Intent

At Campton Academy we are committed to ensuring all children are given the opportunities to gain the knowledge and develop the skills they need to use up-to-date technology positively, responsibly and safely.

Our engaging Computing curriculum focuses on a progression of skills through a range of themes across the year groups. This ensures learning is embedded, skills are successfully developed, and previous learning is built upon, supporting the needs of all our pupils and ensuring that children can relate real life situations to the computing course.

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. 

They develop analytical problem-solving skills and learn to evaluate and apply information technology. It is important the children have a broad, deep understanding of computing and are confident, creative and independent learners, who are able to access the ever-changing technology around them.

Implementation

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in Computing, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the school.  Computing is taught through weekly lessons and covers all aspects of the National Curriculum.  Our computing curriculum is a combination of the Purple Mash and Teach Computing schemes of work. This approach ensures a broad and balanced coverage of experience and opportunity. It helps the children build on prior knowledge and, at the same time, introduces new skills and challenges.  In the Computer Science strand of the curriculum, Key stage one focuses on developing the use of algorithms, programming and how technology can be used safely and purposefully.  In lower key stage two, lessons still focus on algorithms, programming and coding but in a more complex way and for different purposes. 

Cross-curricular links are also important and support the skills taught in the Information Technology strand.  Activities include word processing, creating images, taking and using photographs and video, creating music and animations, using and creating databases, producing and contributing to blogs. These activities give meaningful context to show the benefits of using technology in everyday life.  Children have access to a variety of technology, such as interactive white boards, visualizer’s, laptops, Chromebooks, iPad’s and Beebots. In addition, the children have access to the cloud-based platform, Purple Mash, both at home and in school.  This aims to equip the children with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to thrive in the digital world of today and the future. 

Through the Digital Literacy strand the children are taught to use technology safely and responsibly.  At Campton Academy we take internet safety extremely seriously, the children need to understand the importance of keeping personal information private and to treat other people with respect.  During termly E-safety lessons the children learn what to do and where to go for help if something goes wrong or they see something they don’t like.  The children develop practical skills in the safe use of the internet, networks and email.

Although computing is not a statutory part of the EYFS, we ensure that children in Reception class receive a broad, play-based experience of computing through the use of new technologies.

Impact

The children enjoy and value Computing and are keen to develop new skills, speaking confidently about their learning and demonstrating high levels of engagement during lessons.  Teachers have high expectations and quality evidence will be presented in a variety of forms. Pupils become increasingly confident in using a range of hardware and software to accomplish a wide variety of goals, as they move up through the school.  They have a good understanding of how to be considerate and safe users of technology, including the World Wide Web, and they are able to explain to others how they stay safe online.  Progress in Computing is demonstrated through regularly reviewing and scrutinising children’s work to ensure that progression of skills is taking place. This is carried out by looking at pupil’s work, observing how they perform in lessons and talking to them about what they know.  Children attain the highest of standards, equipping them with the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to develop a lifelong love of learning.