Computing

Intent

At the Gates, we want pupils to be masters of technology and we aim to give pupils the life-skills that will enable them to embrace and utilise new technology in a socially responsible and safe way in order to flourish. We want our pupils to be creators and our broad curriculum encompassing digital citizenship, computer science, information technology and digital literacy reflects this. We want our pupils to understand that there is always a choice with using technology and as a school we utilise technology (especially social media) to model positive use. We want children to become autonomous, independent users of computing technologies, gaining confidence and enjoyment from their activities. We want the use of technology to support learning across the entire curriculum and to ensure that our curriculum is accessible to every child. Not only do we want them to be digitally literate and competent end-users of technology but through our computer science lessons we want them to develop creativity, resilience and problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Specialist vocabulary for topics is taught and built upon, and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged. We want our pupils to have a breadth of experience to develop their understanding of themselves as individuals within their community but also as members of a wider global community and as responsible digital citizens.

Implementation

At The Gates Primary School, we deliver an inclusive, well-sequenced Computing curriculum that meets the requirements of the National Curriculum. Our curriculum is carefully planned through our Knowledge and Skills Progression documents, informed by the Bolton Schools Computing Progression documents, to ensure that children develop the knowledge and skills they need to become confident, capable and responsible users of technology. Opportunities for cross-curricular learning enable children to apply and develop their computing skills across a range of subjects.

Our Computing curriculum is organised around four key strands: Digital Citizenship, Computer Science, Digital Literacy and Information Technology. Through these strands, children develop their understanding of computing systems and networks, data and information, programming and creating digital media. Learning is carefully sequenced from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to Year 6, allowing children to revisit and build upon prior knowledge as they progress through the school.

Digital Citizenship is embedded throughout the year, with one dedicated lesson taught each half term. These lessons ensure that children develop the knowledge and skills needed to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully. Learning is age-appropriate and progressive, covering areas such as online safety, personal information, online communication, digital footprints, cyberbullying, online identity and digital wellbeing. Children are encouraged to make informed choices, recognise potential risks and understand how to seek help when using technology.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, computing skills are developed through practical experiences and opportunities across the seven areas of learning. Children explore hands-on digital literacy activities, use remote-controlled and programmable toys, and begin to develop their understanding of technology and the internet. These experiences establish the foundational skills and understanding needed for future learning in Key Stage 1.

In Key Stage 1, children develop their understanding of computing systems, data and information, programming and digital media. They learn to create and debug simple programs, follow and develop algorithms, and use technology to create digital content, including writing, painting, music and photography. Children are encouraged to solve problems, recognise patterns and begin to explain how their instructions produce particular outcomes.

In Key Stage 2, children build on these foundations and develop greater independence, accuracy and confidence. They learn to design, write and debug programs, use repetition and selection, and apply logical reasoning to predict and explain the behaviour of programs. They explore how computer networks and the internet work, develop their skills in collecting and presenting data, and use a range of software to create and edit digital content, including animations, videos, audio, vector graphics and web pages. Children also develop their ability to research information, evaluate digital content and understand how search results are selected and ranked.

Computing is delivered through effective quality first teaching, with dedicated lessons in our computing suite and opportunities to apply computing knowledge and skills across other curriculum areas. Children are given practical opportunities to explore technology, investigate problems, collaborate with others and apply their learning to meaningful tasks.
 

Assessment is carried out through end-of-unit skills tasks, which are clearly identified in teachers’ planning. Teachers assess pupils against the Bolton Computing Skills and Progression objectives, using this information to inform their professional judgements of attainment, identify gaps in learning and plan appropriate next steps. Assessment information and pupils’ work are available for scrutiny by the Computing subject leader and senior leadership team.

Our Computing curriculum also promotes pupils’ Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development (SMSC) and supports the development of responsible, reflective and respectful digital citizens. Fundamental British Values are actively promoted through opportunities to explore respect, responsibility, individual liberty and safe participation in online communities. Through our curriculum, we aim to equip children with the knowledge, skills and confidence to use technology creatively, critically and safely, both in school and in their everyday lives.

Impact

At The Gates our Computing curriculum enables children to become both users and creators. By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply, and understand the knowledge, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study. We prepare children for the ever-changing digital world we live in whilst embedding the safe, respectful, and responsible use of the technology, recognising both acceptable and unacceptable online behaviour and identifying a range of ways to report concerns about content or contact. Children are responsible, competent, confident, and creative users of information and communication technology.