Computing Curriculum Intent
At Aspire we understand the immense value technology plays not only in supporting the Computing and whole school curriculum but overall in the day-to-day life of our school. We believe that technology can provide enhanced collaborative learning opportunities; better engagement of pupils; easier access to rich content; support conceptual understanding of new concepts and can support the needs of all our pupils.
We also go beyond the planned curriculum in order to respond to particular issues that may be affecting an individual, a class or the school as a whole. This responsive element is crucial in meeting the personal development needs of our children.
Computing Curriculum Implementation
At Aspire Academy our Computing curriculum addresses each of the three strands of the National Curriculum Computing curriculum:
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Digital Literacy
We follow the Purple Mash planning scheme, although teachers may use a range of resources to ensure that their lessons meet the needs of the children in their class. These units are taught in a spiral curriculum that revisits each theme every two years. This enables children to recall and build upon previous learning at a depth that is appropriate for the age and stage of the child. Lessons also signpost key words, building a rich vocabulary to develop understanding.
Assessment for learning opportunities are built into each lesson which enable self-evaluation and reflective learning and allow teachers to evaluate and assess progress. Each lesson begins with a discussion of children’s existing knowledge and experience, providing an opportunity for baseline assessment. Each lesson ends with an opportunity to consolidate and reflect upon learning.
Although we teach Computing as a discrete subject, Digital Literacy is intrinsic to our children being safe and respectful in everyday online interactions. As such, it is also part of our PSHE curriculum.
Another key part of our implementation is the participation in Safer Internet Day to increase children’s understanding of important issues around online behaviours. We also take every opportunity to broaden our children’s experiences and use trips and visitors to enable this, such as Internet Safety workshops for pupils and parents.
Computing Curriculum Impact
The impact of our Aspire Computing curriculum and the children’s learning journey will be captured on class slides and are measured in a variety of ways; questioning during lesson time, listening to child-led discussion, using images and recordings of children’s practical learningt and talking to children about their learning.
Our Computing curriculum will:
- Provide an exciting, rich, relevant and challenging Computing curriculum for all pupils.
- Enthuse and equip children with the capability to use technology throughout their lives.
- Give children access to a variety of high quality hardware, software and unplugged resources.
- Instil critical thinking, reflective learning and a ‘can do’ attitude for all our pupils, particularly when engaging with technology and its associated resources.
- Teach pupils to become responsible, respectful and competent users of data, information and communication technology.
- Teach pupils to understand the importance of governance and legislation regarding how information is used, stored, created, retrieved, shared and manipulated.
- Equip pupils with skills, strategies and knowledge that will enable them to reap the benefits of the online world, whilst being able to minimise risk to themselves or others.
- Use technology imaginatively and creatively to inspire and engage all pupils, as well as using it to be more efficient in the tasks associated with running an effective school.
- Provide technology solutions for forging better home and school links.
- Utilise computational thinking beyond the Computing curriculum.
- Exceed the minimum government recommended/statutory guidance for programmes of study for Computing and other related legislative guidance (online safety).
The impact of the curriculum will also be evident in how children show respect and keep themselves safe online.
