At St Michael’s we want our children to be MASTERS of technology and not slaves to it. Technology is everywhere and will play a pivotal part in their lives, therefore, we aim to teach our children how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely. We want them to be creators not consumers and to understand that they always have choices. We recognise that the best way to minimise the negative effects associated with technology/social media is through education.
Our computing curriculum encompasses the three main strands highlighted in the National Curriculum: computer science, information technology and digital literacy. Computing teaching provides our children with both knowledge and skills in each of these areas and the opportunity to apply what they have learnt. We use the scheme published by Kapow Primary as the basis of our computing curriculum. Lessons are designed for the children to enjoy using technology, appreciate its capabilities and the opportunities it offers to create, manage, organise and collaborate. Children are encouraged to tinker with software and programs to develop their confidence when encountering new technology, a vital skill as the digital world evolves.
The curriculum is planned to ensure that the children continue to build on the skills they have learned in previous years. Details of how we develop the children’s computing skills are available here: skills progression. By the end of Key Stage 2 we aim for the children to be able to use an apply their computing skills and knowledge confidently and independently, ready for the new challenges of secondary school.
Children have weekly dedicated computing lessons as well as using their computing skills in other curriculum areas. Our children use Chromebooks and i-pads to support their learning. If you were to walk into computing lessons at St Michael’s, you would see:
- Proficient users of technology who are able to work both independently and collaboratively.
- Computing hardware and software being used to enhance learning outcomes across the curriculum.
- Clear progression in technical skills.
- Children engaged in programming, instructing floor robots, preparing online safety presentations and designing games using various coding programmes
The different topics studied in each half term are available here: curriculum
In addition to the computing curriculum, our children are taught to be proficient users of Google Classroom for use in school, for homework and, when necessary, to join their class remotely for on-line lessons.
At the end of each computing unit, the children’s progress and attainment is assessed against age-related computing objectives. Results are reviewed by the Computing Lead and the Head Teacher, which allows for a discussion not only about the success of each child, but of the curriculum content and delivery.
As they learn and apply the new knowledge and skills in each curriculum unit, we gauge the impact of our computing curriculum by reflecting how the children develop:
- As critical thinkers who are able to understand how to make informed and appropriate digital choices
- In understanding the importance that computing will have in their future lives
- In understanding the need for a healthy balance in the time spent on technology and time away from it
- In understanding that technology helps to showcase their ideas and creativity and the different types of software and hardware that support this
- In understanding online safety issues and how to deal with problems in a responsible and appropriate manner
- In a growing awareness of developments in technology and how current technologies work and relate to each other