Introduction
- A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world.
- 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.
Aims of the Howden le Wear Curriculum for Computing
The Curriculum for Computing aims to ensure that all pupils:
- can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation;
- can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems;
- can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems;
- are safe, responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
Learning Foci for Computing
1. To develop knowledge and understanding of E-Safety.
2. To develop ICT skills.
3. To develop computing skills.
Topics studied in each year group
Year 1:
E-Safety: Making suitable choices
ICT Skills: Information around us
ICT Skills: Introduction to modelling
ICT Skills: Using a word bank (labelling and classifying)
ICT Skills: Representing information graphically
Computing 1
Computing 2
Year 2:
E-Safety: Who can you talk to?
ICT Skills: Finding information
ICT Skills: Creating pictures
ICT Skills: Writing stories and communicating ideas
ICT Skills: Questions and answers
Computing 3
Computing 4
Year 3:
E-Safety: Reliable sources of information
ICT Skills: Combining text and graphics
ICT Skills: Manipulating sound
ICT Skills: Exploring simulations
ICT Skills: Using e-mail
Computing 5
Computing 6
Year 4:
E-Safety: Being information wise and protecting your identity
ICT Skills: Modelling effects on screen
ICT Skills: Developing images using repeating patterns
ICT Skills: Branching databases
ICT Skills: Writing for different audiences
ICT Skills: Collecting and presenting information
Computing 7
Computing 8
Year 5:
E-Safety: Friends online, cyber-bullying and plagiarism
ICT Skills: Evaluating data and checking for accuracy
ICT Skills: Spreadsheets 1
ICT Skills: Graphical modelling
ICT Skills: Monitoring environmental conditions
Computing 9
Computing 10
Year 6:
E-Safety: How to protect yourself online
ICT Skills: Advanced Internet search skills
ICT Skills: Controlling devices
ICT Skills: Multimedia presentation
ICT Skills: Spreadsheets 2
Computing 11
Computing 12
