Computing

Computing at Bolton-By-Bowland Primary School

Curriculum Intent

At Bolton by Bowland we want our children to be fluent in their understanding of technology. We want our children to know how technology impacts the world around them and importantly, how to stay safe whilst using this technology. At Bolton by Bowland we strive to model and educate our pupils to use technology positively, responsibly and safely. As the digital world around us is ever-changing and expanding, we aim to equip our children with the knowledge and influence they need to begin to navigate the future pathways of this digital age, in secondary school and beyond.

Students learn the three main strands of computing: information technology; computer science coding and digital literacy. Units are based around the NCCE Teach Computing scheme. Our children are given opportunities to explore platforms to enhance IT skills, such as creating Stop Motion Animations as well as creating and understanding digital drawing packages. Coding projects offer our children creative freedom, from learning simple skills in Scratch to increasingly complex game building. Our computing curriculum is designed to be fun, engaging, progressive and coherent for all our children, with emerging cross-curricular links.

It is through these strands that our children become competent and skilled users of technology, understanding the ways in which it can influence and bolster our everyday lives. We strive to inspire future Scientists, Engineers and digital pioneers by allowing our children the chance to dream.

Implementation

The implementation of the computing scheme ensures a broad and balanced coverage of the National curriculum requirements. The new curriculum puts a clearer emphasis on three areas of learning:

Computer science – how computers work and how to write algorithms and solve problems to eventually create a computer program.

Information technology – how data is represented and managed on computers.

Digital literacy – how to understand digital information and interact with it safely and appropriately.

Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work as well as unplugged and digital activities. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with a variety of learning styles.

Differentiated guidance is available for every lesson to ensure that lessons can be accessed by all pupils and opportunities to stretch pupils’ learning are available when required. Knowledge organisers for each unit support pupils in building a foundation of factual knowledge by encouraging recall of key facts and vocabulary.

We want children to be critical thinkers and to develop creativity and resilience through the computing curriculum. Pupils have the opportunity to use ICT within the class across a range of subjects. Children have access to both laptops and iPads.

Impact

The impact of Bolton by Bowland's computing scheme can be constantly monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities. Each lesson includes guidance to support teachers in assessing pupils against the learning objectives and each unit has a unit quiz at the end of the unit.

After the implementation of our computing scheme, pupils should leave school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and be active participants in the ever-increasing digital world.

The expected impact of following the computing scheme of work is that children will:

Be critical thinkers and able to understand how to make informed and appropriate digital choices in the future.
Understand the importance that computing will have going forward in both their educational and working life and in their social and personal futures.
Understand how to balance time spent on technology and time spent away from it in a healthy and appropriate manner.
Understand that technology helps to showcase their ideas and creativity. They will know that different types of software and hardware can help them achieve a broad variety of artistic and practical aims.
Show a clear progression of technical skills across all areas of the National curriculum - computer science, information technology and digital literacy.
Be able to use technology both individually and as part of a collaborative team.
Be aware of online safety issues and protocols and be able to deal with any problems in a responsible and appropriate manner
Have an awareness of developments in technology and have an idea of how current technologies work and relate to one another.
Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Computing.