Intent

We aim to provide a high-quality computing education which equips children to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. At Bierton Cof E Combined Primary School, we understand that it is essential for pupils to understand modern information and communication technologies, and for them to use these skills to become responsible, competent, confident and creative participants within an increasingly digital world.  

Technology is changing the lives of everyone. Through teaching computing, we aim to equip children to participate in a rapidly-changing world that is controlled and transformed by technology. It is our intention to enable children to develop the skills necessary to be able to use information in a discriminating and effective way. Our computing curriculum should be relevant to the pupils’ lives and reflect the increase in computing, preparing children for a life where technology surrounds them.  

Implementation

At Bierton Cof E Combined Primary School, we ensure our computing scheme of work meets all aspects of the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:  

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. 

• can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.  

• can 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.  

At Bierton, we recognise the fact that the effectiveness of any resource is dependent upon how and why it is being used. We believe that the appropriate use of good quality resources will enhance good teaching. Children have access to a wide range of resources, including class sets of iPads and Chromebooks. Bierton School follows the Purple Mash scheme of work to ensure there is a clear progression of skills fully embedded across both key stages. Computing is used to enhance other areas of the curriculum through cross-curricular topics. This could be the use of research as historians in history, Digimaps in geography lessons, presenting data in maths and science or exploring images in art through digital media. 

Impact

A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. By the time they leave Bierton CofE Combined Primary School, children will have gained key knowledge and skills in the three main areas of the computing curriculum: computer science (programming and understanding how digital systems work), information technology (using computer systems to store, retrieve and send information) and digital literacy (evaluating digital content and using technology safely and respectfully). By becoming digitally literate, children become computational thinkers, using computing to 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. The objectives within each strand support the development of learning across the key stages, ensuring a solid grounding for future learning and beyond.