INTENT

At Peter Gladwin Primary we believe in a computing curriculum that is easy to follow, which will equip children with the skills and knowledge they need to use technology safely and creatively. Computing is not a subject just about memorising facts and vocabulary words; it is about solving complex problems, being able to collaborate with others and learning from mistakes. We want children to become independent and to have fun with technology while developing 21st-century skills.

IMPLEMENTATION

At Peter Gladwin Primary, computing is taught on a half-termly basis as a week-long block. As a school, we follow the Knowsley Computing scheme of work to inspire a lifelong love of play, design, code and invention with technology. We believe in a curriculum that meets the interests of all learners, with a range of exciting creative activities and open-ended challenges based on the essential requirements of the computing program of study and the National Curriculum 2013. We also ensure children can build on their understanding; each new concept and skill is taught with opportunities for children to revisit skills and knowledge as they progress through school. Each of the activities is organised into a series of hour-long computing lessons. We approach the activities like a story, with a beginning, a middle and an end.

Formative assessment is an effective tool throughout the computing curriculum. Following each session, children are encouraged to discuss key vocabulary that they have learnt during the lesson and then have the opportunity to ‘become the teacher’ in order to explain to others and demonstrate success. Learning is recorded by children creating their own digital learning journals that record their understanding and tell the story of the content they create with technology. These journals and the content the children create are collated into an individual pupil portfolio using the ‘Book Creator’ app on individually assigned iPads. This information can then be accessed by teachers and used as an assessment tool.

We believe there are non-negotiable digital skills that children must possess by the end of KS2:

• All children must have a basic understanding of coding and how the web works.
• All children must be able to evaluate online information and be social media ‘savvy’.
• All children must understand online safety rules and know how to report and block.
• All children must be proficient with word processing and able to use cloud storage.
• All children must be able to create visually engaging content/presentations in order to present learning to others.
• All children must have experience of online collaboration and using communication tools.
• All children must be taught the concept of personal archiving and possess their own digital portfolio of work.
   

IMPACT

Our approach to the curriculum results in a fun, engaging and high-quality computing education. The quality of children’s learning is evident on Book Creator, a digital platform where pupils can share and evaluate their own work, as well as that of their peers. Evidence such as this, is used to feed into teachers’ future planning and teachers are able to revisit misconceptions and knowledge gaps in computing when teaching other curriculum areas. This supports varied paces of learning and ensures all pupils make good progress.

Much of the subject-specific knowledge developed in our computing lessons equips pupils with experiences which will benefit them as they move up to secondary school, further education and future workplaces. Through research methods, use of presentation and creative tools and critical thinking, our computing curriculum at Peter Gladwin gives children the building blocks that enable them to pursue a wide range of interests and vocations in the next stages of their lives.