First Federation Trust
“The computer was born to solve problems that did not exist before.” — Bill Gates
Computing has deep links with mathematics, science and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. 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. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
INTENTION
Technology is everywhere and evolving all the time. It will play an important part in all of our students' lives, therefore, we want to model and educate our pupils on how to use it positively, responsibly and safely. At Newton Ferrers C of E Primary, our broad curriculum encompasses 'computer science', 'digital literacy' and 'information technology', taught through specific lessons and also linked to other areas of the curriculum when appropriate to make the learning creative and accessible.
We want our pupils to use technology effectively (including for collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information) and begin to evaluate digital content. We want our pupils to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly. To recognise acceptable and unacceptable behaviour and identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.
IMPLEMENTATION
At Newton Ferrers, our computing curriculum is constructed over a 2 year rolling programme.
The programme has been constructed in so that over the pupils Newton Ferrers journey they will cover all areas of computing including Digital Literacy (the uses of technology, Computing systems and networks), Information Technology (Creating media Data and information) and Computer Science (Computer programming) with a robust and detailed offer relating to Online Safety.
Every year pupils complete 5 units of computing in depth following a progressive sequence of lessons outlined by the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE). Pupils will complete one unit of digital literacy and either three units of creating media or three units of Computer Programming. The fifth unit of data and information is matched to our Science curriculum and is run alongside interweaving the skills and knowledge required ensuring the computing is taught first with the vehicle of delivery being the science.
Long Term Plan
Assessment of Computing
Every lesson includes formative assessment opportunities to ensure that misconceptions are recognised and addressed if they occur. They vary from teacher observation or questioning, to marked activities.
The learning objective and success criteria are introduced at the beginning of every lesson. At the end of every lesson, pupils self-assess according to this given criteria. This gives pupils a reminder of the content that has been covered, as well as a chance to reflect. It is also a chance for teachers to see how confident the class is feeling so that they can make changes to subsequent lessons accordingly.
Summative assessment
In Ks1, when we assess, we want to ensure that we are assessing a pupil’s understanding of computing concepts and skills, as opposed to their reading and writing skills. Therefore, we encourage observational assessment.
Observing learning
To capture summative assessment data of KS1 pupils, we recommend using the success criteria in each lesson and capturing some of the following while the lesson is taking place:
■ The work that pupils complete (marking)
■ Notes on conversations or discussions that you have or hear during an activity
■ Photographs of the work that pupils produce during an activity
■ The pupils’ self-assessments at the end of the lesson This data is to support teachers’ assessments of the pupils’ understanding of the concepts and skills that were taught in the lesson.
A pupil working at age-related expectations should be able to meet the success criteria for each lesson by the end of the unit. At the end of a unit, you may wish to use the observations that you have made across each of the lessons to determine an overall snapshot of a pupil’s understanding of the content from that unit.
In KS2, every unit includes a summative assessment framework in the form of either a multiple choice quiz (MCQ) or a rubric.
All units are designed to cover both skills and concepts from across the computing national curriculum. Units that focus more on conceptual development include an MCQ. Units that focus more on skills development end with a project and include a rubric. However, within the ‘Programming’ units, the assessment framework (MCQ or rubric) has been selected on a best-fit basis.
Multiple choice quiz (MCQ)
Each of the MCQ questions has been carefully chosen to represent learning that should have been achieved within the unit. The MCQs, follow the diagnostic assessment approach to ensure that the assessment of the unit is useful to determine both how well pupils have understood the content, and what pupils have misunderstood, if they have not achieved as expected. This ensures that teachers know which areas to return to in later units.
Rubric
The rubric is a tool to help teachers assess project-based work. Each rubric covers the application of skills that have been directly taught across the unit, and highlights to teachers whether the pupil has achieved the expectations for their age group. Children will also review their own completed unit against the units ongoing success criteria.
Online Safety
Online safety is a fundamental element of ICT teaching and technology. We have a separate Online Safety policy, and Online Safety sessions take place at the beginning of every Computing lesson as well as in PSHE lessons.
We have a clearly developed and tracked online safety curriculum which is adapted regularly to meet the needs to the children. Our children complete yearly online safety quizzes which then shape the two year rolling programme.
In addition, each year we support Safer Internet Day and explore the theme in depth across the school. This provides an additional boost to the importance of Internet safety which is covered right from the beginning EYFS to the end of KS2.
IMPACT
We encourage the children to enjoy and value the curriculum we deliver. We want the learners to discuss, reflect and appreciate the impact computing has on their learning, development and well-being.
The way pupils showcase, share, celebrate and publish their work will best demonstrate the impact of our curriculum. We also look for evidence through reviewing pupils' knowledge and skills digitally and by observing their learning carefully. Progress of our computing curriculum is demonstrated further through outcomes and the record of coverage in the process of achieving these outcomes. Learning and understanding is assessed against the National Curriculum statements for Computing. This is both ongoing, to inform future planning, and summative to share with staff, leaders and parents. This ensures the pitch of lessons is well matched to need and that, by the end of each key stage, required content within the National Curriculum is adequately covered to prepare pupils for the next phase of their education. Leaders conduct pupil conferencing and interviews with the children to discuss their learning and establish the impact.