Computing - The most important lesson!

Computing Manager: Mrs Banks 

Intent

At All Saints we understand that technology is everywhere and will play an important part in students' lives. We aim to deliver high-quality teaching and learning opportunities and experiences across the curriculum that enable all children to achieve their personal best and to become independent users of computing technologies, gaining confidence and enjoyment from their activities. Not only do we want them to be digitally literate and competent end-users of technology but through computer science lessons we want them to develop resilience, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.  We provide a safe and supportive environment for all children to flourish in a range of different activities to promote their digital critical thinking and reasoning skills, as well as development of technical skills. Additionally, we consistently promote the use of technology safely, respectfully and responsibly. By the end of Year 6, all children will be able to recognise acceptable and unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact. We want our pupils to be fluent with a range of tools to best express their understanding and hope by Upper Key Stage 2, children have the independence and confidence to choose the best tool to fulfil the task and challenge set by teachers. We recognise that technology can allow pupils to share their learning in creative ways and can be used to support learning across the entire curriculum therefore we ensure that our curriculum is accessible to every child.

Implementation

The majority of computing that takes place at All Saints C of E Primary is provided through our Cornerstones Curriculum. Cornerstones offers fantastic, interesting projects intended to engage all children into every subject. We do however have explicit computing lessons which may be used to ensure the children have the digital literacy skills needed for a task or as a tinkering session when being introduced to new software to give children opportunity to experiment and familiarise themselves with the different elements and tools etc. Computing is taught throughout a series of topics across year groups following the national curriculum guidance to ensure a broad and balanced coverage of all objectives.

Every lesson taught within school will contain a challenge for the children to complete to extend and expand upon their main learning. This challenge will be visible for the pupils and communicated with the children by the class teacher. Additionally, we aim for other lessons in the curriculum to link with computing and computer literacy such as research, presentation and creating digital content about a topic - allowing children to practise their skills for a variety of purposes and audiences.

Impact

At All Saints C of E Primary School, the children are competent and safe users of computing with an understanding of how technology works. They will have the skills to express themselves and be creative in using digital media and are confident when faced with new technology. Our children can use many forms of social media and technology and whilst doing so they can keep themselves safe and show tolerance and mutual respect for others. We ensure that our Computing curriculum is progressive and allows children to develop fundamental skills and equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. As stated in the national curriculum:

…Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems….

…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….

We aim for all Year 6 pupils to leave school with digitally literacy and confidence in both using technologies for work and study, but also understanding the science and systems behind it, as active participants of a digital world.