Computing

Intent, Implementation, Impact

Intent: What we are trying to achieve with our Computing Curriculum?

• At St Anne’s we understand the immense value that technology plays not only in supporting the Computing and whole school curriculum but overall in the day-to-day life of our school. Our aims are to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum (2014) for Computing whilst also providing enhanced collaborative learning opportunities, engagement in rich content and supporting pupil’s conceptual understanding of new concepts which support the needs of all our pupils. As a school community, our faith calls us to show solidarity to our pupils, and our global neighbours, for the common good of everyone so that each individual knows they are respected and cared for.  

• “A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world…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.” National Curriculum 2014. 

• Our Computing curriculum and teaching has Cross-Curricular links with English, Mathematics and Science alongside opportunities with History, Geography and Design and Technology.  Our aim is to provide a broad and balanced curriculum, for all pupils to participate, whilst ensuring that pupils become digitally literate and digitally resilient. Our faith calls us to love God and our neighbours in every situation and whilst technology is ever evolving, we aim to develop pupils who can use technology to express themselves, with kind and loving hearts. We aim to develop their ideas through information and communication technology at a suitable level for the future workplace with an emphasis on being active participants in a digital world. Our Computing curriculum is also designed to develop and expand the Digital Science opportunities for our children to enable them to become future programmers of technology whilst recognising the dignity of the worker and the need to show respect for all programmers.

The aims of the St Anne’s Computing curriculum for Key Stage 1 and 2 are to develop pupils who: 

• Are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology as well as being independent, respectful and discerning users of data, information and communication technology.
• 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 writing computer programs in order to solve such problems. 
• Can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems.
• Become digitally literate and active participants in a digital world and to be inspired with the capability to use technology throughout their lives.
• Recognise human dignity and subsidiarity by knowing that everyone we communicate with is special and everyone has the right to have their own valued opinions.
• Use their stewardship skills when communicating in online platforms in order to look after God’s creations and their online environment with the ultimate aim of promoting peace in a digital world.
• Understand the associated risks with technology and to know how to keep themselves safe on the internet in order to be able to minimise risk to themselves and others so they can access computing safely and enjoyably.
• Understand the importance of online safety messages and to know that following online safety rules can keep them safe online and in particular, knowing who to contact if they have concerns. 

Implementation: How do we deliver the Computing curriculum?

• To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in Computing, we implement a spiralling curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Our implementation of the Computing curriculum is in line with 2014 Primary National Curriculum requirements for KS1 and KS2 and the Foundation Stage Curriculum in England. This provides a broad framework and outlines the knowledge and skills taught in each key stage. 

• We use and follow the Purple Mash scheme of work from Year 1-6, ensuring consistency and progression of the key skills throughout the school. 
• We use digital leaders from Year 5 to support, assist and share their computing knowledge with many children across the school.

• The Purple Mash scheme of work is broken down into units, covering the three different computing strands: Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy. The Purple Mash scheme enables clear coverage of the Computing curriculum whilst also providing support and CPD to support teachers when delivering lessons.

• Through our Purple Mash subscription, our teachers can deliver thematic, cross curricular lessons that are practical and engaging allowing computing lessons to be hands on. Units cover a broad range of Computing components such as Coding, Spreadsheets, Internet and Email, Databases, Communication Networks, Animation and Online Safety. 

• When teaching Computing, teachers can follow the children’s interests to ensure their learning is engaging, broad and balanced. 

• Purple Mash has an online portal of age appropriate software, games and activities as well as topic materials and materials to support children’s learning of core and foundations subjects for all key stages. 

• At St Anne’s we offer enrichment opportunities for Computing across EYFS, KS1 and KS2. These opportunities are based on teacher judgement and pupil ability. They are practical and engaging whilst using a variety of teaching approaches to inspire the children to become problem solvers and work collaboratively. These enrichment activities are designed to enhance and build upon the children’s prior skills in Computer Science and are based upon programming Robots through a variety of different approaches such as: Scratch, Scratch Junior, BeeBots, Bluebots, Micro:bits and Spheros. 

• Teachers and pupils are aware of the importance of health and safety and pupils are always supervised when using technology and accessing the internet. We also have an Online Safety team which comprises of 2 children from every year group. They are ambassadors for their class and they help to raise the profile of the online safety messages being taught in class.

• Our pupils are encouraged to engage with ICT and technology outside of school. Each teacher and pupil has their own unique Purple Mash login and password. Computing work can be stored and saved using pupil log in details and homework or ‘2do’s’ can also be set for pupils to access and complete tasks at home that link with their current class learning. St Anne’s also uses Google Classroom to enhance and engage the pupils learning opportunities whilst providing opportunities for computing learning inside and outside the classroom. 

• Computing and safeguarding go hand in hand and we use Project Evolve to provide a whole school approach to internet safety. In addition to all pupils studying an online safety unit through their computing lessons, every year we also take part in National Safer Internet Day in February. The Computing subject leader, alongside class teachers, will plan additional internet safety lessons and activities depending on the global theme. Our Local Authority Internet Safety Advisor will also deliver ‘age appropriate’ workshops to our children, parents, all staff and governors to ensure we are all empowered with the necessary skills to keep ourselves (and the children we teach) safe in the online world.

Impact: What difference is the curriculum making to our pupils? 

• Our Computing Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression and build on and embed current skills. All children become independent and safe users of technology across a range of subjects. Children become increasingly proficient on school equipment and have excellent, transferable knowledge and understanding of online safety which is transferred into their own lives.
• Through Purple Mash, Google Classroom, Project Evolve and our physical computing activities, children are highly motivated, inspired and have a broad base of transferable knowledge which can be used, safely and responsibly, on other similar platforms. 
• Pupil voice, subject monitoring and lesson observations all ensure a positive impact of computing as a subject.
• Confident digital leaders make a positive impact when supporting in classes and the online safety team are a valuable way of raising awareness of how to stay safe in the online world.