Computing

“If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” John Dewey

Intent

At WJS, we aim to provide an enriched Computing curriculum based around the three strands in the National Curriculum using the Purple Mash Scheme to facilitate this: Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy. We believe that: All children access a rich source of materials, no matter what their socio-economic background. All children can present information in new ways which help children understand, access and use it more readily. All children know and use a range of appropriate programs effectively and all children should be challenged, motivated and have a love of learning when engaging with the computing curriculum.

Why is Computing important?

High-quality computing education equips our pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. 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. They therefore become digitally literate for the rapidly changing digital world around them.

Implementation – How is our Computing curriculum enriched at Westbury Junior School?

Children are exposed to a variety of progressive and challenging topics within the computing curriculum. Our goal is to enthuse and engage all children to ensure progress for all.

Through the teaching of the computing curriculum, all children should develop key computational skills, which will be invaluable as they continue their school and professional journeys. This leads them to become digitally literate for the rapidly changing digital world around them.

Impact – Ultimately our Computing Curriculum is designed to:

Our curriculum aims to expand the children’s knowledge and the understanding of the role technology has in school and around the world. Learners will develop a respect for technology and its uses, know how to use technology safely, develop their problem-solving skills through enquiry and develop a love of computing. All children will be challenged to:

Create and evaluate their own project work;

Keep themselves safe online and when working with technology;

Have high aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life.