Computing
At Hadrian Academy, we acknowledge that technology is everywhere and plays a vital part in our children’s lives. It has become a major form of communication and most jobs rely on technology in some way, even more so in the future! Therefore, at Hadrian Academy we want our pupils to be computer literate and ‘savvy’, in this digital world. As well as wanting our children to be masters of using a range of platforms and programmes such as: Google Docs, Google slides and internet browsers, it is imperative that our pupils know how to use all technology respectfully, safely and responsibly.
Our Computing curriculum has four themes:
- Computing systems and networks
- Programming
- Data and Information
- Creating Media
These strands are covered across the school through the Teach Computing scheme of work which incorporates objectives from Year 1 to Year 6 and ensures we ae covering the National Curriculum for Computing. Children in EYFS access this alongside KS1 through the cycles of our curriculum.
The units for key stages 1 and 2 are based on a spiral curriculum.This means that each of the themes is revisited regularly (at least once in each year group), and pupils revisit each theme through a new unit that consolidates and builds on prior learning within that theme. This style of curriculum design reduces the amount of knowledge lost through forgetting, as topics are revisited yearly. It also ensures that connections are made even if different teachers are teaching the units within a theme in consecutive years.
Computing starts right from the start of Hadrian in Reception where the children explore and experiment with a range of technology such as iPads and Beebots, and discuss how to use technology safely.
Skill Progression in Computing
As well as delivering specific computing lessons, we embed computing across the curriculum so that our children can confidently use a range of platforms and hardware to organise and analyse data, to then manipulate and present information. This supports them with other subjects, for example when presenting information in English, or knowing how to analyse and organise data in maths and science.
We hope that our curriculum allows children to be prepared for the world of technology and that by the time they leave us in year 6, they are confident, safe computer users ready for secondary school and beyond.