Compton CE Primary School.
KS1 and KS2 Computing.
Curriculum Intent
Through our computing curriculum at Compton, 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. We want our pupils to be able to operate in the 21st century workplace and we want them to know the career opportunities that will be open to them if they study Computing.
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 and 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.
Upon completion of their journey through our school, our aims for Computing are to ensure that all pupils will be able to:
- Understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- Analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- Evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
- Be responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
Curriculum Implementation
In order to achieve the outlined intentions, the Computing Scheme of work we follow – Kapow – is continuously reviewed through monitoring and evaluation by the Subject Leader. Teachers demonstrate a high level of enthusiasm for the subject content and their expectations of the pupils are driven by the subject progression grids provided by Kapow. These have been written with the three core areas of Computing in mind:
- Computer Science – the understanding of coding and programming across a range of physical devices and digital resources.
- Information Technology – the range of skills required to operate and manipulate specific programs, systems, and content.
- Digital Literacy – the knowledge required to use technology safely and to evaluate and react to any potential risks of the online/digital world.
The National Curriculum provides the basis for the progression grids and this content is then supplemented by additional resource banks, such as; NCCE, STEM and Scratch. We also plan to participate in ‘Internet Safety Week’ in which each class is provided with age appropriate texts and tasks. Cross-curricular opportunities are identified in order to ascertain links between termly topics and to ensure that Computing is not just seen as a standalone area. Staff members are encouraged to share any gaps in their knowledge and skill sets to inform appropriate and individualised training/CPD.
In our teaching of Computing we endeavour to expose students to a variety of software, programs, and equipment in order to offer a range of appropriate challenges and experiences. Specific vocabulary for each year group is outlined in the progression grids and this is regularly modelled by teachers within their lessons. Spaced repetition and chunking within the curriculum allows pupils to develop their recall of embedded knowledge and ensures that each year group works on an aspect of each the three areas of Computing. Sessions are adapted to meet the requirements of a specific cohort and lesson content is frequently reviewed by class teachers and the subject lead. Our schemes of work remain flexible to allow teacher to utilise their own skillsets and knowledge to best lead the children on their journey towards becoming competent digital citizens.
Curriculum Impact
At Compton Primary School 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 wellbeing. Finding the right balance with technology is key to an effective education and a healthy lifestyle. 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. We encourage regular discussions between staff and pupils to best embed and understand this. The way pupils showcase, share, celebrate and publish their work will best show the impact of our curriculum. We also look for evidence through reviewing pupil’s knowledge and skills digitally through tools like Google Drive when using Chromebooks and the Pupil Shared Area when using laptops and, where possible, observing learning regularly. Progress of our computing curriculum is demonstrated through outcomes and the record of coverage in the process of achieving these outcomes.