very, very clear description that was truly prophetic.’ George Dyson 

Our Computing Curriculum:

  • Inspires a love of computing, providing children with knowledge and strategies that allow them to be real-life problem solvers now and in the future.
  • Provides children with knowledge, skills and strategies that allow them to use computational and creative thinking now and in the future.
  • Provides children with knowledge, skills and strategies that allow them to become digitally literate now and in the future.

Intent

Our Computing Curriculum is designed to:

Instil a sense of enjoyment, confidence and inquisitiveness.

  • Learn about the capabilities and the range of the technology available to use. Wonder about what future technology will offer.
  • Understand the opportunities being digitally literate offers.
  • Create, manage, organise and collaborate both within the school curriculum and the wider world.
  • Develop confidence and curiosity when encountering new technology and software.
  • Provide the vital skills needed in the ever-evolving landscape of technology.

Ensure our children use technology positively, responsibly and safely.

  • Explicitly teach the importance of E-safety in every year group.
  • Intervene with bespoke lessons for individuals, groups and cohorts as needed.
  • Keep parents informed about emerging technologies, websites and Apps – both the opportunities and the risks.
  • Understand that everyone using technology and social media, has choices about what they present, share and view.
  • Understand the concept of bias when using technology and how this can influence what is being viewed online.
  • Teach the skills and strategies needed to be responsible online citizens both now and in the future.

Develop the next generation of creators, coders, users, designers and software engineers.

  • Ensure all children have regular access to digital devices.
  • Provide our children with digital competence and a range of transferable skills.
  • Children who are ready to continue their computing journey into secondary education, and through to future workplaces.

Implementation

The National curriculum purpose of study 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 scheme of work is designed with three strands which run throughout:

  • Computer science (the study of the principles and use of computers).
  • Information technology (the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of electronic data and information).
  • Digital literacy (having the skills you need to live, learn, and work in a society where communication and access to information are increasingly through digital).

Our curriculum is organised into five key areas, creating a spiral curriculum, throughout which pupils can develop their computing knowledge and skills by revisiting and building on previous learning:

  • Computing systems and networks
  • Programming
  • Creating media
  • Data handling
  • Online Safety

The implementation of computing ensures a broad and balanced coverage of the National Curriculum requirements, our `skills showcase` units provide pupils with the opportunity to learn and apply transferable cross-curricular skills. Our lessons include a range of learning opportunities from independent tasks, paired and group work as well as unplugged and digital activities. Each unit supports pupils in building a foundation of factual knowledge by encouraging recall of key facts and vocabulary.

Impact

Our computing curriculum enables children to 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.

Children will:

  • Be critical thinkers and be able to understand how to make informed and appropriate digital choices in the future.
  • Understand the importance that computing will have going forward in both their educational and working life and in their social and personal futures.
  • Understand how to balance time spent on technology and time spent away from it healthily and appropriately.
  • 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.
  • Show a clear progression of technical skills across all areas of the National curriculum - computer science, information technology and digital literacy.
  • Be able to use technology both individually and as part of a collaborative team.
  • Be aware of online safety issues and protocols and be able to deal with any problems responsibly and appropriately.
  • Have an awareness of developments in technology and have an idea of how current technologies work and relate to one another.