Computing

Computing Statement 

---

At our school we want pupils to be excited by technology and masters of its use. Technology is everywhere and will play a pivotal part in students’ lives. It is hard to imagine a future for our children without including their daily use of technology, both privately and in the world of work. In fact, it is likely that our children of today will be using technology to solve problems that do not even exist yet. At St Lawrence and Tibberton Federation, our vision is to prepare pupils for this digital future. Therefore, we want to model and educate our pupils on how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely, empowering our pupils to be creators and our broad curriculum encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy reflects this.

Our curriculum models the positive use of technology and develops an understanding of online safety. Education is a powerful tool for the prevention of a lot of issues that we currently see with technology and social media. Our children access a curriculum that aims to provide them with the education that they need to navigate the online and digital world safely.

Through computing, children will build their knowledge and make progress with their computational thinking, developing an understanding of computer systems and networks, use information technology to create programmes and systems and become digitally literate.

At St. Lawrence, computing is seen as both a resource and a learning tool. It prepares children for life outside of and beyond school. We teach computer science as a skill in itself and also as a tool for learning. 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. 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.

Implementation of the computing curriculum

---

At St Lawrence, computing is taught weekly by classroom teachers. This ensures children are able to develop depth in their knowledge and skills over the duration of each of their computing topics. We follow the Teach Computing scheme of work, which has been mapped across our school to ensure systematic progression. Following a two year cycle, pupils have access to the strands of computing in a way that has been designed to allow them to build on prior learning. In addition, the iPads are accessible for pupils to use for a variety of purposes across the wider curriculum as well as in discrete computing lessons. Employing cross-curricular links motivates pupils and supports them to make connections and remember the steps they have been taught.

The implementation of the curriculum also ensures a balanced coverage of computer science, information technology and digital literacy. The children will have experiences of all three strands in each year group. Lessons are categorised into 5 key areas: Computing systems and networks, programming, creating media, data handling and online Safety. Online safety is also promoted through safeguarding work and discrete e-safety sessions that respond to the needs of the children at our school.

Our Commitment to Continuous Improvement of the Computing Curriculum

---

At St Lawrence, we are committed to continuous improvement and ensuring that the children at our school receive the best possible computing education. As a school we have accessed training through the National Centre for Computing Education.