The Intent of our Computing Curriculum
In line with the 2014 National Curriculum for Computing, Threshfield Primary School’s aim is to provide a high-quality computing education which equips children to use computational thinking and creativity but also has developed a large subject knowledge which they can take with them into our technological world. The curriculum will teach children key knowledge about how computers and computer systems work, and how they are designed and programmed. Learners will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of computational systems of all kinds.
By the time children have left Threshfield Primary School, they will have gained key knowledge and skills in the three main areas of the computing curriculum: computer science (programming and understanding how digital systems work), information technology (using computer systems to store, retrieve and send information) and digital literacy (evaluating digital content and using technology safely and respectfully). The objectives within each strand support the development of learning across the key stages, ensuring a solid grounding for future learning and beyond.
The Implementation of our Computing Curriculum
At Threshfield Primary School, computing is taught using a blocked curriculum approach. This ensures children are able to develop depth in their knowledge and skills over the duration of each of their computing topics. Teachers use Purple Mash which gives a thorough and detailed curriculum; training to develop teachers’ subject knowledge and varied support resources, including instructional videos to ensure high-level computing skills and knowledge is delivered.
The implementation of the curriculum ensures a balanced coverage of computer science, information technology and digital literacy. The children have experiences of all three strands in each year group; as the children move through school the subject knowledge becomes increasingly specific and in depth, with more complex skills being taught, thus ensuring that learning is built upon. For example, children in Key Stage 1 learn what algorithms are and how they work, which leads them to the design stage of programming in Key Stage 2, where they design, write and debug programmes; showing their ability to explain the thinking behind their algorithms.
We are able to implement our curriculum through a class sets of laptops and 10 I-pads - we have recently upgraded our class set of computers to ensure our technology can deliver our curriculum. This ensures that all year groups have the opportunity to use a range of devices and programmes for many purposes across the wider curriculum, as well as in discrete computing lessons. Employing cross-curricular links motivates pupils and supports them to make connections and use their skills in real-life situations.
The Impact of our Computing Curriculum
Our approach to the curriculum results in a fun, engaging, and high-quality computing education. The quality of children's learning is evident on display boards on Purple Mash, a digital platform where pupils can share and evaluate their own work, as well as that of their peers and share this at home with parents/careers.
Much of the subject-specific knowledge developed in our computing lessons equip pupils with experiences which will benefit them in secondary school, further education and future workplaces but also promoted children to consider a career within computing. From research methods, use of presentation and creative tools and critical thinking, computing at Threshfield Primary School gives children the building blocks that enable them to pursue a wide range of interests and vocations in the next stage of their education.