Computing
Intent
It is our intent to prepare our children for their futures by giving them the opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills that will equip them for our ever-changing digital world. We teach our children to use computing for many purposes but most importantly we teach them how to use technology safely. Understanding that technology is now essential to many aspects of life we teach children to be equipped with the skills to embrace emerging technology and to use it confidently and efficiently.
Implementation
Culmstock has a rolling programme that meets the Computing aims and objectives of the National Curriculum. The core of our computing teaching allows children to follow a progression of age-appropriate knowledge and skills as they move throughout the school. We teach all children to use the internet safely and how to safeguard their own personal data when using websites and apps.
At Culmstock pupils have access to a suite of touch screen chrome books for Computing lessons as well as for cross-curricular learning opportunities. They are taught the age-appropriate, key computing vocabulary for their block of work and their individual lessons. Online safety (e-safety) is taught at the beginning of each term and whenever relevant to highlight the importance of it to children. Children are assessed against NC objectives and all pupils including SEND are given the opportunity to access the chrome books to support or enhance their learning.
Impact
Culmstock pupils become proficient in computing and can use and apply their skills and knowledge in this area to enhance their learning across the curriculum. Children leave with competent computing skills and as safe users of ICT with an understanding of how technology works. They are able to express themselves creatively using digital media and are equipped to apply their skills in Computing to different challenges going forward.
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. (NC 2014)
The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:
- can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
- are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
Computing at Culmstock Primary School
Computing teaching at Culmstock is split into three areas: Digital Literacy (including safe use of computers and the internet), Information Technology (use of software such as word processing, presentation, image manipulation) and Computer Science (primarily learning to program through coding).
As per the National Curriculum, pupils will be taught:
Key Stage 1 |
Key Stage 2 |
understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions
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