“We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world.”

David Warlick

Intent

At Chivenor School- we are computer scientists. Computing at Chivenor Primary School aims to develop independent confident digital champions of the future through embedding creative computing across the whole curriculum, which enables children to engage critically with the online world in a safe manner.

It is important to us that our children understand how to use ever-changing technology to express themselves, as tools for learning and as a means to drive their generation forward into the future.

Our intent is to deliver a curriculum which ensures that primarily our children are responsible and safety conscious when using all forms of technology. We want our children to become digitally literate when using a range of media, including iPads, Chromebook and interactive devices. We want our children to be proficient in a range of computing skills to enable them to use computers for research purposes, to be creative and to apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science including abstraction, logic and algorithms.
We aim for our children to become discerning users of new technologies, evaluating their use and keeping up with technological advancements.

Implementation

The Computing curriculum is overseen by the STEM hub who ensure the curriculum shows clear progression across the year groups. Teachers at Chivenor have a subject knowledge that is current and relevant to an ever-changing world and are confident in their abilities to plan and deliver a robust computing curriculum. CPD ensures teaching skills are updated to ensure the children are fully engaged with the digital age.

We further support children’s learning with a range of learning platforms such as Purple Mash and Education City which provide additional opportunities for children to engage with technology and also use opportunities for cross-curricular learning where available. Children are able to further their skills through after-school clubs such as digital photography and coding.

Online safety is a continuous thread throughout the wider curriculum, with children and parents exposed to advice and guidance through assemblies; PSHE lessons; social media platforms; National online safety training and throughout the computing curriculum itself.

Impact

Our children leave us with a firm foundation of subject skills that can support other areas of learning and prepare them to further develop their computing knowledge. They are confident using a wide range of hardware and software, and are curious learners who take risks and make mistakes; understanding how to debug and re-evaluate before completing a task.

They understand how computers are not just for research and word processing but can also be used as a source of digital creativity and children will be confident to experiment with this medium.

Pupils are resilient, confident learners in using technology, preparing them for an ever-growing digital world in which their futures lie. Most importantly, our children leave us with a secure understanding of online safety and understand their role in keeping themselves safe as well as how they can help to make the internet a safe place for others.