Computing

Computing Overview

At Throckley Primary School, we are committed to providing a purposeful and empowering curriculum that fully prepares learners for their next steps. We believe that computing is integral to all aspects of life and with this in mind, we endeavour to ensure that children develop a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards computing that will stay with them beyond their time at our school. Computing has the power to make a significant contribution to teaching and learning through experience, conversations and connections, which unite us with the world around us. Woven through the three strands of computing, Computer Science, Digital Literacy (including Online Safety) and Information Technology, the supportive study rich stories, ensures children develop their sense of self and their aspirations for the future

Lesson routines at Throckley Primary School support staff in the implementation of Rosenshine’s principles of instruction. They ensure that what we know and understand about how best pupils learn, is then reflected in how we teach. The ‘teach – task – teach – task’ model allows ample time for misconceptions to be addressed. Lesson time is given to connecting to previous (and relevant) taught content; concise explanation; clear examples; time for practice before application; and challenge for all. The six phases of a lesson adopted at Throckley Primary School are derived from Rosenshine’s principles of instruction, and ensure lessons have structure and are build around principles of how children best learn. Our curriculum is underpinned by three drivers. By understanding our place in the world, computing facilitates contextualised learning. Children begin to develop their sense of identity in the wider world and how technology can influence this both positively and negatively and begin to recognise and discriminate information effectively to support their development of cultural capital.

With technology becoming an increasingly profound aspect of the modern world, the computing curriculum provides opportunities for children to broaden their horizons. At Throckley Primary School, we provide access to workshops delivered by people working in a range of establishments. Not only can children apply their learning beyond the school gates, but they also begin to understand the importance of computing within their future careers. We encourage children to aspire to achieve, where progression of both skill and knowledge is vitally connected throughout the school. Computing lends itself to many opportunities of enquiry and experience as children take responsibility for their own learning. We facilitate independent learning, child-led study and application of knowledge. This supports children in mastering their own knowledge and allows a deeper level of thinking.

Subject Content

Subject Aims:

At Throckley Primary School, we follow the national curriculum for computing, which aims to ensure that all pupils:

can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

Key stage 1:

Pupils should be taught to:

understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions
create and debug simple programs
use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content
recognise common uses of information technology beyond school
use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.

Key stage 2:

Pupils should be taught to:

design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output
use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration
use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content
select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.