Intent
Through an exciting, relevant and challenging computing curriculum, we aim to enthuse and equip children to use technology safely, effectively and to the best of their ability, throughout their lives.
Children will develop:
- a sense of belonging by being responsible, respectful and competent users of technology, who consider how their actions may impact others and also take pride in their own learning. They understand their role in the wider online community; the importance of governance and legislation; and how they can help to keep everyone safe. Our computing curriculum helps to equip pupils with the skills, strategies and knowledge that will enable them to reap the benefits of the online world, today and in the future, whilst being able to minimise risk to themselves and others
- confidence in communicating by being reflective consumers, who think critically about what they see and hear, both on- and offline, and know how to check information is accurate and trustworthy. They have an understanding of how information is stored, created, retrieved, shared and manipulated, so that they can make informed judgements about what they see. By exposing them to a variety of hardware, software and unplugged resources, they are able to use technology imaginatively and creatively to inspire others. They can also explain the reasons for doing things differently, to spot problems and how to rectify them, and be able to talk confidently about things that they see online and talk openly about them.
- a resilient attitude by being exposed to an online safety education that is relevant, up-to-date, and embedded in their day-to-day lives, both in and out of school. They are able to utilise computational thinking beyond the computing curriculum: working as a team; breaking down tasks; understanding how and why things happen; how to correct errors; and where to look for support and guidance.
Implementation
The Computing curriculum at Northgate Primary School is delivered using the Purple Mash scheme of work. This is a well researched scheme that is updated regularly, following research studies and national reports. We feel this scheme fits the needs of the pupils and teaching staff at the school. It is easy to follow, with lesson plans and resources that can be adapted to suit the needs of the students.
Units from the Purple Mash scheme of work are allocated on the curriculum progression map and provide a wide range of different technological experiences using a variety of tools and software that are well suited to the needs of our children. The overlaps between units serve to deepen understanding of computational concepts and provide opportunities for pupils to apply and extend understanding and make links in their knowledge and capabilities. Prior and future learning links are also included in the scheme of work so that teachers can track learning in previous years, as well as the development opportunities as the children progress through the school.
As a school, Online Safety is a priority and we use the Education in a Digital World signpost document to inform this area of study. This vital area of the Computing curriculum is covered at the beginning of each new term and then revisited frequently throughout the year. In particular, events are held around Online Safety Day to raise awareness across the whole school community.
All three strands of Computing are covered within this scheme of work: Computer Science; Information Technology; and Digital Literacy. The skills learned in these units develop across year groups as they progress through the school. Most units develop over time and are project-based, and the scheme of work has opportunities for both plugged and unplugged activities. The children work individually, in pairs (when paired programming is encouraged) and sometimes in small groups. Collaboration is an essential skill, alongside self and peer assessment.
We look for opportunities to incorporate the computational skills into other subjects across the curriculum areas. All resources can be adapted or created to match year group topics, if required.
Impact
At Northgate Primary school, our children are:
- confident users of technology
- problem solvers, looking at tasks from different points of view
- reflective workers who appreciate how knowledge of computing affects their learning and development
- aware of the impact that digital use can have on their well-being