Computing
Intent
At Wellington Primary School we want our learners to be masters of technology and not slaves to it. Technology is everywhere and it will play a pivotal part in their lives. We want to model and educate our learners on how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely.
We want our learners to be creators not consumers and our broad curriculum encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy reflects this. Our knowledge rich curriculum is balanced with the opportunity for learners to apply their knowledge creatively which will help them become skilful computer users.
We want our learners 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.
We encourage staff to embed Computing across the whole curriculum to make learning creative and accessible. We want our learners to be fluent with a range of tools to best express their understanding so that by the time they reach Year 5 and 6, learners have the independence and confidence to choose the best tool to fulfil the task or challenge set by their teachers.
Implementation
Computing Curriculum
Our scheme of work for the Computing Curriculum is adapted from the ‘Teach Computing’ Curriculum and it covers all aspects of the National Curriculum. This scheme was chosen because it has been created by subject experts and based on the latest educational research. It provides an innovative progression framework where Computing content (concepts, knowledge, skills and objectives) has been organised into interconnected modules of work.
The curriculum aims to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to thrive in the digital world of today and the future. The curriculum can be broken down into 3 strands: computer science, information technology and digital literacy, with the aims of the curriculum reflecting this distinction.
The national curriculum for Computing aims to ensure all learners:
- can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation (Computer Science)
- can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems (Computer Science)
- can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems (Information Technology)
- are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology (Digital Literacy).
Online Safety And Digital Citizenship
We take online safety very seriously and we aim to give learners the necessary skills to keep themselves safe online. Learners have a right to enjoy childhood online, to access safe online spaces and to benefit from all the opportunities that a connected world can bring them, appropriate to their age and stage.
Our scheme of work for E Safety and Digital Citizenship is adapted from the ‘Project Evolve’ framework which resources each of the 330 statements from the UK Council For Internet Safety’s (UKCIS) framework “Education for a Connected World” with perspectives, research, activities, outcomes, supporting resources and professional development materials. The vibrant new content has been written by a team of experts at the UK Safer Internet Centre. It is up to date, relevant and engaging and moves online life education into the 21st century.
Within each year group topics include:
- Self Image And Identity
- Online Relationships
- Online Reputation
- Online Bullying
- Managing Online Information
- Health Well-being And Lifestyle
- Privacy And Security
- Copyright And Ownership
The framework aims to support and broaden the provision of online safety education, so that it is empowering and builds resilience. The objectives promote the development of safe and appropriate long-term behaviours, and supports educators in shaping the culture within their setting and beyond.
Long-Term Overview:
Impact
We encourage our learners 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 learners realise the need for the right balance and one they can continue to build on in their next stage of education and beyond. We encourage regular discussions between staff and learners to best embed and understand this.
The impact of our Computing curriculum is demonstrated through outcomes and the record of coverage in the process of achieving these outcomes. We look for evidence of the impact of our curriculum by reviewing pupil’s knowledge and skills digitally through tools like Google Drive and observing learning regularly. The way our learners showcase, share, celebrate and publish their work best shows the impact of our curriculum.