Computing
“The personal computer isn't "personal" because it's small and portable and yours to own. It's "personal" because you pour yourself into it - your thoughts, your programming.”
―
Intent
At Burrington, we are COMPUTER SCIENTISTS!
At Burrington Primary School, we see children as adaptable and empowered problem solvers. Our team provide a computing curriculum which gives children a range of experiences and the opportunity to use technology and computers to engage with the world on a broad range of topics. We encourage children to use technology to solve problems, publish their work and research information.
Our computing (ICT) curriculum aims to prepare our learners for a modern future by equipping them for an ever-changing digital world. Knowledge and understanding of technology is of increasing importance for children’s future at school, home and for future employment. We focus on a progression of skills in digital literacy, computer science, information technology and online safety to ensure that children become competent in safely using, as well as understanding, technology.
In each year group and class, we revisit these skills in increasing depth to ensure the learning is embedded and skills are successfully developed. In our school, computing is also used as a tool to support creativity and cross curricular learning to engage children and enrich their experiences in school.
Our curriculum is underpinned by the 2014 national curriculum for computing, which aims to ensure that all pupils:
design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
- 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.
Implementation
“To all users of technology who are willing to take a chance, make a choice, and try a new way of doing things so that we can nurture and enjoy a happy, healthy planet.”
―
Our curriculum is guided by our school vision “let all that you do be done in love”. We place importance on E-Safety throughout our curriculum offer. We value our learners as sensible and aware of potential dangers and risks when using technology and we empower them to keep themselves and each other safe. Our launching point is the National Curriculum, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children.
As part of this subject, children learn to express themselves, develop their ideas and publish their wor through ICT. This might include writing and presenting as well as exploring art and design using multimedia. We also help our children to develop practical skills in the safe use of ICT and the ability to apply these skills in the safe use of the internet, networks and email. Additionally, children are taught to understand and apply principles and concepts of computer science. We teach coding and logic from an early age and how to analyse problems in computational terms. Our children very much enjoy the practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.
Online safety is taught at the start of each year and is the focus of cross curricular learning during the national ‘Online Safety Week’.
Impact
We ensure that when children leave our school, they are adept and mindful users of ICT with an understanding of how the technology works as well as how to use it. They will have developed skills to express themselves and be creative in using digital media and be equipped to apply their skills in Computing to different challenges which they will face as they progress through education and modern-day life. Children at Burrington enjoy computing, and this results in motivated learners with a secure understanding of computing and the knowledge of and desire to achieve and succeed in a career within the everchanging digital world.
