At Deal Parochial, we understand that technology is part of everyday life and for most of us, is essential to our lives at home and at work. We learn vital Computing skills and knowledge as well as ensuring technology is embedded throughout the curriculum.
The aims of the Computing Curriculum are to equip the future generations with the necessary skills for adult life and employment within the ever-changing technological environment we live in. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is vital in achieving this; therefore, we have ensured our Computing curriculum provides children with opportunities to:
- understand the ethical guidelines of using the internet safely, valuing their own identity.
- appreciate and respect advances in technology to enable them to reflect on experiences when learning about the world around them.
- actively support each other in challenging problem-solving situations where design, programming and construction is essential.
It is our aim that children will leave Deal Parochial as confident, able and responsible Digital Citizens.
We follow the Teach Computing Curriculum which enables our children to complete units in the three strands of computing (Digital Literacy, Computer Science & Information Technology) in every year group. This ensures that we have a progression of skills and knowledge as they complete this spiral curriculum.
For our online safety curriculum, we follow the Education for a Connected World framework. This is taught discretely in every year group as well as being integrated into other curriculum areas.
As children move up through the school, their access to various types of technology increases and it stands to reason that their exploration and curiosity increases too. The positives of the digital world far outweigh the negatives but children, schools and parents all need to be aware of various online risks.
Our online safety themes include:
- self-image and identity
- online relationships
- online reputation
- online bullying
- managing online information
- health, well-being and lifestyle
- privacy and security
- copyright and ownership
Intention
In Computing, our school aims:
- To build a computing curriculum that develops pupil’s learning and results in them gaining knowledge of the world around them.
- To ensure all pupils can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of the computing curriculum.
- To find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information.
- To be confident, creative and independent learners.
- To develop the necessary skills to be able to use information in a discriminating and effective way.
- To know more, remember more and understand more in computing so that they leave primary school computer literate.
- To prepare pupils to live safely in an increasingly digital society where they can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems.
Implementation
We will do this by:
- Embedding and covering every element of the computing curriculum, ensuring that knowledge and skills are built on year on year to deepen and challenge our learners.
- Using a clear and effective scheme of work that provides coverage in line with the National Curriculum.
- Ensuring teaching and learning facilitates progression across all key stages within the strands of digital literacy, information technology, computer science and online safety.
- Having access to resources which aid in the acquisition of skills and knowledge.
- Pupils using hardware (laptops, tablets, programmable equipment) and software that they need to develop knowledge and skills of digital systems and their applications.
- Pupils having the opportunity to explore and respond to key issues such as digital communication, cyberbullying, online safety, security and plagiarism.
- Ensuring the importance of online safety is shown through displays within the learning environment and round the school.
- Making sure parents are informed about current and topical online safety issues: providing support and information if required.
Impact
The result of this is:
- Curriculum aims will be achieved while enjoying and exploring their own interests in these areas where appropriate.
- Pupils will have the traits, knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to use technology to their benefit in their educational career and beyond.
- Pupils will leave our school with a love for the use of technology, a confident grasp of how to manipulate technology for a variety of purposes and have a strong moral compass which guides them to make the right choices when using the internet for social or recreational reasons.
- Pupils will respect the dangers of the internet, have strategies to cope with uncomfortable content and know where to get help and support.
- Pupils will have the capabilities and awareness to not be limited in their future prospects and ambitions.
- Pupils will be able to apply the British values of democracy, tolerance, mutual respect, rule of law and liberty when using digital systems.
/Curriculum/Policy_documents/Computing_Policy_2025.docx
/Curriculum/Policy_documents/DP_Computing_Progression.docx
/Curriculum/Policy_documents/Online_Safety_Policy_January_2025.docx