Computing

All pupils at Bank End Primary Academy have the right to have rich, deep learning experiences that balance all the aspects of computing. With technology playing such a significant role in society today, we believe ‘Computational thinking’ is a skill children must be taught if they are to be able to participate effectively and safely in this digital world. A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use 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. At Bank End Primary Academy, we teach a curriculum that enables children to become effective users of technology who can:

Understand and apply the essential principles and concepts of Computer Science, including logic, algorithms and data representation.
Analyse problems in computational term, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems;
Evaluate and apply information technology analytically to solve problems;
Communicate ideas well by utilising appliances and devices throughout all areas of the curriculum.

Internet Safety

Bank End Primary Academy takes internet safety extremely seriously. We have an E- Safety Policy that provides guidance for teachers and children about how to use the internet safely. Our Computing and PSHE lessons in school enable children to learn the safe use of technology and the internet, allowing them to think about how they can keep themselves and others safe, being mindful of how their behaviour, words and actions can affect others.

Implementation

We follow a broad and balanced Computing curriculum that builds on previous learning and provides both support and challenge for learners. We follow a Computing scheme from the National Centre for Computing Education (NCEE) that ensures and progression of skills and covers all aspects of the Computing curriculum.

Teachers will plan a knowledge organiser which outline key knowledge and vocabulary which all children must master. Low stakes quizzes will be used regular to support learners’ ability to block learning and increase space in the working memory. Challenge questions will be planned by teachers to allow for pupils to apply their learning in a philosophical/open manner.

All classes will have a scheduled Computing lesson each week and there will be an expectation that technology will be utilised throughout other lessons in the curriculum.

Children’s work will be recorded using a class PowerPoint presentation. These will be used for reference and assessment, to provide a clear picture of the children’s learning journey throughout the year.

We want to ensure that Computing is embedded in our whole school curriculum and that opportunities for enhancing learning by using technology are always taken.

Impact

Our Computing curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes
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.
Tracking of gains in each quiz.
Pupil discussions about their learning.

Our Computing curriculum is planned in a way which promotes the cultural capital of all our children. We enhance our curriculum especially for the most disadvantaged by organising guest speakers (gaming developers, music producers/ICT experts), organising Computing events which focus on the wider world and promote skills needed by children in their future careers. We develop these skills to enable children to choose from a wide range of vocations when they leave education. We also provide additional opportunities for children to apply these skills in their local environments, including digital photography and art.