Computing at Hensall School

Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology. 

At Hensall school, we learn how computers and computer systems work, and how they are designed and programmed. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology.  Online safety is interwoven through all aspects of the computing curriculum.

Intent

At Hensall, we intend that children should master Computing to such an extent that they can go on to have careers within Computing and make use of Computing effectively in their everyday lives, without being completely reliant on technology.

Our children will be taught to use technology responsibly and carefully, being mindful of how their behaviour, words and actions can affect others.

Our children will be taught Computing in a way that ensures progression of skills, and follows a sequence to build on previous learning.

Our children will gain experience and skills of a wide range of technology in a way that will enhance their learning opportunities, enabling them to use technology across a range of subjects to be creative and solve problems, ensuring they make progress.

 Implementation

We follow a broad and balanced Computing curriculum that builds on previous learning and provides both support and challenge for learners.

We achieve this by focusing on three areas of the national curriculum:

• Computer science
• Digital Literacy
• Information Technology

This year, in line with our school improvement priority, we have invested in the Kapow Primary Computing scheme of work. This means that we will further focus on 5 key areas which will be taught in cyclical way, revisited and built upon over the seven years’ children are at primary school:

• Computer systems and networks
• Programming
• Creating media
• Data handling 
• Online safety

The online safety aspect to the curriculum has high priority and, as we have also use the PSHCE aspect of Kapow, we can ensure that the objectives for the DFE’s Education for a Connected World are also covered.

We use a variety of software and hardware to help us bring the curriculum to life. Much of the software is freely available to use for children to access at home.  In school, we have tablets, laptops and digital toys to enhance the teaching and learning.  Unplugged computing lessons also play a massive part in our curriculum as this supports children to understand the, ‘real life’ use of technology and can aid computational thinking. 

Children’s work will be saved in their own folders on the school network and evidence will be available as part of our whole school learning journey to aid assessment, reflection and reference.

Impact

Our children enjoy and value Computing and know why they are doing things, not just how.

The Computing curriculum will contribute to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement, self-reflection and wellbeing. This would be seen in them being able to talk confidently about their work, and sharing their work with others.

Children will be keen to use technology to demonstrate learning in other areas of the curriculum and in their personal lives.

Progress in Computing is demonstrated through regularly reviewing and scrutinising children’s work, pupil voice, learning walks alongside peer review and coaching. 

Success in each year of study will enable the children to be ready to their next step on their learning journey.

Curriculum Coverage

Curriculum Progression Documents 

The curriculum progression document for computing shows how we map subject knowledge and skills sequentially from EYFS to Year 6. In each year group, we know the order of what our pupils have learnt, what they are learning and what they will need to learn in the future. This document enables us to identify any gaps in learning that need to be addressed to ensure that new learning makes sense to our pupils.

In addition to this we also map out subject specific vocabulary across school.