Computing
Vision
At our school, we believe that the learning and teaching of Computing should encompass the following areas through the headings of Information Technology, Computer Science, Digital Literacy and E-Safety:
- Creative thinking
- Staying safe
- Using technology for the purpose.
Our aim is to support children in thinking creatively about how to use technology to support their learning across all curriculum areas and their lives beyond school – specifically, KS2. In an age where technology is pivotal to our daily lives (in both a working and social environment), it is productive for all children to have had the experience:
- Using a range of devices effectively and safely.
- Selecting appropriate applications to suit the purpose of a task.
- Connecting safely with online communities by the time they reach the end of KS2. We aim to ensure that our students are equipped with computational skills that will support them in their lives – both academic and otherwise – in order for them to become creators and not consumers of technology.
An understanding and innate awareness of how to stay safe online is of high importance and at the forefront of our teaching. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, expectations for children to use computing skills competently and confidently were placed upon them, reminding us that technology (including the use of social media) presents itself as an important and useful tool in order to move with and thrive in our ever-changing digital world. Alongside consistent teaching of how to use, communicate through, connect with and evaluate online resources safely, we want to inform and inspire our children on how to use technology to share their voice and access information effectively and know that when it comes to technology, they always have a choice.
It is encouraged that our Computing curriculum is threaded throughout all subject areas where possible to ensure that our children’s gained knowledge, skills and understanding from lessons that have been taught discretely, are used in a purposeful way so that they develop transferable skills. Our intention is that Computing also supports children’s cross-curricular learning to engage children and enrich their experiences in school. We believe in the importance of children being able to adapt their skills and use their knowledge and understanding of concepts to any given computer programme in order to successfully progress through their age-related learning intentions. In turn, we hope that they feel positive and resilient towards the use of technology and supported in their ability to think creatively about how best to use their computing skills outside of the school environment in order to solve problems, access and share information.