Curriculum: Computing/ICT

 

Please click here for the Curriculum Maps.

 

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.

Computing is also a discipline that involves the use and study of algorithmic processes, typically through a computer system, to perform an activity and achieve a task or solve a problem.

 

Aims

We aim to ensure that all pupils:

• 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 tchnologies, analytically to solve problems;
• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology;
• gain the confidence and capability to use digital and information technology in everyday life; to become ‘computer-literate’ and 'digitally literate';
• to be able to express themselves and develop their ideas through information and communication technology;
• are equipped to use information technology to create programs and systems.

 

Topics that pupils are taught in Key Stage 2:

• design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts;
• use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output;
• use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs;
• understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration; 
• use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content;
• select, use and combine a variety of sofware (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information; 
• use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.

 

Provision

The academy has securely-filtered wireless broadband technology allowing the use of computers and the internet whenever required in classroom teaching. Provision of ICT has been further improved recently with the purchase of additional laptops for use across the school and the installation of two new state-of-the-art ICT suites. This will enable ICT to be used across the curriculum in all year groups. 

We encourage children to use ‘Fronter’ – our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) – which allows both adults and children to access more of the school’s resources online.

 

E-safety

The school also teaches e-safety as part of the curriculum and as part of our safeguarding training. Please click here for further information.

We use very secure internet filters along with password protection to ensure users can use the school network safely.