COMPUTING

BORROW WOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL

Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement for Computing

Intent

At Borrow Wood Primary School, we want all of our pupils to become autonomous, independent users of computing technologies who are inspired and enthused by the computing curriculum. The pupils will understand how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming that will enable them to become active participants in a digital world. It is important to us that pupils understand how to use ever-changing technology to express themselves and as a means to drive their generation forward.

Our computing curriculum also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology. We want pupils to develop as respectful, responsible and confident users of technology, aware of the measures that can be taken to keep themselves and others safe online. These aspects of our computing curriculum build on the school’s ethos of CHOICE. Through our computer science lessons we want pupils to develop creativity, resilience and problem solving and critical thinking skills. Where pupils feel supported to achieve the best, they can be challenged to deepen their knowledge.

The curriculum has been designed in line with the National curriculum for computing; this provides a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum. Our aim is to provide a deep knowledge base alongside opportunities to apply skills in various digital contexts and to ensure that our curriculum is accessible to every pupil.

Implementation

Technology as a curriculum area is no longer a statutory requirement of the EYFS curriculum. However, to meet our children’s needs, internet safety is taught in Reception using Project Evolve. The children are also made aware of the different uses of technology in the home and in school. They also have opportunities to use a variety of resources, including the BeeBots to introduce early programming.

Computing in Key Stage One and Key Stage Two is taught through the National Curriculum. It is taught over a rolling two-year cycle, where weekly lessons enable children to build knowledge and skills over time.  At Borrow Wood, we follow and adapt the schemes of work from ‘The Teach Computing’ resource and use ‘Project Evolve’ which uses the framework from ‘Education for a Connected World’. These schemes have been chosen because they have been developed by subject experts, are based on the latest pedagogical research and cover the National Curriculum objectives which include the 3 strands of computing, which are: Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy.

When planning, staff also refer to our progression document. This outlines the core knowledge and key skills that should be taught in each unit, within each year group. This ensures a clear progression of knowledge and skills from one year group to the next. Specific vocabulary is included in our progression of skills document, which links directly to our whole school focus of extending and embedding vocabulary.

A key part of implementing our computing curriculum is to make sure that our pupils have the skills to be safe online. ‘Project Evolve’ covers all aspects of e-safety and digital literacy, which helps pupils to become resilient, empowered and safe online. Pupils also take part in Internet Safety Day. Staying safe online is taught and revisited throughout the year in assemblies, PSHE lessons and as part of our long term plan.  Children and staff receive bespoke teaching and training from a consultant who is a member of the UK Council for Internet Safety. Additional lessons are planned when need arises across school. Our i-vengers from Year 5 and Year 6 also help to raise awareness of E-Safety in our school community.

Impact

At Borrow Wood we measure the impact of our computing curriculum through pupil interviews, learning walks and end of unit summative assessments matching statements taken directly from the progression document. At the end of each unit of work, we identify children who have met, exceeded or are working towards objectives set. This also provides information for the subject leader and is used to track and monitor achievement and progress and the impact this has had.

Children will:

• Be able to demonstrate good understanding and age- related knowledge linked to the three strands of computing.
• Know and use key vocabulary linked to units of learning.
• Be more independent and competent in life skills such as problem solving and logical thinking.
• Be prepared for the next stage of their lives, knowing how to be a responsible user of technology in the wider work and most importantly, how to keep safe and know where to seek support.