Computing

COMPUTING

Subject Lead - Mrs L.Franco

At Priory Lane Community School, we are all technologists!

Computing is a vital part of the national curriculum and essential to ensuring we prepare our children for adulthood in the 21^st century and its digital world. Through the study of computing, children are able to develop a wide range of fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding they will need for the rest of their lives. For most of us, being computer literate is imperative to succeed in our daily lives, whether that is at home or at work.

The national curriculum puts a clear emphasis on three areas of learning within computing:

Computer science: how computers work, how to write algorithms and how to write a computer program
Information technology: how data is represented and managed on computers
Digital literacy: how to understand digital information and interact with it safely and appropriately

At Priory Lane Community School, computing is taught using a blocked curriculum approach. This ensures that children are able to develop depth in their knowledge and skills over the duration of each of their computing topics. Knowledge and skills have been carefully mapped across each topic and year group to ensure developmental progression, which allow children to make connections and remember steps they have been taught. The implementation of the curriculum also ensures a balanced coverage of computer science, information technology and digital literacy in each year group.

The Computing curriculum at Priory Lane Community School looks like:

Cross-curricular links made to other curriculum subjects, such as data input and analysis through maths and science or even non-fiction writing in English and history
Links made to STEM including developing computer-aided design and controlling mechanical components
Regular use of iPads to support mastery of skills and knowledge
Frequent use of our Computing Suite being utilised to develop children’s skills and knowledge
Focused planning and assessment to ensure that progression of knowledge and skills is effective and consistent across the school
In addition the computing topic, Driver sessions are taught to ensure children are well-equipped and knowledgeable on how to stay safe online, including outside of school
Engaging lessons using a variety of computer programs, such as Beebot, Scratch and Turtle Logo
Where opportunities arise, engage the children with aspirational computer scientists which link to the taught topic
Repeated participation in whole school extra-curricular events, such as Internet Safety Day and Google Legends. This supports the children in consolidating their learning on e-safety to real life situations.