Aims and Intent
Purpose of study
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.
Aims
The national curriculum for computing 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?
Intent
Throughout this computing curriculum, we intend to provide a holistic and creative computing curriculum, which promotes computational thinking and inspires children to be creative. This curriculum is designed so that knowledge is built up over the years and each year builds from the knowledge of its predecessors. The curriculum has been split into three parts. Autumn covers Digital Literacy. This details internet safety, as well as how technology can be used safely and responsibly. The spring term covers Information Technology. This details the use of computers to create and alter media and information. Here they will create videos, comic strips, music spreadsheets and posters. Summer Term focuses on Computer Science. This will focus on algorithms and debugging in a child friendly and practical way. This will also look at the uses of the internet and how networks are important in the world we live in today. Throughout all the stands, children will be taught how to stay safe when using electronic devices, as well as internet etiquette. They will learn how to evaluate content they find on the internet and appreciate how search engines rank their results. By teaching these units, we hope to create well-rounded children that are conscientious digital citizens.