Computing
"Have you tried turning it off and on again?" - Roy, The IT Crowd (Chris O'Dowd)
Intent
Technology is changing the lives of everyone, never more so than in recent months. At St Peter and St Paul Carbrooke CE Primary Academy & Nursery, we aim to equip children to participate in a rapidly changing world where all aspects of life are increasingly transformed by technology. Through our computing curriculum, we aim to give our pupils the life-skills that will enable them to embrace and utilise new technology in a socially responsible and safe way. Students will become autonomous, independent users of computing technologies, gaining confidence and enjoyment from their activities. We believe technology should support learning across the entire curriculum, whilst ensuring that our curriculum is accessible to every child. Not only do we want our students to become digitally literate and competent end-users of technology; but through our computer science lessons we want them to develop creativity, resilience, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. We intend for our pupils to gain a breadth of experience, both in the programs and applications they study and as members of a wider global community. We intend for our students to become responsible digital citizens.
Implementation
At St Peter & St Paul Carbrooke Primary Academy & Nursery, computing is taught in discreet computing lessons, but the use of technology is encouraged to support learning across all curriculum areas. We use The NCCE Computing Curriculum scheme of work to cover the three areas of the Computing National Curriculum: Digital literacy, Computer Science and Information Technology.
Every lesson in our scheme has been individually planned so that it can be effectively taught using the infrastructure we have in place at school and so that it can meet the needs of all our pupils. Our scheme has been closely referenced against the 2014 National Curriculum attainment targets in order to ensure progression and coverage. Providing discrete lessons means that students can deepen and broaden their knowledge of Computing as an individual subject. Where appropriate, meaningful links will be made between the computing curriculum and the wider curriculum. In computing lessons, the children will use laptops in order to access a range of software.
Online safety is taught regularly at an age-appropriate level and forms the basis of all Computing learning. Children are also taught about vocabulary linked to computing and key skills for life including touch typing.
Impact
By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply, and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study. By the time children leave St Peter and St Paul Carbrooke Church of England Primary Academy & Nursery, they are competent and safe users of technology. The subject leader regularly reviews each part of the Computing curriculum, and Learning Walks and observations are carried out throughout the year.