Computing

Subject Lead - Mr Poon

Computing is an important part of all our lives and our future. It is crucial that we provide children with a curriculum that they enjoy and prepares them for this ever-changing world of technology. It is vital we educate pupils with the knowledge on how best to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly. At St Marie's, we develop a sense of curiosity and creativity within the subject; making links between different contexts and purposes.

At St Marie’s, we recognise that pupils are entitled to quality hardware and software, aswell as a structured and progressive approach to the learning of the skills needed to enable them to use it effectively. In order to achieve this, we have carefully-selected the Teach Computing scheme. We recognise that computing and technology are an ever increasing part of day to day life and we aim to ensure that all children are prepared for the future and the technology it holds. At St Marie’s, online safety is at the core of all Computing teaching and provides the anchor for every lesson. Pupils are taught the three main components of Computing: Computer Science, Digital Literacy and Information Technology. Their learning of the whole curriculum is enhanced through the use of a range of technologies.

Intent

At St Marie's, we strive to give children a thorough and ambitious education in computing, equipping them to use technology, computational thinking and creativity to understand and engage with the changing world around them. It is now more important than ever that children are able to use technology positively, responsibly and safely, and that they see good models of this.

Throughout their educational journey at St Marie's, children will have gained key knowledge and skills in the three main strands of the National Curriculum for Computing:

• Computer science (programming and understanding how digital systems work),
• Information technology (using computer systems to create, store, retrieve and send information)
• Digital literacy (evaluating digital content and using technology safely and respectfully).

Furthermore, from Key Stage 1 to Year 6, experiences in computing and the wider curriculum are planned to develop children’s computational thinking skills. In class and during home learning, children enjoy completeing tasks using Timestable Rockstars and more.

E-safety is taught through both computing and RSE lessons, as well as reinforced and discussed each time children interact with technology. We enjoy celebrating events such as e-safety week, where we come together as a school to consider how we can be safe when using technology.

Implementation

Our curriculum for Computing will be adapted from the Teach Computing scheme of work, ensuring high quality, engaging lessons and coverage of all aspects of the National Curriculum. This scheme was chosen as it has been created by subject experts and based on the latest pedagogical research. It provides an innovative progression framework where computing content (concepts, knowledge, skills and objectives) has been organised into a spiral curriculum, ensuring that pupils revisit learning and information areas throughout KS1 and KS2 with increasing depth each time a key area is revisited. Upon returning to each key area, prior knowledge is utilised so pupils can build on previous foundations, rather than starting again.

Impact

Through computing education provided at St Marie's, pupils can learn 'powerful knowledge', enabling them to become informed and active participants in our increasingly digital society.

Assessment

Monitoring, evaluation and review