Intent

At Higham, we want pupils to be confident and skillful users of technology. Technology is used everywhere and plays an essential part in our students' lives, therefore, we aim to model and educate them on how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely. Our pupils will experience a broad curriculum encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy. At Higham, we recognise that the best prevention for a lot of issues we currently see with technology/social media is through education and this starts at the very beginning of the children’s school journey. We recognise that technology can allow pupils to share their learning in creative ways and also understand the accessibility opportunities technology can provide. We have planned a varied and rich curriculum which balances opportunities for pupils to apply their knowledge creatively which will in turn help our pupils become skillful computer scientists. We encourage staff to embed computing across the whole curriculum to make learning creative and accessible. We want our pupils to be fluent with a range of tools to best express their understanding and intend by Upper Key Stage 2, children have the independence and confidence to choose the best tool to fulfil the task and challenge set by teachers.

Implementation

Through our computing lessons, pupils will develop a love of the digital world and see its place in their future. Through our planning across the year groups, we help pupils build on prior knowledge whilst introducing new skills and challenges. From the start of KS1 we teach pupils to develop the use of algorithms, programming and how technology can be used safely and purposefully. In KS2, we continue to focus on the importance of online safety (including social media) as well as algorithms, programming and coding but in a more complex way and for different purposes. Pupils also develop their knowledge of computer networks, internet services and the safe and purposeful use of the internet and technology. At Higham, we develop staff knowledge and confidence to ensure that the progression of skills and knowledge are met. As a school, we believe that computing should be evident and support other curriculum subjects and pupils have access to a range of hardware and software to continue to develop their skills.

Impact

Learning in computing will be enjoyed across the school. Teachers will have high expectations and quality evidence will be presented in a variety of forms and recorded in a class scrap book. Children will use digital and technological vocabulary accurately, alongside a progression in their technical skills. They will be confident using a wide range of hardware and software and will produce high-quality purposeful outcomes across the curriculum. Children will see the digital world as part of their world, extending beyond school, and understand that they have choices to make. They will be confident and respectful digital citizens able to make to informed choices and understand the impact of technology in our daily lives.