Alan Turing gave us a mathematical model of digital computing that has completely withstood the test of time. He gave us a very, very clear description that was truly prophetic.
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.
Preparing our pupils for the digital world; unlocking their potential.
Technology is changing the lives of everyone. Through teaching computing we aim to give our children the life-skills that will enable them to embrace and utilise new technology in a socially responsible and safe way in order to flourish as well as equipping them to participate in a rapidly changing world where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology.
We want children to become autonomous, independent users of computing technologies, gaining confidence and enjoyment from their activities. We want the use of technology to support learning across the entire curriculum and to ensure that our curriculum is accessible to every child. Not only do we want them to be digitally literate and competent end-users of technology but also through our computer science lessons, we want them to develop creativity, resilience and problem-solving and critical thinking skills. We want our pupils to have a breadth of experience to develop their understanding of themselves as individuals within their community but also as members of a wider global community and as responsible digital citizens.
Computing skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, creative and independent learners and it is our intention that children have every opportunity available to allow them to achieve this.
The three strands to our Computing curriculum are:
Computing and IT:
Through the use of 2Simple’s Purple Mash platform, children learn the declarative and procedural knowledge that the National Curriculum demands in a progressive and engaging way.
Link to other curriculum disciplines such as science, maths and writing means that IT and computing skills are integrated into the curriculum effectively and do not become “bolt-on after thoughts.”
Our use of digital technologies is ever expanding. From the use of Chrome Books in the classroom to one-to-one devices in specific year groups, children access a broad range of digital technologies, which builds both their confidence and competence.
Added to this are the technologies children interact with around them – the iPad linked to Trilby TV outside each room for example.
Blended and Remote Learning:
The need for flexible and adaptive ways of learning have become all the more apparent in recent months; even when the school building is closed, learning continues. Our use of digital knowledge organisers, coupled with Microsoft Teams functionality ensures that meaningful learning can take place outside of the classroom. Paper-based homework will soon be a thing of the past.