Intent:
Computing at West Cornforth Primary School intends to develop ‘thinkers of the future’, through a modern, ambitious and relevant education in computing. We want to equip pupils to use computational thinking and creativity that will enable them to become active participants in the digital world. It is important to us that the children understand how to use the ever-changing technology to express themselves, as tools for learning and as a means to drive their generation forward.
Whilst ensuring pupils understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with online experiences, we want children to develop as respectful, responsible and confident users of technology, aware of measures that can be taken to keep themselves and others safe online. We want our pupils to understand that there is always a choice with using technology and as a school we utilise technology (especially social media) to model positive use. We recognise that the best prevention for a lot of issues we currently see with technology/social media is through education.
We recognise that technology can allow pupils to share their learning in creative ways. We also understand the accessibility opportunities technology can provide for our pupils. Our knowledge-rich curriculum is balanced with the opportunity for pupils to apply their knowledge creatively, which will in turn, help our pupils become skillful computer scientists.
We encourage staff to try and embed computing across the whole curriculum to make learning creative and accessible. We want our pupils to be fluent with a range of tools to best express their understanding and by Upper Key Stage 2, children should have the independence and confidence to choose the best tool to fulfil the task and challenge, set by teachers. Beyond teaching computing discreetly, we give pupils the opportunity to apply and develop what they have learnt across wider learning in the curriculum.
Intended objectives for computing at West Cornforth Primary School:
- To instill an enthusiasm and appreciation of computing via engaging and well-planned lessons, allowing children to use their skills to create and develop new ideas.
- To develop a scheme of work, in conjunction with the National Curriculum, which provides progression and a breadth of knowledge across all year groups.
- To ensure that teaching staff continue to access the opportunities to attend subject relevant CPD in order to deliver sessions with confidence and to help identify areas in which they can use computational skills within a cross-curricular approach (as part of their termly topics).
- To identify real world examples and creative challenges in which pupils can explore and extend their understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts of computing.
- To support children to develop and achieve as competent computational thinkers by integrating these core concepts and approaches across our whole school ethos.
- To ensure that pupils develop a respectful and responsible attitude towards using information and communication technology, especially with regards to their own and other’s safety.
- To provide a safe space in which pupils can navigate and interact with the digital world, whilst exploring their own personal expression and identity.
Implementation:
A comprehensive progression document, for staff, has been created to follow, to best embed and cover every element of the computing curriculum. The knowledge/skills statements build year on year to deepen and challenge our learners.
In order to achieve the outlined intentions, the computing curriculum is continuously reviewed through monitoring and evaluation by the subject leader. Teachers demonstrate a high level of enthusiasm for the subject content and their expectations of the pupils are driven by the subject progression grids. These have been written with the three core areas of Computing in mind:
- Computer Science – the understanding of coding and programming across a range of physical devices and digital resources.
- Information Technology – the range of skills required to operate and manipulate specific programs, systems, and content.
- Digital Literacy – the knowledge required to use technology safely and to evaluate and react to any potential risks of the online/digital world.
The National Curriculum provides the basis for the progression grids and this content is then supplemented by additional resource banks, such as; TeachComputing, MicroBit, Scratch, ScratchJnr, STEM, MrPICT, Tinkercad and ProjectEvolve. We also participate in ‘Internet Safety Week’, in which each class is provided with age appropriate texts and tasks. Cross-curricular opportunities are identified in order to ascertain links between termly topics and to ensure that computing is not just seen as a standalone area. Staff are encouraged to share any gaps in their knowledge and skill sets to inform appropriate and individualised training/CPD. In our teaching of computing, we endeavour to expose students to a variety of software, programs, and equipment, in order to offer a range of appropriate challenges and experiences. Staff are provided with selected devices, which they can explore within their classrooms and feedback from LA subject lead meetings is shared to ensure that we are using relevant and up-to date technologies.
Specific vocabulary for each year group is outlined in the progression grids and this is regularly modelled by teachers within their lessons. Spaced repetition and chunking within the curriculum allows pupils to develop their recall of embedded knowledge and ensures that each year group works on an aspect of each the three areas of computing.
Sessions are adapted to meet the requirements of a specific cohort and lesson content is frequently reviewed by class teachers and the subject lead. Our schemes of work remain flexible and children share their thoughts on their ‘computing learning journeys’ to help enable sessions to be adapted to their interests and needs.
Impact:
Within computing, we encourage a creative and collaborative environment, in which, pupils can learn to express and challenge themselves. The success of the curriculum itself will be assessed via the analysis of yearly progress data, conducting regular pupil voice sessions, lesson observations and skills audits. This will then inform future adaptions of the schemes of work and help to ensure that progression is evident throughout school.
In order to demonstrate that we have accomplished our aims, pupils at West Cornforth Primary School should:
- Be enthusiastic and confident in their approach towards Computing.
- Present as competent and adaptable ‘computational thinkers’ who are able to use identified concepts and approaches in all of their learning.
- Be able to identify the source of problems and work with perseverance to ‘debug’ them.
- Create and evaluate their own project work.
- Have a secure understanding of the positive applications and specific risks associated with a broad range of digital technology.
- Transition to secondary school with a keen interest in the continued learning of this subject.
Subject Area Progression Map
Computing Progression Map at West Cornforth Primary School
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