Computing at St Mark’s

"A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. 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 – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world."

National Curriculum

Key concepts and big ideas

• To connect safely and responsibly with others
• To communicate thoughts and ideas
• To create and code

Intent

At St Mark’s we understand that digital technology is playing an ever increasing role in our daily lives at home, school and the world around us. Technology is at the forefront of our ever changing world and we want our children to embrace this and be excited by it. Our Computing curriculum is deeply linked with our Maths, Science and Design Technology curriculum but has links throughout most subjects. The curriculum will prepare our children for this by ensuring an in-depth coverage of the three main strands of digital literacy, information technology and computer science. Online Safety is firmly embedded at the heart of our Computing curriculum. Children learn how to be responsible online and how to keep themselves and others safe. 

By carefully building upon knowledge and understanding in each year group, children will progress year on year and be ready for their responsible, active future in the workplace and the wider digital world. By the time children leave year 6, they will be able to understand the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, analyse problems in computational terms and have had repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems. 

Children in the Early Years have access to a wide range of technology including ipads, beebots and cameras. They learn about the digital world around them and how they can learn from it. 

Implementation

We follow the national curriculum for computing and have created a whole school long term plan where progression of skills is carefully sequenced following the Kapow Scheme of Work. Each year group’s objectives are selected to build upon the learning that took place the previous year and continue to prepare them for the coming year too. The objectives are split into the three strands of the national curriculum; computer science, digital literacy and information technology. Teachers are not only aware of what they must teach but also of what the children already know and what they will need to know in the coming years. Computing is taught as a discrete subject and is also threaded across the curriculum. 

A key part of implementing our computing curriculum is to ensure that safety of our pupils is paramount. We take online safety very seriously and we aim to give children the necessary skills to keep themselves safe online. Children have a right to enjoy childhood online, the access safe online spaces and to benefit from all the opportunities that a connected world can bring them, appropriate to their age and stage. Online safety and responsible use of technology are topics covered in computing and PSHE lessons, assemblies and during events such as Safer Internet Day. The school has an 'Online Safety Champions' group that meets regularly to discuss how to stay safe online and feeds back to the rest of the school in termly assemblies.

Impact

Computing has a high profile across the school and children talk confidently about their role of being responsible digital citizens, respecting themselves and others online. Children are able to understand the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, analyse problems in computational terms and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.