Computing Curriculum Statement 

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.  (NC2014)

Our Computing curriculum has been designed to instil a love of computer science and information technology whilst building up individual digital literacy skills. Our pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Taught in discrete lessons as well as through cross curricular themes, children will be equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content as well as how to stay safe and express themselves effectively in the digital world.

Put simply, we want to ensure each and every child ‘loves computing’ and has the time and opportunities to become digitally literate.

In school we focus on, not only high-quality computing, but the ways children keep themselves safe online. This meets the objectives set out in the DFE’s Education for a Connect World Framework, which equips children for life in the digital world, including developing their understanding of appropriate online behaviour, copyright issues, being discerning consumers of online information and developing a healthy use of technology.  

Put simply, we positively endorse the progression of online safety and computing skills throughout each Key Stage so that all children are ready for their next phase of learning.

Computing and digital learning is encouraged through individual and collaborative learning experiences, as well as unplugged and digital activities. This variety means that children are engaged at all times and learning experiences often take them beyond their classroom into the digital world. We are a small rural Christian school so it is vital we support our pupils to look beyond their immediate community and facilitate digital learning opportunities which allow children to develop a range of transferable skills at a suitable level for their future workplace whether this be real or online.  

Put simply, children will be equipped and inspired to become responsible online citizens.

Our curriculum is: CYCLICAL as pupils return to the same substantive knowledge and disciplinary skills repeatedly with increasing complexity throughout the Key Stages. It focuses on: INCREASING DEPTH through repetition and cross-curricular links, allowing children to make connections and apply their digital literacy skills to other areas of their learning. We also emphasize PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: returning to, substantive knowledge and disciplinary regularly, so pupils can build upon previous foundations, rather than starting again. All lessons are based on one of five strands: computing systems and networks, programming, creating media, data handling and online safety with some lessons combining different more than one strand.

Put simply, pupils will leave school equipped with a range of computing and digital literacy skills to enable them encounter new technology with confidence.

The impact of our Computing curriculum is that as pupils progress through school, they will be able to think, talk and critically develop a more rigorous understanding of computing and become digitally literate. They will develop a love of computing and information technology and they will be able to confidently express how to keep themselves safe online.  Ultimately, our children will have a confident set of computing skills and digital information knowledge, supported by Christian values which will be used to get ahead in education and life more generally.

Put simply, they will learn more, remember more, enjoy more and develop more digitally, creatively, spiritually, socially and emotionally. Thus, enabling them to be ready for their next stage in education.