Computing

I have learnt how to be safe on the computers and internet. I know how to keep myself safe from others.

Our Vision

The computing curriculum at the Federation of Oxford Road Community School and Wilson Primary School encourages children to be active and safe participants in a digital world, with the ability to use computational thinking and creativity to understand our ever-changing world. By providing the children with access to a range of units focused on different computing skills, we aim to build their understanding of the three strands of computing which will play an immeasurable part of our children’s futures. Each child will be able to access the internet and use the world wide web in a safe and respectful way. They will understand the necessary precautions to take, to stay safe and know where to seek help. No child will feel threatened or unsafe whilst online at school or at home.

I want to explore coding more in the future and look into what I can do with it

Our curriculum 

Computing gives me accessibility to lots of different things – whatever I want to learn or do!”

 Curriculum Intent

Our Computing curriculum encourages children to be active and safe participants in a digital world, with the ability to use computational thinking and creativity to understand our ever-changing world. Across the Federation of Oxford Road Community School and Wilson Primary School, we use the Purple Mash scheme to teach Computing.

We want pupils to develop an understanding of a range of computing skills to allow them to access the internet and use the world wide web in a safe and respectful way, as well as gaining essential life skills for their future learning and life. By providing the children with access to a range of units within the scheme focused on different computing skills, we aim to build their understanding of the three strands of computing which will play an immeasurable part of our children’s futures. They will understand the necessary safety precautions to take when online, to stay safe and know where to seek help.

Curriculum Implementation

In order to meet the aims of the National curriculum for Computing, we have identified the following key strands:

• Digital Literacy (including online safety)
• Information Technology
• Computer Science

Pupils explore knowledge and understanding through engaging activities and an introduction to relevant specialist vocabulary. Students engage in practical activities in all lessons to allow them to apply and practise the taught computing skills.

Strong subject knowledge is vital for staff to deliver highly effective teaching. The Purple Mash scheme supports teacher CPD and provides additional resources for this.
Online safety is a priority in our computing teaching. Each year group starts with a unit centred on online safety to recall learning from previous years and build on it throughout their learning, allowing students to keep it at the forefront of their minds when being online. It is integrated throughout all of our computing teaching, with reminders and safety teaching points where necessary within lessons.

Curriculum Impact

Throughout each unit of Computing, teachers monitor learning, and address misconceptions through a variety of both formative and summative assessment opportunities; assessing pupils against the learning objectives and any relevant computing skills. Opportunities for children to communicate using computing vocabulary will also form part of the assessment process in each unit.

Pupils should leave school equipped with the requisite skills and knowledge to succeed further in Computing and support future learning. They will have the necessary tools to confidently, meaningfully and critically explore the digital world around them as well as the knowledge and understanding of how to be safe and respectful online.