Computing 

Intent

At Lugwardine Primary Academy it is our intention to recognise the importance of technology in every aspect of daily life. For most of us, technology is essential to our lives, at home and at work. ‘Computational Thinking’ is a key skill that children must learn well if they are to be ready for the workplace and able to participate effectively in this digital world. At the core of our curriculum is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of coding, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, we intend for our children to use information technology to create programs and systems for a range of contexts. We aim to ensure that pupils become digitally literate to express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology, in order for them to be active participants in a digital world. 

Implementation 

Curriculum ​ 

We teach Computing through discrete lessons following a scheme of work adapted from the ‘Teach Computing’ Curriculum which 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. We teach computing skills in a carefully planned progression over yearly learning blocks; each block building on the previous one. We separate the computing curriculum into 6 blocks (Computing systems and networks, Creating media 1, Programming A, Data and information, Creating media 2 and Programming B). Teachers use and adapt this planning to fit the needs of our learners, to ensure they are well prepared to communicate and apply their skills effectively across a wide range of subjects, media, and platforms as they progress throughout the school. ​ 

Online safety 

A key part of implementing our computing curriculum is 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 throughout our Jigsaw PSHE scheme which is closely aligned to the Education for a Connected World framework. Online safety is also promoted and modelled through our computing lessons. In addition, the children at Lugwardine Primary Academy are taught about 4C’s of online safety (Content, Contact, Conduct and Commerce) each year. These 4C's are displayed around the school and the children sign an agreement each year that they will follow these rules.

Hardware​ 

In order to implement our curriculum children at Lugwardine Primary Academy have access to a range of hardware including iPads, laptops, Lego WeDo, Beebots and programable cars. Teachers also have access to additional iPads, desktop PCs and interactive whiteboards in each class.​ 

Impact

Within computing, we encourage a creative and collaborative environment in which pupils can learn to express and challenge themselves. The success of the curriculum itself will be monitored through lesson observations and teacher audits. This will then inform future adaptions of the scheme of work and help to ensure that progression is evident throughout school. 

In order to demonstrate that we have accomplished our aims, pupils at Lugwardine Primary Academy should:​ 

• Be enthusiastic and confident in their approach towards Computing.​ 

• Present as competent and adaptable ‘Computational Thinkers’ who are able to use identified concepts and approaches in all their learning.​ 

• Be able to identify the source of problems and work with perseverance to ‘debug’ them.​ 

• Create and evaluate their own project work.​ 

• Have a secure understanding of the positive applications and specific risks associated with a broad range of digital technology.​ 

• Transition to secondary school with a keen interest in the continued learning of this subject. 

Golden Threads

• Children will understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms, and data representation. ​ 

• ​Children can analyse problems in computational terms and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems. ​ 

• ​Children can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems. ​ 

• ​Children are responsible, competent, confident, and creative users of information and communication technology.