Computing
Subject Leader - Mrs Hodgkins
Computing at St John Fisher Primary School
2022-2023
At St. John Fisher, pupils develop and consolidate skills learnt in computing lessons. They learn to work collaboratively, build resilience and develop the skills which empower them to thrive in the 21st century digital world.
Links to School Development Plan
- To further develop our school curriculum, following blocking approach, including a focus on subject leadership in preparation for deep dive inspection.
Computing will be taught in 6 weeks of the school calendar when ‘Computing’ becomes ‘Subject of the Week’. These weeks have been implemented into our curriculum to provide children with quality time to spend of each of the foundation subjects. Whilst this also is designed to help with teacher workload, it gives each class teacher time to concentrate on the ‘Subject of the Week’ thus improving their own subject knowledge in a specific year group. During these weeks, 5 hours of teaching will be dedicated to Computing as a subject (30 hours per school year). Plus, additional time will be spent during PSHE sessions covering Digital Literacy, Safer Internet Day and during cross-curricular sessions.
- To continue to refine and embed our approach to the teaching of reading and writing in the Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
Children able to use Word, PowerPoint, other apps to produce pieces of writing (composition, punctuation, description etc.). Online research provides opportunities for children to develop their reading skills.
- To sustain a teaching for mastery in Maths approach in the Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 enabling all to flourish.
Statistics – Children can produce bar graphs, pie charts etc using Word. Use of technology – Children able to use iPads/ Laptops to play interactive games or complete interactive activities. Programming offers opportunities for learning about sequencing, position and direction.
- To develop and support new-to-role teacher in EYFS.
Staff will be supported to ensure effective teaching and learning of Computing occurs across the school.
- To re-establish clear expectations in regard to behaviour and attitudes ensuring that all in school grow and succeed.
Through effective teaching of Computing pupils will learn to develop skills and enjoy themselves as they do so. Pupils have opportunities to support each other and act safely with courtesy and wisdom whilst online. Pupils understand the opportunities Computing offers for themselves in wider society and globally and will leave St. John Fisher equipped to tackle the demands od studying Computing as a subject at Secondary School.
Intent
At St. John Fisher, we aim to prepare our children for a rapidly changing world through the use of technology. Our high-quality computing curriculum is designed to enable them to use computational thinking and creativity to further understand our world. In its design, our curriculum also has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology. At the core of our computing curriculum 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, we intend for our children to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. We aim to ensure 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.
Implementation
Our Computing curriculum amalgamates the best components of two schemes of learning, from Teach Computing and ProjectEVOLVE. It is comprised of three aspects: Digital Literacy, Computer Science and Information Technology.
Computing skills are taught both discretely and across the curriculum, supporting other areas of learning across the school. In Reception and Key Stage 1, children are taught to use equipment and software confidently and purposefully, to communicate and handle information and to support their problem solving, recording and expressive skills. In Key Stage 2, our children extend their use of computing that they use for communication, investigation and programming and work to understand how to communicate safely. Our planned curriculum for digital literacy that includes online safety is broad in covering a range of issues including understanding current issues such as ‘fake news’ and ‘body image’.
Impact
After the implementation of this robust computing curriculum, children at St John Fisher will be digitally literate and able to join the rest of the world on its digital platform. They will be equipped, not only with the skills and knowledge to use technology effectively and for their own benefit, but more importantly – safely. The biggest impact we want on our children is that they understand the consequences of using the internet and that they are also aware of how to keep themselves safe online.
As children become more confident in their abilities in Computing, they will become more independent and key life skills such as problem-solving, logical thinking and self-evaluation become second nature.
Links to British Values and Catholic Message
Computing allows children to develop respect and tolerance in exploring and appreciating other opinions and cultures via the internet. Collaborative learning provides opportunities to express democratic principles, innovative thinking and problem-solving.
Links to Cultural Capital
Throughout Early Years there are opportunities for children to become more culturally aware using the immediate environment of home, school and local area. Expectations, around pupils becoming effective communicators, are enhanced in school in partnership with increasing parental engagement.
Throughout Key Stage 1 there are opportunities for pupils to access outdoor learning, to develop existing skills from Early Years, within the maths and English curriculum. The cultural diversity of the North West is explored and the vibrancy celebrated to develop respect amongst our young citizens to uphold British Values.
Throughout Key Stage 2 pupils’ life skills are further developed to show an understanding and demonstration of the attitudes needed to recognise their own and others, social, emotional and mental wellbeing. The varied and rich enhancements offered to pupils develop their range of vocabulary and debating skills around current affairs.
By the end of primary school, pupils are confident and clear communicators who are able to articulate their views and opinions, in a range of situations, thus enabling them to become responsible citizens who enhance the community they live in.
We celebrate the cultural capital statement above by encouraging children to communicate effectively using Computing and technology in a range of ways.