Computing
Computing Curriculum
Subject Leader for Computing: Mr Walsh
Curriculum and Intent:
At St Michael and St Martin, we provide (for all our pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils and including pupils with SEND) an exceptional, clear, ambitious, and balanced coverage of the three Computing Pillars (Computer Science, Information Technology, and Digital Literacy). Our challenging curriculum deepens students' understanding while building knowledge on secure foundations. It does not limit what children can learn and how far they can go.
All lessons are coherently planned and well-sequenced to enhance and develop key Computing skills. Teaching and learning facilitates progression across each key stage with subject knowledge becoming richer, specific, and in-depth. Included is a bespoke cross-curricular scheme of work (in line with the National Curriculum) that prioritises depth over speed.
Vision:
As a result, our vision is for all our staff and pupils to gain the appropriate skills, knowledge, and understanding to have the confidence and capability to use Computing throughout their lives. At St Michael and St Martin, the teaching of the Computing curriculum has been carefully considered to enable our pupils to become efficient digital citizens.
Cultural Capital:
- Regularly talk about significant figures/Computing Pioneers - Alan Turing, Bill Gates, Ada Lovelace
- Virtual Tours - Amazon
- School Trips - Microsoft, Apple, Three Discovery, Sky Studios
- Live Online Lessons - Google, Three Discovery, Tech She Can
- Children exposed to Robotics - Online sessions with John Parnum
- Enrichment activities such as Physical Computing/Crumbles/MicroBits
- After School Club - Computing Club
- Movie Trip to see a Technology themed film called Ron’s Gone Wrong
- Competitions - Bebras, Google/Balanced living
How do the pupils at St Michael and St Martin Catholic Primary School develop the school ‘STRIVE' values through Computing?
Spiritual - Develop deep thinking and question the way in which the world works, promoting the spiritual growth of our pupils.
Thinkers - Children are encouraged (through Computational Thinking) to articulate a problem and think logically. Resources via Barefoot Computing help them to explore cause and effect and analyse how their actions or the actions of others impact the given situation.
Resilient - Our approach to digital resilience focuses on three key areas - online safety, cyber resilience and data protection. We seek to equip our children and young people with excellent knowledge, skills and strategies in these areas and also to recognise when to access help and support and where to find it. Summative and formative assessments allow us to analyse their growth and development within these key areas.
Independent - Independent learning is encouraged and fostered during every Computing lesson. We believe students exploring for themselves is at the very core of learning. Making discoveries from a task the teacher sets that they are genuinely interested in and find challenging, and the feeling they gain from self-direction, is wonderfully rewarding for learners as well as an incredible life tool.
Valued - During Computing lessons, all pupils can contribute to lessons and discussions about Computing and know that their opinions and individual skills and talents are valued by their peers and teachers.
Empathetic - Pupils develop sensitive awareness of, and the ability to respond constructively when online.