St John's Primary School
Computing at St John’s
Through teaching Computing, we equip pupils to participate in a rapidly changing world where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology. We enable them to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information. We also focus on developing the skills necessary for pupils to be able to use information in a discriminating and effective way. Computing skills are a major factor in enabling pupils to be confident, creative and independent learners.
The aims of Computing at St John’s are:
to develop Computing capability in finding, selecting and using information;
to use Computing for effective and appropriate communication;
to monitor and control events both real and imaginary;
to apply hardware and software to creative and appropriate uses of information;
to apply their Computing skills and knowledge to their learning in other areas;
to use their Computing skills to develop their language and communication skills;
to explore their attitudes towards Computing and its value
to them and society in general. For example, to learn
about issues of security, confidentiality and accuracy.
INTENT
- Self – We want our pupils to have the confidence to work creatively and imaginatively to communicate using a range of art materials and processes.
- Others – We want our pupils to learn about and appreciate artists within our culture and local community.
- Wider world – We want our children to have skills and knowledge to adapt to the ever-changing world considering historical and modern art.
IMPLEMENTATION
Pupils at St John's are taught through Computing lessons which are timetabled by class teachers. Teachers in the school all have access to personal laptop computers on which to prepare lessons. Interactive White Boards are available in all classrooms (including the library and KS2 teaching space). Teachers and pupils make use of these in order to promote high quality learning.
The school is equipped with 30 networked chromebooks, and 20 ipads all with broadband internet connectivity. Pupils use these machines to research and present information in all subject areas. Pupils in KS2 work through collaborative online workspace (google classroom).
All classes have a timetabled lesson each week for the development of Computing skills. Pupils are taught skills in whole class groups using the IWB. They are provided with opportunities following the whole class input to practice the skill for themselves. Their level of attainment is assessed through the integrated task following each series of skills sessions.
Computing CURRICULUM PLANNING
The school uses the Purple Mash on-line platform and scheme of work to support the teaching and learning of Computing. The content of this curriculum is categorised into the following areas:
1. Coding and Computational thinking
2. Spreadsheets
3. Internet and Emailing
4. Art and Design
5. Music
6. Databases and graphing
7. Writing and presenting
8. Communications and networks
All pupils have a purple mash and google account and the teacher monitors their work in their class folders. This enables the coordinator to monitor the progress of pupils throughout the school.
The schemes of work are based on the same design: pupils are taught a range of skills in the first lessons. They are then
provided with a context or integrated task related to studies in another area of the curriculum in which to use the skills they have been taught. The integrated task can be modified by the teacher to reflect the pupils’ interests at the time but must have the appropriate level of challenge in relation to Computing skills.
COMPUTING in EYFS
In the EYFS there are no assessment criteria for computing or computing technology. Nevertheless, Reception children will experience the enjoyment of technology and programs whilst also using this to explore elements of their other learning and recording their ideas as part of creative and critical thinking.
