Computing

Intent

At Court Farm Primary School, our intent for the computing curriculum is rooted in the belief that every child should have the opportunity to gain vital digital literacy skills, enabling them to thrive in an increasingly digital world. We use the ‘National Centre for Computing Education’ scheme to ensure that we meet the expectations of the PSHE curriculum. We aim to provide a comprehensive computing education that:

  • Develops Digital Competence: We strive to equip all pupils with the knowledge and skills necessary to utilise technology effectively and responsibly, fostering a culture of safe digital citizenship.
  • Encourages Creativity and Innovation: Our curriculum, in line with the principles outlined by the National Centre for Computing Education, encourages creativity through project-based learning, enabling children to express ideas and solutions innovatively using various digital tools and platforms.
  • Incorporates Computational Thinking: We aim to nurture problem-solving abilities and logical thinking through coding, programming, and computing concepts, fostering resilience and perseverance among pupils.
  • Supports Cross-Curricular Learning: Computing is integrated across the curriculum, allowing children to apply their skills in context, enhancing engagement and understanding in other subjects.
  • Prepares for Future Careers: We keep abreast of technological advancements and the evolving job market to ensure our computing curriculum prepares pupils for future opportunities in various fields.

Implementation

Our implementation of the computing curriculum at Court Farm Primary School is characterised by a structured, progressive, and inclusive approach that ensures all pupils, regardless of their starting point, can engage and flourish. The computing curriculum is carefully sequenced to build upon prior knowledge and skills, with clearly defined learning objectives and outcomes from Early Years through to Year 6, following guidelines from the National Centre for Computing Education. Computing is taught weekly at Court Farm Primary School. We employ a range of teaching strategies, including collaborative group work, hands-on projects, and the use of coding platforms, to actively engage pupils and enhance their learning experiences. We utilise a variety of resources, including hardware, software, and online platforms, ensuring that pupils have access to a wide range of tools that stimulate learning and creativity.

Impact

By the time children leave us they will: 

  • Demonstrate proficiency in a range of digital skills, from basic computer operations to advanced programming concepts.
  • Have a high level of enthusiasm for computing lessons, with pupils eager to participate in discussions, collaborative projects, and challenges.
  • Regularly demonstrate their ability to approach complex problems with creativity and resilience, exhibiting refined computational thinking skills.
  • Through cross-curricular projects, apply their computing skills meaningfully in subjects such as mathematics, science, and art, showing improved overall engagement and understanding.

In order to be confident in the impact of Computing across the whole school community, the Computing lead will monitor the subject through the following methods:

  • Discussion with pupils
  • Monitoring displays
  • Learning walks
  • Evidence in floor books
  • Staff questionnaires