Computing

Computing Intent Statement:

At St Peter at Gowts, our computing curriculum is inspiring and creative unlocking potential in all. Our curriculum seeks to ensure that all pupils flourish through challenge, support and a broad and balanced curriculum rooted in shared values and consistently high expectations while striving for excellence.

St Peter’s computing curriculum is fashioned through our golden threads of values, inspiration, excellence and community.

At St Peter at Gowts CE Primary School, we recognise that, in a now digital age, it is imperative that we equip our children with the knowledge and skills they will require to use technology and the internet in a safe and effective manner. We want to model and educate our pupils on how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely. We aspire for pupils to be creators not consumers and our broad curriculum encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy reflects this. Our knowledge rich curriculum has to be balanced with the opportunity for pupils to apply their knowledge creatively which will in turn help our pupils become skilful computer scientists. Computing is taught as a subject but the teaching of knowledge and skills also go beyond the computing lesson – the use of ICT is used to enhance and extend children’s learning across the whole curriculum. We encourage staff to embed computing across the whole curriculum to make learning creative and accessible. 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 recognise that the best prevention for a lot of issues we currently see with technology/social media is through education. Building our knowledge in this subject will allow pupils to effectively demonstrate their learning through creative use of technology.

Values – Our computing curriculum embraces our school and British values. We equip our pupils as digital citizens and aspire for them to demonstrate values and through their online interactions and behaviour. 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.

Inspirational – Our inspiring computing curriculum uses a wide range of apps, websites and devices to engage and support learning. We recognise that technology can allow pupils to share their learning in creative ways. We also understand the accessibility opportunities technology can provide for all learners.

Community – We aspire that pupils are digitally literate and able to join the rest of the world on its digital platform. We want them be equipped, not only with the skills and knowledge to use technology effectively and for their own benefit, but more importantly – safely. This also applies to supporting our families with regards to keeping children safe online and keeping parents and carers up to date with the ever changing and advancing digital world.

Excellence- Our cohesively planned computing curriculum allows all learners to achieve and complete learning challenges, through careful adaptations to learning. Our computing curriculum is progressive and upon leaving St Peter’s we strive for all learners to be skilled and knowledgable creators and consumers.

Computing implementation:

Our computing curriculum is built around the Purple Mash scheme of work (for Y1-Y6) and enhanced and personalised to meet the needs of all learners at St Peter’s. Enhancements and personalisation includes the use of adaptive teaching, links to the community and our locality and purposeful cross curricular links, which are planned and timely to support and strengthen learning. Our St Peter’s EYFS Curriculum relates to the objectives as set out in the Early Learning Goals, with clear progression from our littlest of learners (aged 2) to our end of Reception children.

In EYFS, teachers introduce different devices and objects throughout the year and model expectations of their appropriate use.

Pupils are encouraged to explore and use the devices and objects (including iPads, cameras, IWB, floor turtles and voice recorders) independently build an understanding of their purpose.
Pupils are also exposed to beginnings of internet safety as they explore the devices and objects and world around them.

Across Key Stages 1 and 2, Purple Mash is used as a scheme of work to support the teaching and learning of computing. This sequential, high quality and comprehensive scheme covers all aspects of the computing curriculum:

Computer Science,
Information Technology,
Digital Literacy.

In Key Stage 1:

Pupils learn to understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions.
They are be taught to create and debug simple programs and use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs.
They are shown how to use a range of technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content as well as recognise common uses of information technology beyond school.
They are be taught to use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.

In Key Stage 2:

Pupils design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts.
They use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs, use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and correct errors in algorithms and programs.
Pupils are taught to understand computer networks, including the internet, and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration.
They use search technologies effectively, learn to appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content.
Pupils are taught to select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals.
They are taught to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.

Beyond computing lessons, the use of iPads, laptops, smart TVs (etc), are used to extend the learning experience, enhance learning, enrich the curriculum and expand learning horizons.

We aim to provide all learners with access to a variety of resources that may not be readily available at home. In addition, children also have full access to the Purple Mash suite of apps, which can be accessed in school and at home.

Safe use of the internet (including social media) is promoted and explicitly taught, as well as embedded into the wider/hidden curriculum.

We are a National Online Safety certified school (with several years of accreditations) with well-trained staff that have the expertise and knowledge to educate and support our tech and social media- savvy pupils. We utilise the resources and materials from National Online Safety to enrich staff development and the curriculum.

To inspire the next generation of computer scientisits, local and wider career opportunities celebrated and explored throughout school.

Computing impact:

As a Year 6 computer scientist and digital citizen transitioning into secondary school, we aspire that all learners are digitally literate and able to join the rest of the world on its digital platform.

They will be equipped, not only with the skills and knowledge to use technology effectively and for their own benefit, but more importantly – safely. The biggest impact we want on our children is to empower them with the knowledge and skills needed to safely utilise the internet and social media – as creators and consumers.