Computing

Intent

The computing curriculum at Christleton Primary School is designed to give pupils appropriate experiences to develop as confident, responsible online citizens. In our modern world, our children are exposed to a range of online games and content and as a result of this need to understand the dangers and risks and how to act safely online. Our children need to learn about the wider range and powerful uses of computing and be inspired by the possibilities they present. As immersive technologies and applications evolve, our curriculum will prepare children and equip them with the skills for a future workplace which at present, cannot be determined. Our aim is to provide opportunities for children to develop as inquisitive, independent, confident, successful learners with high aspirations; who make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society through the use of computing.

At Christleton Primary School we believe that computing is central to the education of all children and we aim to give each pupil the opportunities to develop and apply their capability to the fullest degree. Our school’s vision is to provide children with a solid understanding of computing and be able to apply this across the curriculum.

We enable children to find, explore, analyse and program information through the use computers, I-pads and programmable robots. Children are taught the principles of information and computation, how systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. We also focus on developing the skills necessary for children to be able to use information in a selective and effective way. The skills are taught with a structured approach and we recognise that children are entitled to quality hardware and software.

Computing skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, creative and independent learners.

By the end of key stage 1 pupils are taught to:

• Understand what algorithms are, how they are implemented as programs on digital devices and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions.
• Create and debug simple programs
• Use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
• Use technology purposefully to create, organize, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content
• Recognise common uses of information technology beyond school
• Use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.

By the end of Key Stage 2 pupils are taught to:

• Design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
• Use sequence, selection and repetition in programs; work with variable and various forms of input and output
• Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
• Understand computer network including the internet; how they can provide multiple services such as the world wide web and the opportunities they offer
• Use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked and be discerning in evaluating digital content
• Select, use and combine a variety of software on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
• Use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact