Computing

Our philosophy & culture

At Priors Field Primary School, the intent for Computing is to equip children with the knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world. Our curriculum is carefully designed to meet the needs of all our children and to prepare them for their future lives as responsible digital citizens.

The intent is to ensure that Computing education is integrated and purposeful, enabling our children to develop a wide range of technical skills, computational thinking, digital literacy, and online safety awareness. The curriculum aims to inspire curiosity and interest in technology, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.

How children learn computing

The school ensures that our children have access to state-of-the-art technology resources, including hardware, software, and reliable internet access. Teachers are provided with ongoing professional development opportunities to enhance their subject knowledge and pedagogical skills in Computing. They receive support to stay updated with the latest technological advancements and best practices.

The implementation involves a systematic approach, whereby Computing is taught discretely, as well as being integrated into other subject areas. Cross-curricular links are made to reinforce learning and demonstrate the relevance of Computing to other aspects of the curriculum. Our children have regular opportunities to applytheir Computing skills in meaningful contexts, including opportunities for collaborative and project-based learning such as the F1 in schools project.

The school encourages a range of teaching approaches to cater to different learning styles and abilities. It promotes active learning through practical activities, coding projects, problem-solving tasks, and the use of real-life scenarios. Children are encouraged to think critically, ask questions, and reflect upon their learning experiences.

Effective assessment practices are in place to monitor pupil progress and identify areas for improvement. Our children’s work is celebrated and displayed, showcasing the progression of skills and knowledge.

The impact of the Computing curriculum

The impact of Computing is visible in the children’s attitudes, progress, and achievements. It demonstrates how our children’s knowledge, skills, and understanding have improved in relation to Computing and its wider applications.

The impact is evident in the children’s increased confidence and enthusiasm for using technology, their ability to apply computational thinking to problem-solving scenarios, and their understanding of online safety. Children demonstrate a secure knowledge of key concepts, such as algorithms, programming, data handling, and information technology.