At. St. Augustine’s we aim to ensure that pupils know they live in a fascinating world that is enriched by the amazing information computing technology used around them. We want to encourage our pupils to understand how to use these tools of technology safely, so they can effectively engage, be entertained, carry out research, be creative and play, as part of a community and society.
We aim to develop pupils understanding of the wider uses of technology. We want pupils to use technology to benefit their lives and help people work together across cultures, developing our pupils as both local and global citizens.
We use the ‘Key Chain’ online scheme of work that is produced with the ‘Teach Computing Curriculum’. This scheme uses the National Centre for Computing Education’s computing taxonomy to ensure comprehensive coverage of the subject. All learning objectives can be described through ten strands, ordered alphabetically below.
- Algorithms – Be able to comprehend, design, create, and evaluate algorithms
- Computer networks – Understand how networks can be used to retrieve and share information, and how they come with associated risks
- Computer systems – Understand what a computer is, and how its constituent parts function together as a whole
- Creating media – Select and create a range of media including text, images, sounds, and video
- Data and information – Understand how data is stored, organised, and used to represent real-world artefacts and scenarios
- Design and development – Understand the activities involved in planning, creating, and evaluating computing artefacts
- Effective use of tools – Use software tools to support computing work
- Impact of technology – Understand how individuals, systems, and society as a whole interact with computer systems
- Programming – Create software to allow computers to solve problems
- Safety and security – Understand risks when using technology, and how to protect individuals and systems
These categories encapsulate the discipline of computing. Every year group learns these strands through the same four themes:
- Computing systems and networks: Computer systems, and Computing networks
- Programming: Programming, Algorithms, and Design and Development
- Data and information: Data and information
- Creating media: Creating media, and Design and development