Computing at Wybourn Community Primary School
Intent
Computing at Wybourn School intends to develop ‘thinkers of the future’ through a modern, ambitious and relevant education in computing. We want to equip pupils to use computational thinking and creativity that will enable them to become active participants in the digital world. It is important to us that the children understand how to use the ever-changing technology to express themselves, as tools for learning and as a means to drive their generation forward into the future.
Whilst ensuring they understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with online experiences, we want children to develop as respectful, responsible and confident users of technology, aware of measures that can be taken to keep themselves and others safe online.
Our aim is to provide a computing curriculum that is designed to balance acquiring a broad and deep knowledge alongside opportunities to apply skills in various digital contexts. Beyond teaching computing discreetly, we will give pupils the opportunity to apply and develop what they have learnt across wider learning in the curriculum.
Implementation
Our scheme of work for Computing is adapted from the ‘Teach Computing’ Curriculum and covers all aspects of the National Curriculum. This scheme was chosen as it has been created by subject experts and based on the latest pedagogical research. It provides an innovative progression framework where computing content (concepts, knowledge, skills and objectives) has been organised into interconnected networks called learning graphs.
The curriculum aims to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to thrive in the digital world of today and the future. The curriculum can be broken down into 3 strands: computer science, information technology and digital literacy, with the aims of the curriculum reflecting this distinction.
The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure all pupils:
E-Safety and Digital Citizenship
A key part of implementing our computing curriculum was 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, to access safe online spaces and to benefit from all the opportunities that a connected world can bring them, appropriate to their age and stage.
Children build online resilience through the use of the ‘Project Evolve – Education for a Connected World’ framework. The framework aims to support and broaden the provision of online safety education, so that it is empowering, builds resilience and effects positive culture change. The objectives promote the development of safe and appropriate long-term behaviours, and support educators in shaping the culture within their setting and beyond.
Within each year group topics include:
This Framework is supplemented by the use of the Common Sense Education Scheme, providing further resources and links to digital literacy.
The activities empower learners to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in our digital world - 21st-century skills which are essential for children and young people to harness the full potential of technology for learning.
These schemes of learning:
To help with our implementation of the computing curriculum we have a variety of hardware available to all teachers, including:
Impact
Our aim is that children will understand and appreciate the value of Computing in the context of their personal well-being and the technological, creative and cultural industries and their many career opportunities.
Progress in Computing is demonstrated through regularly reviewing and scrutinising children’s work to ensure that progression of skills is taking place.
The school’s internet filtering service is hosted by Smoothwall. The Deputy Headteacher, Mr Julian Wood (Online Safety co-coordinator and advanced safeguard trained), gets regular updates on any filtering issues, security breaches etc.
Technical support is provided by our experts at Ekte.