Computing

‘Learning God’s Way’

Intent

At St Mary’s C of E Primary School, we recognise that our children are growing up in an exciting world where technology plays an increasingly prominent role in people’s everyday lives. We have therefore chosen to use the Kapow condensed scheme for our work to support us in delivering a computing curriculum aimed to ensure our children leave school as responsible and knowledgeable digit citizens. We use this scheme to help to instil a sense of awe and wonder around using technology; to develop children’s appreciation of technological capabilities; and to develop children’s knowledge of the opportunities that technology offers to create, manage, organise and collaborate.

Kapow offers the children the opportunity to explore a broad range of purposeful software and programs. We wish to develop children’s confidence, and subsequently knowledge, when encountering new technology: a vital skill in the ever evolving and changing landscape of technology. Through our curriculum, we intend for children not only to be digitally competent and have a range of transferrable skills for the future workplace but also to be responsible when online.

Implementation

The implementation of the Kapow Condensed Computing Scheme ensures a broad and balanced coverage of the National Curriculum requirements. Where meaningful, units have been created to link to other subjects such as science, maths, art, and music to enable the development of further transferable skills and genuine cross- curricular learning.

We begin each class with the on-line safety unit which enables children to know how to stay safe online. The content of these lessons equips children for life in a digital age and due to the nature of how these lessons are organised, children are constantly revisiting key messages throughout the school year.

Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work as well as ‘unplugged’ practical activities and digital lessons using different technology. This variety means that our weekly computing lessons are engaging and appeal to those with a variety of learning styles.

Differentiated guidance is available for every lesson to ensure that content specific to each session can be accessed by all children. There are opportunities to challenge children’s thinking throughout the sequences of lessons in unit plans.

Our scheme of work is organised into five key areas, creating a cyclical route through which children can develop their computing knowledge and skills by revisiting and building on previous learning.

Children encounter computing lessons which focus on:

• Computer systems and networks

• Programming

• Creating media

• Data handling

• Online safety

Impact

Our children leave our school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed and be active participants in the ever-increasing digital world. The children are critical thinkers who understand how to make informed and appropriate digital choices. They understand the importance that computing will have in both their educational and working life and in their social and personal futures.

Our curriculum enables the children to understand that technology helps to showcase their ideas and creativity and equips the children to use technology both individually and as part of a collaborative team. Children are aware of online safety issues and know how to deal with any problems of an online nature, in a responsible and appropriate manner.