Computing

Intent

At the Phoenix Federation, we understand that computing and communication technologies are an essential part of modern life. In order to prepare our children for their future, we equip them with the skills to use creativity and computational thinking to understand and change the world. Computer Science is the core of computing where children are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. From here our goal at the Phoenix Federation is to ensure pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that our children are digitally literate; able to use, express themselves and develop ideas through ICT as participants in the digital world and in the future workplace.

Implementation

At the Phoenix Federation we wish to ensure that computing encompasses an engaging, enlightening and developmental approach to all aspects of the curriculum. We follow the Switched On Computing curriculum programme; award-winning teaching resources that support primary teachers and learners.

• Follow the key themes in line with the strategies set out in the national curriculum.
• Ensure there is clear progression and the end outcomes of the curriculum build on previous knowledge.
• Sequence the curriculum to enable pupils to build their knowledge and skills towards the agreed end points
• Ensure the subject considers how the intended curriculum will address social disadvantage by addressing gaps in pupils’ knowledge and skills
• Guarantee that the subject curriculum contains content that has been identified as most useful, and ensure that this content is taught in a logical progression, systematically and explicitly so all pupils acquire the intended knowledge and skills
• The curriculum has been designed, adapted and taught so that pupils read at an age-appropriate level.
• Ensure that there are opportunities to develop oracy skills across the subject and present work when possible.
• Promote the diversity that can be seen in the subject due the curriculum content being accessible to all groups within society.

Impact

Our Computing curriculum at the Phoenix Federation is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression and prepare children for their life ICT journey. During their time at school pupils should demonstrate a variety of different skills and understanding.

• Progress that pupils are making in terms of knowing more, remembering more and being able to do more is clear.
• Children can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation.
• Children can analyse problems in computational terms and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.
• Children can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems.
• Children are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
• Pupils can explain orally what they have learnt and what they would like to learn in the future.
• Children can identify key figures who are relatable to them and their ethnic origins.