Bidbury Junior School - Curriculum intent for computing

Bidbury Junior School aims to provide a computing education that equips our pupils to start to use computational thinking and creativity in order to understand and change the world they live in.

Our computing curriculum aims to instil a sense of enjoyment and a healthy use of technology to develop pupil’s’ appreciation of its capabilities. It explores the opportunities technology offers to create, manage, organise and collaborate. 

In addition, it helps to equip children for life in the digital world, including developing their understanding of appropriate online behaviours to keep them safe and helping them to become discerning consumers of online information.

The core of our computing curriculum 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.  Pupils are provided with opportunities to experience software and programs to build on this knowledge and understanding and develop their confidence when encountering new technology. 

The planned curriculum ensures that pupils start to become digitally literate and are able to use information and communication technology to express themselves and develop their ideas. We intend for pupils not only to begin to be digitally competent and have a range of transferable skills at a suitable level for the future workplace, but also learn how to become responsible online citizens. 

The aims of our computing curriculum align with those in the National Curriculum   

and enable pupils to meet the end of key stage attainment targets.  Our computing curriculum re-enforces links across subjects such as maths, science, design technology and PHSE. 

National curriculum for computing

Purpose of study

A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. 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. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

Aims

The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
• can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
• can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

Subject content for computing in key stage 2

Pupils should be taught to:

• design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
• use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output
• use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
• understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration
• use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content
• select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
• use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.

Attainment targets

By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study.