Computing

 

Curriculum Area: Computing

Curriculum Leader: Mrs Jarrett

 

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

In Computing, we implement an inclusive curriculum that meets the requirements of the National Curriculum. Our Curriculum is well planned through our Knowledge and Skills progression documents based on documentation from Bolton Schools Computing Progression documents and provides cross-curricular links.

The Computing Curriculum has four strands: Digital Citizenship, Computer Science, Digital Literacy and Information Technology, and children develop their knowledge and skills in these areas.

They are taught to understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and how those programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, computing skills are taught throughout the 7 areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage to record and enhance their learning.  Children are provided with the opportunity to use a range of programmable toys to develop the foundational skills before moving into Key Stage 1. 

In Key Stage 1, they are taught to create and debug simple programs and design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts. In Key Stage 2, Pupils are taught to use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs and will be taught how to explain how some algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs. Children are taught this through the use of a range of practical programmable resources and computer software. It is vital that children develop research, investigational and many other cross-curricular skills during their studies.  They will be taught how to appreciate how results are selected and ranked and be discerning in evaluating digital content.

Children will be taught how to recognise common uses of information technology beyond school, understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration. Children at The Gates will learn how to select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.

Recording and assessment of children’s work is through an end of skills unit task which is clearly stated in teachers’ planning. All assessment of children’s work is assessed against Bolton Computing Skills and progression objectives and is available for scrutiny bythe subject leader and SLT.  Assessment information is used to support the class teachers’ professional judgement of pupilattainment.

The Gates computing curriculum is delivered through effective ‘quality first teaching’. Children have dedicated computing lessons inour computing suite, and they are taught computing skills across other curriculum areas.

Our Computing curriculum promotes children’s Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development, ensuring that they are reflective and responsible citizens.  Fundamental British Values are actively promoted in Computing lessons to prepare the children for life in Modern Britain.

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.

Computing in action

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Enrichment

Applying their technological knowledge and creativity in a range of real life, practical situations.

 

 

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Links

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