Computing
Computing
Computing is an integral part of our everyday life and will play an immeasurable part in our children’s futures. Through teaching computing we equip our children to participate in a rapidly changing world where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology. At Henley CofE Primary School, we provide a knowledge rich curriculum. The bible says, ‘For wisdom is better than rubies…’ Proverb 8:11. We believe that through the accumulation and application of knowledge and skills, children are equipped to experience, ‘life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10) and thrive in a world increasingly dependent on computing. The use of Computing enhances and extends our children’s learning across the whole curriculum whilst contributing to motivation and the development of social skills. We will safeguard our pupils by deepening their knowledge of both the strengths and dangers of the internet.
A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and 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. The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate and safe online – able to use, and 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 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
Which values underpin the curriculum content?
Resilience – children develop resilience through the ever changing growth and advances within technology and computing
Community – computing allows communities to connect in isolation of each other through social media, email and gaming
Service – Many aspects of the economy, which serve the country, rely on technology and programming to provide their service.
Perseverance – within programming, children develop perseverance through problem solving
How are British Values taught from Computing?
Within Computing, we promote tolerance through different people’s ideas that may be built on cultural diversity which promotes mutual respect. We link this to pupils' behaviour online and how mutual respect and tolerance is applicable to the online world as well as in society. Pupils have the opportunity to work independently and as a team to build resilience and self-esteem through tasks. In particular the idea of working in teams is vital in coding and debugging tasks. When working in groups pupils are expected to share ideas and resources and encourage and support each other. By promoting high expectations through the setting of ground rules, pupils are rewarded for positive behaviour.