Computing Curriculum
Intent
All pupils at Blakesley Hall Primary School have the right to deep and rich learning experiences that balance all the aspects of computing. With technology playing such a vital role in society today, we believe ‘Computational thinking’ is an essential skill children must be taught if they are to be able to participate successfully and safely in this 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. At Blakesley Hall Primary School our intention is to support the children to use computing cross-curricular to enrich the children’s experiences while at school and express creativity, as well as in addition to provide accessibility opportunities to our pupils.
Our Computing curriculum focuses on a progression of skills in computer science, information technology to ensure that children become competent and successful in developing skills to put them into practise. These skills are repeatedly revisited throughout the children’s time at school to ensure they are strongly embedded.
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 terms;
- Evaluate and apply information technology analytically to solve problems;
- Communicate ideas well by utilising appliances and devices throughout areas of the curriculum.
Implementation
At Blakesley Hall Primary School, the core of computing is Computer Science and Programming, which deals with the theory of computer processes, while computer programming is the practical application of solving problem and creating using this computer processes. Pupils are introduced to a wide range of technology, including Chromebooks, laptops, iPads and interactive whiteboards, allowing them to continually practise and improve the skills they learn. This ensures they become digitally literate so that they are able to express themselves and develop their ideas through information and computer technology– at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
Children are also taught Information Technology which includes: collecting, evaluating and presenting information as well as data handling.
We have adopted the Entrust Computing scheme of work to allow for quality planned lessons that are sequenced and well-structured allowing children to progress and develop their computing skills. Each half term children will be taught a new topic building on prior knowledge and developing Computing skills. The topics are outlined below: