Curriculum Matters
Statement of Intent for Computing @ Ospringe CE Primary School
Subject Leader: Karen Whelan
Why we teach Computing
At Ospringe, our computing curriculum aims to teach our children a varied and engaging curriculum that fosters a love for using technology to enhance learning. The reasons for teaching it and embedding it within all teaching across the curriculum can best be summed up by `The Purpose of Study’ section of the National Curriculum document 2014.
‘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.
What we teach
In short, we teach the learning objectives set out within the National Curriculum for EYFS &Key Stages 1 & 2 by using elements of various Schemes of Work that suit our school needs to ensure progression. These include Purple Mash, Teach Computing, and UCL's ‘Scratch Maths’.
The 'Information Technology' strand of the computing curriculum is taught throughout other subjects through the use of Google APPs for Education. This cross-curricular approach to IT teaching means that our children are proficient and confident in using a range of devices (in particular iPads); children are engaged and excited to receive many opportunities to present their work and learning in a range of different ways and are given the opportunity to engage with technology a lot more than having one off weekly standalone lessons.
Digital Literacy or Online Safety teaching, which is vital in today's world, is taught to children as both a standalone, focused lesson half-termly in each year group from Years 1 - 6, as well as being taught throughout their half-termly computing projects.
Computer Science, in contrast to IT and Online Safety, is taught explicitly as standalone lessons as is some of the Purple Mash and Teach Computing modules.
How we teach it
IT skills such as word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, creating e-books, APPs, video creation, photo and video editing and website creation are explicitly taught in Computing lessons but skills can then be used through all other subjects using Google APPs for Education and Apple APPs.
Online Safety lessons have at least 6 standalone lessons at the start of every academic year, as well as being embedded throughout teaching during computing lessons. There are also assemblies/incentives/competitions led by Y5 Tech Team.
Each year group has access to iPads and laptops.
Teachers have the freedom to adapt and change lessons to suit their classes and to make the lessons even more engaging.