Computing
Purpose of Study
A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. The core of computing 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. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
INTENT
Through our computing curriculum at Whitechapel C of E Primary School 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 in order to flourish. Through teaching computing, we equip our children to participate in a rapidly changing worlds where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology. 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 alongside critical thinking skills. 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
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Across the Computing curriculum we want our children to acquire and then secure knowledge and transferable skills that are progressively embedded from early years to KS2 and beyond. At Whitechapel C of E Primary School we follow the National Curriculum programme of study which covers all three areas of Computing; Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy. We have drawn up many sources to create a bespoke, broad and balanced curriculum that incorporates the use of various Microsoft programs, Google’s Be Internet legends, using QR codes, augmented reality and a variety of coding packages that include Scratch, Kodu, Phirobots and Makey Makey besides other resources. These creative and exciting lessons are carefully timetabled so that each class has access to at least an hour a week using a bank of laptops, iPads and coding resources. |
IMPACT
We encourage our children to enjoy and value the curriculum we deliver. We will constantly ask the WHY behind their learning and not just the HOW. We want learners to discuss, reflect and appreciate the impact computing has on their learning, development and well being. Finding the right balance with technology is key to an effective education and a healthy life-style. We feel the way we implement computing helps children realise the need for the right balance and one they can continue to build on in their next stage of education and beyond. The way pupils showcase, share, celebrate and publish their work will best show the impact of our curriculum.
Click here for curriculum mapping.