Intent

At St Peter’s, we aim to prepare our learners for their future by giving them the opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills that will equip them for an ever changing digital world. Knowledge and understanding of computing is of increasing importance for our children’s future – at school, home and for future employment. Our curriculum focuses on a progression of skills in digital literacy, computer science, information technology and online safety to ensure that children become competent in safely using, as well as understanding, technology. These strands are revisited repeatedly to ensure that the learning is embedded and skills are successfully developed. Our intention is that Computing also supports creativity and cross curricular learning to engage our pupils and enrich their experiences in school.

Implementation

The overall aim of our Computing curriculum is that pupils leave St Peter’s as confident, capable and creative users of digital technology, with a secure understanding of the fundamental principles of computer science and as safe, responsible and discerning digital citizens.We want to develop pupils who:

• 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 experiences 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.

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school and one which is in line with the national curriculum programmes of study for Key Stages 1 and 2. This provides a broad framework and outlines the knowledge and skills taught in each key stage.

Our Computing progression model is broken down into three strands making up the computing curriculum. These are Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy. Computer Science underlines the knowledge and skills relating to programming, coding, algorithms and computational thinking. Information Technology underlines the knowledge and skills relating to communication, multimedia and data representation/ handling. Digital Literacy develops the skills and knowledge to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; and identify a range of ways to report concerns about content.

Impact

The implementation of our curriculum ensures that when children leave St. Peter's:

• They can use digital and technological vocabulary accurately and be confident in using a range of hardware/software to produce high-quality purposeful products.
• They will have developed the knowledge/skills to be respectful and responsible Digital Citizens.
• They are well prepared for the Key Stage 3 curriculum and beyond.

E-Safety and Digital Citizenship

At St. Peter's, we use the 'Project Evolve - Education for a Connected World' framework. This toolkit aims to support and broaden the provision of online safety education by covering the knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes across eight strands of our online lives.

The strands are:

Self-Image and Identity

Shaping online identities and how media impacts on gender and stereotypes.

Online Relationships

Relationships and behaviours that may lead to harm and how positive online interaction can empower and amplify voice.

Online Reputation

Developing strategies to manage personal digital content effectively and capitalise on technology's capacity to create effective positive profiles.

Online Bullying

Explores strategies for effective reporting/intervention and how bullying and other aggressive behaviour relates to legislation.

Managing Online Information

This strand explores how online information is found, viewed and interpreted. It offers strategies for effective searching, critical evaluation and ethical publishing.

Health, Well-being and Lifestyle

Explores the impact that technology can have on health, well-being and lifestyle including understanding negative behaviours and issues amplified and sustained by online technologies and the strategies for dealing with them.

Privacy and Security

This strand explores how personal online information can be used, stored, processed and shared. It offers strategies to limit the impact on privacy and protect data and systems.

Copyright and Ownership

Explores the concept of ownership/protection of online content and crediting the rights of others.