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Computing

"For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge”

2 Peter 1:5

The use of information and communication technology is an integral part of the national curriculum and is a key skill for everyday life. 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.

At St Hilda’s we aim to provide a high quality computing curriculum that will equip our pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding to embrace and utilise new technology in a safe and responsible way. Our computing curriculum focuses on a progression of skills in digital literacy, information technology and online safety. These skills are revisited repeatedly during their time at St Hilda’s to ensure that learning is embedded and that the skills are successfully developed.

At St Hilda’s, computing is taught discretely and pertinent links are made with other subjects. We teach computing using Teach Computing which provides an innovative progression framework where knowledge and skills are built on year upon year from Year 1 to Year 6.

Our children begin their journey with technology in Early Years where we relate the computing aspects of the children’s work to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals (ELGs). Children will have computing experiences indoors, outdoors and through role play in both child initiated and teacher directed time. Children have the opportunity to use computers, iPads, tablets, Bee Bots and other programmable toys. Early Years staff facilitate children’s curiosity with challenge and model how to use technology safely and carefully.

In KS1 and KS2, children move on to using the tools within the Purple Mash learning platform. Here children have access to a wide variety of programs and games to continue to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding further.

We want the children of St Hilda’s to have an enjoyment of computing and be inquisitive and curious learners.

We want our children to:

be enthusiastic and confident in their approach towards computing.
See themselves as ‘Computational Thinkers’ who are able to use identified concepts and approaches and adapt this skill to all of their learning.
To be resilient learners who are able to ‘debug’ problems independently and work towards fixing them with confidence.
Understand how amazing technology is but also understand the risk that may come with this too.

Ensure that they are ready for further study of this subject at secondary school and beyond.

E-Safety

We are a WEB SAFE school.

Our mission at BE WEB-SAFE is to transform our digital landscape by educating adults and children about the way in which their brains behave online, to empower them. We provide training about ONLINE DISINHIBITION alongside suite of online safety resources for schools and businesses, giving all the tools needed to transform digital culture. Our aspiration is that when our children enter the adult world they will be surrounded by, and immersed in, a conversation built on being WEB-SAFE®, one digital footstep at a time.

Create a proactive WEB-SAFE® culture that engages all stakeholders and supports positive online mental health and well-being.
Empower staff, children and families to understand how their brain works differently (disinhibited) in a digital world.
Embed a system of strong safety practices to mitigate risk at work, school and home.
Role-model WEB-SAFE® behaviour when interacting with an education establishment.
Enhance the delivery of your duty to safeguard children online and face to face in school.

In Key Stage 1, pupils will be taught to:

Use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private
Identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies

Pupils in Key Stage 2 will be taught to:

Use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly
Recognise acceptable and unacceptable behaviour
Identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact

By the end of primary school, pupils will know:

That people sometimes behave differently online, including by pretending to be someone they are not
That the same principles apply to online relationships as to face-to-face relationships, including the importance of respect for others online, including when we are anonymous
The rules and principles for keeping safe online, how to recognise risks, harmful content and contact, and how to report them
How to critically consider their online friendships and sources of information including awareness of the risks associated with people they have never met
How information and data is shared and used online
What sorts of boundaries are appropriate in friendships with peers and others (including in a digital context)
How to respond safely and appropriately to adults they may encounter (in all contexts, including online) whom they do not know

E-safety is taught throughout the year and is woven throughout the computing curriculum. As a school we are very aware of the responsibility that we have to educate our children about staying safe online and because of this assemblies and E-Safety days are also very much a part of our curriculum. E-Safety is also integrated within our PSHE sessions throughout the school.