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Computing

Teaching in the Internet age means we must teach tomorrow’s skills today.

Jennifer Fleming

Aim

The aim of the Computing department is to ensure that all the pupils have the ability to use IT tools and information sources effectively in order to analyse, process and present information. 

In addition they should be able to use ICT to model, measure and control external events.  We are not aiming to simply create a group of unimaginative computer users, but creative, forward-thinking and able programmers, problem-solvers, web-designers, games-makers and app-developers of the future.

Approach

In the Pre-Prep Computing Curriculum pupils are introduced to a wide range of uses for IT.  Children have discrete Computing lessons taught by the Head of Computing, with support from their form teacher and teaching assistant.  They are introduced to sound, graphics, presentation, animation, text and data handling, as well as simple programming and simulations.

In the Prep department the Computing curriculum is aimed at developing digital literacy and an understanding of an array of digital devices, through an introduction to programming, simulation, animation, website design, sound editing, digital imagery and graphics editing, along with more traditional areas of IT, such as presentation, text and data handling.

Online safety is also an integral part of this curriculum and we promote an emphasis on developing an awareness of e-safety both within school and at home.

The school benefits from a fully-equipped computer suite, along with class sets of bookable iPads and laptops that can be used to embed IT skills and tools across other curriculum areas and less formally in other school time. Every classroom is equipped with an interactive whiteboard, enabling staff to enhance their lessons and create a stimulating learning environment.

What will my child study?

  • Year 1 - E-Safety, Controlling Devices, Digital Content and Animation, Data Handling, Design and Text Handling Research, Programming.  
  • Year 2 - E-Safety and Email, Data Handling and Animation, Stimulations and Sequences, Internet Research and Databases, Manipulating Sound, Text and Images, Programming.
  • Year 3 - E-Safety and Internet Research, Communication Tools using email, Editing Digital Content, Design and Publishing, Programming, Digital Photography and Online Editing Tools.  
  • Year 4 - E-Safety and Graphic Design, Controlling Devices and Writing Procedures, Internet Research, Data Handling and Presenting Information, Digital Photography and Publishing, Programming.
  • Year 5 - E-Safety, AI including ethics and machine learning, Programming and Game design, CAD and 3D modelling, Simulations and working with simple formulae 
  • Year 6 - E-Safety, Internet Research and Presentation, Programming including Scratch and HTML, Website Design, Copyright and Social Media, E-Book design and creation