Our Vision for Computing
“Preparing our pupils for the digital world; unlocking the potential”
At St Clare’s, we aim to provide a Computing curriculum that will equip our pupils with the knowledge and understanding to participate in a rapidly changing world where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology.
Intent
Computing is an integral part of modern-day life and therefore provides a wealth of learning opportunities, explicitly within the subject of computing and also across other curriculum subjects, in particular, mathematics, science, and design and technology. The core of the computing curriculum 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. Progressing from this, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils express themselves and develop their ideas as active participants in our digital world. Ultimately, we want children to know more, remember more and understand more so that they leave primary school computer literate.
Implementation
As a school we aim to create and foster a positive attitude towards learning about technology within classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in computing.
Computing at St Clare’s is part of a computing-based project that is closely linked wherever possible to our CUSP Curriculum for each half term, and is specifically planned to deliver the essential knowledge, skills and understanding for each year group. This is a strategy to enable the achievement of a greater depth of knowledge.
Through our planning, our aims of teaching Computing, which are outlined in the national curriculum, are to ensure that all pupils: can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
In Key Stage 1 the children will learn to understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions. They will be taught to create and debug simple programs and use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs. They will be shown how to use a range of technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content as well as recognise common uses of information technology beyond school. They will be taught to use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies. Each of these skills will be taught through exciting half termly units.
In Key Stage 2 the children will design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts. They will use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs, use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and correct errors in algorithms and programs. Children will be taught to understand computer networks, including the internet, and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration. They will use search technologies effectively, learn to appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content. Children will be taught to select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals. They will use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable /unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.
Even our children in Early Years provision will be exposed to the understanding of internet safety as they explore the world around them and how technology is an everyday part of their learning and understanding of the world.
Impact
This approach to computing at St. Clare’s results in a fun, engaging, high-quality computing education that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world, using computational thinking and creativity. Children are to be confident when using a wide range of hardware and software, and are diligent learners who value online safety and respect each other when communicating online, using technology effectively and safely. Our digital leaders are prominent and efficient and these children will be responsible for supporting staff and children in delivering excellent computing sessions and extra-curricular activities.
St Clare’s Long-term Plan for Computing and Progression of Skills
St Clare’s Vocabulary for Computing
GLOSSARY
This is a glossary of terms in the computer science context – the words may sometimes (but not always) have different meanings in other contexts.
