Computing

 

computing at a glance the rissington school.pdf

 

 

Intent

At The Rissington School, through our computing curriculum we equip our children to participate in a rapidly changing world where technology is changing the lives of everyone. It is our intention to enable children to find, explore, analyse, share and present information.

Our aim is that our computing curriculum will ensure that all pupils:

• understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
• analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programmes in order to solve such problems
• 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.

(National Curriculum 2014)

Whilst we embrace the differences that being a split site school might bring, we are clear that children at both sites belong to one school and receive the same computing provision and resources.

The Rissington School values of ABC (Aspire Belong Challenge) and key drivers (Golden Threads) are the basis of our Computing curriculum design. We plan lessons that offer the children aspirational experiences, that have deep links with mathematics and science and design and technology; through discussion, conversation, trips, visitors, theme days, and aim to continually extend learning beyond national curriculum statements, bringing learning to life and facilitate knowledge and understanding that remains in long term memory.  Our belong value is reflected in our computing curriculum as we work collaboratively in the classroom and learning with others, every child is expected to become digitally literate – able to use and express themselves and develop their ideas as a suitable level, whatever stage and age in their primary education.  We provide challenge in our computing curriculum, having high expectations and challenging misconceptions.

In addition to the school values of Aspire, Belong, Challenge the computing curriculum is planned to represent our school and outlying community.  Throughout the computing curriculum our key drivers (golden threads) are woven throughout the planning, teaching and learning:

Vocabulary and language- ensuring that our pupils develop the use of a wide and ambitious computing vocabulary and across the whole curriculum.

Resilience and independence- instilling a growth mindset, so that pupils persevere and are independent in both their learning and social skills

Equality and diversity- ensuring that learning encourages connections with both our local community and wider world

Through the Computing Curriculum, we ensure that all children are active in the learning process and have implemented common language around good independent learning and characteristics of effective learning, starting from Early Years. Growth mindset is embedded, using the ‘Power of Yet!’, and understanding the importance of the 5 R's (Resilience, Responsibility, Reciprocal, Resourceful, Reflective), Growth mindset is rewarded and recognised when children support each other to overcome challenges and to be proactive in their learning. 

As part of our curriculum we promote and encourage the children to recognise The Characteristics of Effective Learning; these are:

Go For it Gorilla - I will have a go.

Exploring Elephant - I am an Explorer

I know Rhino - I play with what I know

Proud Peacock - I am proud of what I do

Concentrating Crocodile - I join in and concentrate

Persevering Parrot - I keep trying

Choosing Chimp - I choose ways to do things

Creative Chameleon - I have my own ideas

Slinky Linky Snake - I can make links

Implementation

Our Computing curriculum is comprised of three aspects: digital literacy, coding and E-safety. These strands are revisited repeatedly through a range of themes during children’s time in school to ensure the learning is embedded and skills are successfully developed. Computing skills are taught both discretely and across the curriculum, supporting other areas of learning across the school.

In Early Years, children are given regular opportunities to understand how basic technology works. They are encouraged to explore technology independently and find ways to use it in their daily lives. In Key Stage 1, children are taught to use equipment and software confidently and purposefully, to communicate and handle information and to support their problem solving, recording and expressive skills. In Key Stage 2, our children extend their use of computing that they use for communication, investigation and programming and they work to understand how to communicate safely. Our planned curriculum includes online safety and builds progressively throughout the year groups covering a range of issues including understanding current issues such as ‘fake news’ and ‘body image’. Our use of DB Primary allows children to communicate in a safe environment that mirrors some aspects of social media.

Impact

The implementation of this curriculum ensures that children who leave The Rissington School are competent and safe users of technology with an understanding of how it works. They will have developed skills to express themselves and be creative using digital media and will be equipped to apply these skills to challenges they may face in the future.

National curriculum in England: computing programmes of study - GOV.UK