Computing

‘Work Together, Achieve More’

Curriculum Intent

This curriculum intent statement outlines how the school has created the curriculum and the benefits it will bring to all of our pupils’ learning and self-improvement. This policy outlines our dedication to establishing a well-rounded and robust curriculum, as well as the provisions surrounding its creation.

At Holley Park Academy, we value pupils’ education and aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum that is accessible to and inclusive of all pupils, equipping them with the skills necessary to succeed in life after school. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind and our curriculum celebrates the diverse nature of our society, enabling pupils to embrace the world around them – encouraging adherence with the fundamental British values. It also promotes the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at our school and of society. We ensure that the curriculum we provide for our pupils enables them to understand and appreciate the social and economic environment in which they live. The context of our school informs how we plan for all teaching and learning so that pupils’ learning is relevant, meaningful and has purpose. We ensure that we use our well-resourced outdoor area to develop and extend children’s learning beyond the classroom.

We have a clear understanding of pupils’ backgrounds and are aware of the challenges which they face. We ensure that positive behaviours for learning are embedded throughout the school and are used as an effective tool to allow pupils to access the curriculum effectively and independently. We use prior knowledge to identify gaps in learning so that new knowledge can be acquired and end points identified.

Intent

Through our computing curriculum at Holley Park Academy, we aim to give our pupils the life-skills that will enable them to embrace and utilise new technology in a socially responsible and safe way to flourish. We want our pupils to be able to operate in the 21st century workplace and we want them to know the career opportunities that will be open to them if they study computing. We want children to become autonomous, independent users of computing technologies, gaining confidence and enjoyment from their activities. We want the use of technology to support learning across the entire curriculum and to ensure that our curriculum is accessible to every child. Not only do we want them to be digitally literate and competent end-users of technology but through our computer science lessons we want them to develop creativity, resilience and problem-solving and critical thinking skills. We want our pupils to have a breadth of experience to develop their understanding of themselves as individuals within their community but also as members of a wider global community and as responsible digital citizens.

To achieve this intent, our curriculum is underpinned by three key pillars of learning:

Implementation

Computing is taught in discrete computing lessons but the use of technology is encouraged to support learning across all curriculum areas using a wide range of software and hardware. We utilise the Teach Computing scheme developed by the National Centre for Computing Education. Where needed, this scheme is adapted so that it can meet the needs of our children at Holley park. Children will use either IPads or laptops in order to access a range of apps and software. Where appropriate, meaningful links will be made between the computing curriculum and the wider curriculum to enable children to learn more and remember more. Children are also taught vocabulary linked to computing and key skills for life. Online Safety is taught regularly and progressive each year through computing, kid safe and personal development. Each year, as a school we recognise Safer Internet Day and deliver additional learning around cyber safety through our PSHE curriculum and Kidsafe programme.

Our scheme of work for each year group is designed to build upon the previous years' skills and knowledge across the three pillars of Digital literacy, Computer Science and Information Technology. Here is how it is mapped out from Years 1 – 6: