Computing
Lead Teacher – Mrs M Flynn
Purpose of study
A high-quality computing education equips students 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 students 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, students are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that students 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
Our curriculum aims to ensure that all students:
- Understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- Analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- 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
To be a successful computing student they must;
- Be able to comprehend, design, create, and evaluate algorithms
- Understand how networks can be used to retrieve and share information, and how they come with associated risks
- Understand what a computer is, and how its constituent parts function together as a whole
- Be able to select and create a range of media including text, images, sounds, and video
- Understand how data is stored, organised, and used to represent real-world artefacts and scenarios
- Understand the activities involved in planning, creating, and evaluating computing artefact
- Use software tools to support computing work
- Understand how individuals, systems, and society as a whole interact with computer systems
- Create software to allow computers to solve problems
- Understand risks when using technology, and how to protect individuals and systems
Our curriculum focuses on the 3 distinct strands within computing, which complement each other and are essential in preparing students to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Digital Literacy
The curriculum is centred on the Teach Computing Curriculum. It supports students to acquire knowledge through the use of key concepts, terms and vocabulary. Encourages collaboration to stimulate classroom dialogue and securing knowledge of key concepts. Each new concept is explored with increasing complexity added as students progress through the curriculum.
When designing our curriculum, we have considered the individual needs of all our students. To ensure that students with SEND have the opportunity to develop the same knowledge and skills as their peers, we adopt a range of strategies within the classroom such as scaffolding and tiered questioning. This enables students to develop confidence as well as the knowledge and skills they need to progress.
Every lesson includes formative assessment opportunities for teachers to ensure that misconceptions are recognise and addressed if they occur. Summative assessments take place at the end of each unit and end of each academic year, with outcomes used to inform the curriculum.