Computing

Intent

With technology playing such a significant role in society today, we believe ‘Computational thinking’ is a skill children must be taught if they are to be able to participate effectively and safely in the digital world. A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use 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. 

At The Galfrid School, we teach a curriculum that enables children to become effective users of technology who can: 

• Understand and apply the essential principles and concepts of Computer Science, including logic, algorithms and data representation. 
• Analyse problems in computational term and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems. 
• Evaluate and apply information technology analytically to solve problems. 
• Communicate ideas well by utilising appliances and devices throughout all areas of the curriculum.

Our E-Safety Policy provides guidance for teachers and children about how to use the internet safely. Our Computing and PSHCE lessons in school enable children to learn the safe use of technology and the internet, allowing them to think about how they can keep themselves and others safe, being mindful of how their behaviour, words and actions can affect others. 

Implementation

We follow a broad and balanced Computing curriculum (based upon the National Curriculum) that builds on previous learning and provides both support and challenge for learners. We follow a Computing scheme from the National Centre for Computing Education (NCEE) that ensures progression of skills and covers all aspects of the Computing curriculum. Early Years is the first opportunity to develop our children’s digital understanding. We implement our computing curriculum by following the interests of the children through the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework which aims to guide children to make sense of their physical world and their community. Children are exposed to a variety of technologies throughout continuous provision such has having access to phones, interactive whiteboards and desk top computers. 

In KS1 and KS2 the Computing curriculum is organised around four key areas: Creating Media, Programming, Computer Systems and Networks and Data and information. These disciplinary skills are built year upon year to prepare children for KS3 and the wider world and to ensure children understand how to keep themselves safe online.

Teachers will plan knowledge organisers which outlines key knowledge and substantive vocabulary which all children must master. Low stakes quizzes will be used regularly to support learners’ ability to know and remember more and increase space in the working memory. All classes will have a scheduled Computing lesson each week and there will be an expectation that technology will be utilised throughout other lessons in the curriculum. Links to other areas of the curriculum are planned in advance so that children have the opportunity to apply their computing knowledge in other subjects.

Children's learning will be captured in a Powerpoint or a Class Floor Book. These will be used for reference and assessment, to provide a clear picture of the children’s learning journey throughout the year. 

Impact

Our Computing curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods: 

A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes 

• Children can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. 
• Children can analyse problems in computational terms and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems. 
• Children can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems. 
• Children are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology. • Tracking of gains in each quiz. 
• Pupil discussions about their learning. 

Our Computing curriculum is planned in a way which promotes the cultural capital of all our children. We enhance our curriculum especially for the most disadvantaged by organising guest speakers and organising Computing events which focus on the wider world and promote skills needed by children in their future careers. We develop these skills to enable children to choose from a wide range of vocations when they leave education.