Our Computing

At St Paul’s school, we understand that computing is a significant part of everyday life and therefore we understand the importance of delivering a computing curriculum that enhances children’s computing skills. We feel that computing skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, self-sufficient/independent learners. By the time children leave our school they will have attained key skills and knowledge in the three main areas of the computing curriculum.

Our curriculum has been designed to ensure that students are taught the foundations of computing before extending and developing their knowledge and skills. We begin the school year by teaching about the various types of technology around us. Early in the year, we then teach computing skills such as editing work, retrieving photos from online and creating work for a set purpose. Later in the year, once children have explored and began to master the core skills in computing, children learn about computer programming and coding. Throughout all areas of learning, teachers will enable children to apply their computing knowledge and skills to other subjects in an interconnected way. Our Curriculum is also designed to allow for regular, planned opportunities to teach online safety, which both reflects generic ways to stay safe online and areas that may be more specific to our world now.

Our curriculum is structured so that each year group is learning a computing concept during the same point of the year e.g. Coding in summer term. This is to allow clear progression of knowledge and skill across the school whilst also allowing both pupils and staff to share practice and subject knowledge.

Computing at our school is taught in an engaging and practical way. Children are given the opportunity to use a range of software and online resources to support their learning. Children are encouraged to work individually, in pairs and in various group sizes to enhance their learning within computing.

We also ensure that our pupils are regularly taught about and discuss how to stay safe online and what to if they feel unsafe when working online or using a device. Support is also offered to our parents and carers through the use of the National Online Safety platform.