Computing
Intent, Implementation, Impact
At Andrews’ Endowed, we recognise that many of the jobs that our children will be doing have not been created yet, and that increasingly, every job requires a level of computing knowledge on all kinds of different hardware and software. We are also living in an increasingly connected society, using all kinds of digital applications on a multitude of devices to share, connect and learn. Our Programme of Study for Computing aims to develop skills and attributes such as team work, problem solving, critical thinking about choosing an app or program to complete a task and internet safety.
We recognise that technology can allow pupils to share their learning in creative ways. We also understand the accessibility opportunities technology can provide for our pupils. Our knowledge rich curriculum has to be balanced with the opportunity for pupils to apply their knowledge creatively which will in turn help our pupils become skilful computer scientists.
The computing curriculum overall has a heavy focus on coding and programming and understanding how programs and apps work. This is one of the reasons the subject changed its name in 2016 from ICT to computing. The 2016 primary national curriculum states that “The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology”. We also endeavour, through the help, support, and adaptations of the NCCE and other organisations, to ensure that there is a cyclical curriculum through the year groups and key stages. These are in concepts such as systems and networks, creating media, programming, and data.
We encourage staff to try and embed computing across the whole curriculum to make learning creative and accessible. We want our pupils to be fluent with a range of tools to best express their understanding and hope by Upper Key Stage 2, children have the independence and confidence to choose the best tool to fulfil the task and challenge set by teachers.
In the 2014 NC, ICT was renamed as Computing. Computing encompasses Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy as one subject. Below, I have outlined what each area contained for us at Andrews’ Endowed. Our long term map with skills and knowledge outlines how we intent to cover these areas.
Click here to view how we have separated our computing into three distinct areas.
Internet Safety and Digital Citizenship
As part of our Computing Curriculum, we use a comprehensive scheme of work to teach aspects of Online Safety explicitly throughout the year. Project Evolve is an online based scheme of work which is constantly ‘evolving’ to ensure the online safety messages that children and young people are being taught are delivered in a way that is more appropriate; more meaningful; that encourages reflection; that generates positive outcomes and are updating regularly to reflect the changing world.
Online Safety content is separated into eight strands which are taught throughout the year covering everything from online relationships to copyright and ownership.
What do our pupils think?
In Year 6 we have the Chrome books for our computing lessons every Wednesday. We once learnt about GIFs and even did some of our own pixel art. These were all extremely fun. We have our own accounts and passwords and it is a good way to hand homework and other things in.
Computing ambassadors
I really liked learning about podcasts and radio stations in Year 4. We were able to create our own radio station with music playing over the top just like when we listened to the radio.
Computing ambassadors
We look a lot about how to be safe online and even about new apps and the savers of them.
Computing ambassadors
Above – An example of pixel art from Year 6.
Google for education – the impact of using google as a school
At school, we predominantly use the G Suite Education system. This allows us to use any device and upload everything to google drive. All the children at school have their own login and can use apps such as Docs, Sheets and Slides to create homework, Classroom to help with uploading homework and Drive to save our work. Please click on the document at the bottom of the page to find out more about G Suite for Education.
What equipment do we have at school?
At Andrews’ we are lucky enough to use a range of computing equipment to aid us in our digital and computing learning. We have a small amount of windows computers to use, iPads to take photos with and use apps on, and most recently a class set of Chromebooks.
The Curriculum in KS1
In KS1, children learn about basic algorithms using devices such as bee-bots. They are taught how a program can be implemented and used by a device and then how that device precisely and accurately follows those sets of instructions, even if there is a mistake created during the input phase by the user. The children also begin to understand how to create, organise and save documents in a file system and how to move documents and files around in those systems.
The Curriculum in KS2
Much of the KS2 curriculum focuses on the fluent use of our google drive file system, which is a skill first looked at in KS1. With this, children can open, edit and save all kinds of work, not just in Computing lessons but in maths, English and even digital art lessons.
Other important skills throughout the program of study are:
Office Skills
Creating and using spreadsheets and understanding the importance of data, using various word processors such as MS word, Google Docs and Apple pages and the different use cases for MS PowerPoint and Google slides.
Programming
An important theme again running though the curriculum is coding; the ability to write, test, debug and complete particular pieces of code that solves particular problems or completes a specific task. One of the websites we practice this with is code.org.
research
It is important that children understand and use search technologies correctly and effectively. Our children are taught how a search engine works, how results are selected and put into order and how to find accurate information rather than relying on the first piece of information they find. Children also use google sites to understand how to build their own website to showcase their own work on particular topics. They also take photos and videos of their own work to display on the website.
Multimedia Editing
Multimedia editing across the key stage includes editing photos, videos, sound recordings and even creating GIFs. The results of these pieces of work often showcase much of the wider curriculum such as English, History, Geography, Science and even PE.
Please find below some useful documents to give more information about computing at Andrews’.