Purpose of Study

A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. 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.

Aims

The National Curriculum - Computing key stages 1 to 2

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation

• can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems

• can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems

• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

Inspirational People

At our school, we believe in using the power of inspiration to help shape the thinking and curriculum design of our students. That's why we have taken inspiration from successful and influential people who have made a significant impact in their respective fields. By studying their stories, we aim to inspire our pupils to aim high and achieve their own goals. We have carefully curated a list of inspirational figures, including scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, and activists, to name a few. We have analysed what made them successful and incorporated their values, principles, and strategies into our curriculum design to provide our students with the tools they need to succeed. By doing so, we hope to empower our students to dream big and achieve greatness.

Intent

We are setting out to help our pupils be ...

• Prepared. Understand how technology can help everyone prepare for life in the future and how it can be used to make the world a better place.

• Kind. Make the world a better place through safe and kind interactions online, helping themselves and others to feel confident and proud of their achievements.

• Creative. Have fun creating and consuming content worth sharing with others; demonstrating resilience when it goes wrong.

• Confident. Learn how to identify and use a variety of hardware and software to achieve specific goals.

Implementation

We will do this by ensuring ...

• Learning is purposeful and supports their understanding of technology that is used around the world.

• Children are taught to be responsible and keep themselves safe as well as how to help those who need it.

• A range of high quality devices are used to help children become familiar when interacting with computers in different ways.

• Pupils learn skills in a progressional way, celebrating their achievements and addressing any misconceptions.

Impact

We will have made a difference when ...

• Pupils value the curriculum we offer - they understand the importance of technology in the world and how it can change lives.

• All pupils are responsible and safe - they know what to do to remain safe online, helping their families and community.

• Pupils enjoy the curriculum we offer - they tell us they enjoy learning and are keen to use technology more.

• Pupils can independently demonstrate their understanding of the Threshold Concepts.

Threshold Concepts

These are our big takeaways called ‘threshold concepts’ - an overview of what we want pupils to know. They are the same for every year group and help us to ensure we build learning on the same ideas, that way we help children to be able to remember more meaningful connections rather than remembering isolated facts.

1. Computers follow instructions called algorithms.

2. Your information, pictures and videos belong to you and should not be shared online.

3. Not everything you see online is truthful or accurate, you should be careful if you use material that belongs to someone else.

4. Computers can interact with the physical world using inputs and outputs.

5. A variety of software can be used create content for different purposes.

6. You can communicate in different ways using the internet, it is important to do this respectfully and safely.

7. Computers and devices can be linked together to share resources, this is a called a ‘network’.

8. Hardware is the part of the computer that you can touch, choosing the right hardware helps you to do things more effectively.

9. Software is a program or application that runs on a device.

10. Information from the natural world can be collected using different hardware and presented using software.

11. Accessing information via the internet is called being ‘online’ in the ‘digital world’.

12. Technology helps people in different ways in their life, at home, school and work.

13. The internet can be searched for information, but it is not always truthful.

Year R

• In Year R children are introduced to the world of computing and technology. They are taught that technology is used in various places such as homes and schools, and that it can be used for different purposes.

• Children are encouraged to explore a range of technology, including digital devices such as tablets, laptops, and interactive whiteboards, as well as other tools such as cameras, talking tins, and programmable toys. Through hands-on experiences, they learn how to select and use these technologies for particular purposes, such as using a camera to take photographs or a talking tin to record and playback their voice.

• The aim is for children to develop their knowledge and understanding of the ways in which technology can be used, and to develop their skills in using these tools effectively. They are also taught about the importance of staying safe and responsible when using technology, such as keeping personal information private and being respectful when communicating online.

Year 1

• Children will be introduced to simple robots that follow instructions called an algorithm.

• They will learn what hardware is and how digital things can be saved (with easily identifiable names) on hard drives and opened again.

• They will use be taught how software can be used and data collected in different ways.

• They will be able to see how different single pieces of technology is used in everyday life for different purposes, following on Year R.

Year 2

• Children will now programme robots and learn that their behaviour can be predicted.

• They will use different multimedia and begin to manipulate this to create content.

• They will expand their understanding of new software that and accomplish different tasks.

• Finally, children will be taught that groups of devices can be connected in different ways and know that the internet is a network of connected devices.

Year 3

• Algorithms will be continued with the introduction of ‘loops’ which run on a repeat cycle.

• They will now problem solve and debug problems that can occur.

• Children will be taught how multiple pieces of software or hardware can be used to accomplish tasks.

• Children will be taught that communication is easy online, but that it must be done respectfully and certain things (such as pictures or videos) should not be shared without permission.

Year 4

• Children are introduced to inputs, outputs and sensors for the first time.

• They will be introduced to unfamiliar hardware and devices that perform different tasks, such as logging but that new software has familiar icons and images to support working across different systems

• Children will explain that when searching online, some web pages may contain adverts or pop-ups that encourage people to click on them and will have been able to communicate online safely.

Year 5

• New commands for algorithms are introduced that children will explore.

• They should be able to explain many different physical ways computers can be connected and how the internet works.

• They will create, select and combine a range of texts, images, sound clips and videos for given purposes.

• Children will understand that digital content is always traceable back to the source and that multiple software and hardware can be used to accomplish a task.

Year 6

• Children will now be able to start with large problems and break these down into smaller parts in order to debug them efficiently.

• They will know that a range of technologies can be combined to achieve a particular outcome.

• They will control a physical system using input and output commands.

• Children will be selecting the most effective hardware or software for a given task.

• Online safety will include understanding that people are not always who they say they are and different platforms of communication have different risks.