Computing
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Luke 2:52Click here to read about our curriculum offer and download our progression maps
At Clifton Primary School, we believe that a secure basis in computational skills and knowledge is crucial to a high quality Computing education and will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as a member of society. Our Computing curriculum aims to empower our pupils with the skills and knowledge to be confident, creative, informed and considerate Digital citizens. The Computing curriculum has three main objectives: to develop the pupil’s competency with modern technology; to develop the pupil’s skills in computer science and to develop the pupil’s understanding and awareness of staying safe in the digital world through building Digital Literacy. We want to help our pupils increase their wisdom to be confident with a range of hardware and software. Furthermore, we want them to develop their wisdom to make safe choices online. We want to help them increase their stature in a digital context by becoming creators and innovators in the online space. These aims will increase their favour with God and man as they increase in knowledge, confidence, and capability whilst studying the Computing curriculum.
“A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.”
(Department for Education, 2013)
Our belief is that an effective Computing curriculum should develop children’s computational thinking; it should offer challenge and opportunity to appreciate and engage with a plethora of modern technologies, whilst facilitating innovation, creativity and curiosity. These ideas are all underpinned by the Christian values that are core to us at Clifton-upon-Dunsmore Primary school. We aim to inspire an appreciation of modern technologies in our rich and varied global community. We recognise the importance of empowering our children to understand the benefits and the impact (positive or negative) of the internet and our culture of constant connectivity. To do this we teach our children how to be active Digital citizens and teach strategies on how to safeguard themselves whilst using modern technologies. We aim to develop children who are confident in the digital world and are active creators, communicators and exemplify the teachings of Christ in the digital world.
Our Computers curriculum consists of the following key aspects:
Computer Competency
Computer Science
Digital Literacy
Computer Competency
Our pupils develop competency because:
- The curriculum introduces them to a range of hardware and software that allows pupils to develop their skills and confidence.
- Each year group's Computers curriculum plan has a wide coverage of software and opportunities for using hardware to achieve given goals.
- As a school we are evaluating and updating our hardware and software to allow pupils the widest opportunities for challenge, innovation and creativity.
- Pupils have regular opportunities to engage with computers across the curriculum.
- They are given opportunities to use computers independently during the school day.
Computer Science
Our pupils are able to develop the skills because:
- They are taught how to write simple programs and algorithms.
- Coding is explicitly taught with a focus on precision and unambiguity.
- Challenges focus on logical reasoning and prediction.
- They are encouraged to plan and write code for different outcomes.
- They have opportunities to actively debug algorithms and programs.
- Collaboration and discussion-based problem-solving is highly praised.
- Subject-specific vocabulary is prioritised.
Children can question and articulate what they are attempting
Unplugged Activities
Our pupils are taught through physically engaging with computers and digital resources and through unplugged activities. Many of the concepts and knowledge of computer science can be taught ‘unplugged,’ this is where children develop understanding before using the computer. They won't be learning exactly how to build the next search engine, social network or game app, but they will have an idea of what sort of techniques are needed to make it successful. The unplugged activities demystify the digital systems and make the concept something the children could understand and, for some, create themselves.
Challenge + Opportunity
Challenges and opportunities are provided because:
- The children are challenged to attempt open-ended tasks that allow them to develop and build upon what they have learnt.
- Concepts are introduced or developed through unplugged activities.
- We introduce a variety of software and options to accomplish given goals and encourage the children to independently apply what they have learnt.
Learning Journey
Our pupils are excited about Computers because:
- They are encouraged to explore and find their own solutions for stimulating challenges.
- They create for specific purposes and are encouraged to respond to the challenges in a personal way exploring their own interests..
- Their work is presented to real audiences.
- They are encouraged to use their imagination.
- They have the chance to develop their ideas and vocabulary through discussion and unplugged activities.
- They have time to practise, edit and develop their work.
Digital Literacy
Our pupils are able to develop digital literacy because:
- Children are explicitly taught the skills for digital literacy at an appropriate level.
- Children have the opportunity to explore and discuss how to navigate, avoid or resolve the issues that can occur through interacting in the digital world in a practical and personalised way.
- We endeavour to teach our children to be wise digital citizens that understand the potential dangers of the internet and are able to safeguard themselves in a manner where they can utilize the internet to their advantage.
- EYFS use the OSBOX to teach online safety principles.
- KS1 and KS2 are taught based on the principles in Education For A Connected World: A Frame to Equip Children and Young People for Digital Life.
- We support parents by encouraging and developing their understanding of the Internet. We offer parent information events, distribute information and have started sending Autumn, Spring and Summer digital bulletins.
Connected World
At Clifton Upon Dunsmore, our Digital Literacy teaching is based on the Education For A Connected World: A Frame to Equip Children and Young People for Digital Life.
- The eight principles are taught and reinforced across the academic year.
- Where possible we synergise the online safety focus with a complimentary Christian value that is the whole school focus to enhance the complimentary messages.
- Each term will have a different focus to ensure the children have a sufficient amount of time to engage with, understand and develop their knowledge of the different aspects.
Assessment
As with the other subjects in the National Curriculum, the old system of levels has been abolished. By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study.”
( Department For Education 2013)
At Clifton we have utilized the ‘Attainment in Computing,’ produced by Computing At School (CAS) documentation. Progression in Computing will be assessed by using ‘I Can’ statements following the framework (on the next page).
Assessments will be teacher judgements informed by a combination of open ended tasks designed to allow the children, regardless of ability to demonstrate competence, creativity and their acquired computers knowledge.
The assessments focus on the children demonstrating that they can create outcomes for a specific task individually or taking responsibility for and making significant contributions to an outcome as part of a team.
Computing Curriculum Yearly Overview
