At Ellington Primary School, our vision is to cultivate a deep-rooted enjoyment for Computing among all our pupils, fostering confidence, passion, and responsibility in their use of technology both within and beyond the school environment. Through interesting, relevant and inclusive lessons, they will be able to leave Year 6 with a good understanding of how computers and the Internet work, along with being able to complete tasks on them creatively, independently and reflectively for a range of purposes and audiences.
The Computing curriculum at Ellington is designed to empower students in embracing and harnessing the potential of emerging technologies. By imparting essential knowledge, principles, and concepts, our curriculum cultivates a deep understanding of Computing. As the renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking aptly stated, "Whether you want to uncover the secrets of the universe, or you want to pursue a career in the 21st century, basic computer programming is an essential skill to learn." In today's dynamic landscape, pupils must not only adapt but thrive amidst rapid technological advancements. Our curriculum ensures that pupils are not only proficient in current tools but also equipped with the adaptability and creativity required to navigate future career opportunities with confidence.
In an era where technology permeates every facet of our lives, its role in shaping pupils' experiences is undeniable. Therefore, it becomes imperative for us to instil in our pupils the skills and mindset necessary to harness technology positively, responsibly, and safely. Our aim is to cultivate a generation of creators rather than mere consumers of digital content. This ethos is reflected in our comprehensive curriculum, which encompasses 'Coding & Computational Thinking,' 'Information Technology,' 'Computing Systems & Networks,' and 'Online Safety.' We endeavour to empower our pupils with the understanding that they always have a choice in how they utilise technology. As a school, we lead by example, demonstrating positive use of technology in our practices. Moreover, we recognise that education is the most effective means of addressing the myriad of challenges posed by technology and social media. Thus, we prioritise education as the cornerstone of our approach to mitigating these issues.
Technology provides opportunities for accessibility for our pupils and also enables them to share their learning in creative ways. Our curriculum, rich in knowledge, is balanced with opportunities for pupils to apply their skills creatively. This, in turn, helps our pupils become proficient computer scientists. We aim for our pupils to fluently utilise a range of tools to express their understanding.
By Upper Key Stage 2, we envision children having the independence and confidence to select the most suitable tool to meet the tasks and challenges set by their teachers.
The impact of our Computing curriculum is that we provide pupils with a set of skills to embed a lifelong love of learning and that they build on the knowledge and skills from previous learning. We ensure that every child can become a confident user of technology, while being able to use it to accomplish a wide variety of goals, both at home and in school. Children will have a secure and comprehensive knowledge of how technology works in the world around them and will develop their understanding of how to deal with online situations safely. Children will become confident global citizens.
Through the explicit teaching of Computing skills, both the teachers and the pupils assess their learning continuously throughout the units. To help children get to a deep level of understanding we use quizzes and knowledge organisers that we return to again and again. This is known as interleaving. The knowledge organisers outline what we want the children to know within each unit.
By nature Computing is going to be practical and hands on. We use 'floor books' to record the learning the children have provided in Computing, as well as giving the children the opportunity to record individually their responses to key questions. Teachers ensure that children understand and apply the correct vocabulary linked to different elements of the curriculum and this is also recorded within the floor books. Prior and future learning links are also included, so that there is a clear sequence in relation to the progression of skills and activities.