Computing

Computing Vision  

(Subject Lead: Mrs S. Barnett)

Here at Alexandra Junior School our vision is to prepare our pupils for the digital world and be able to express themselves through the use of digital mediums. Technology is changing the lives of everyone, through teaching computing we equip our children to participate in a rapidly changing world that is increasingly transformed by technology. Through the study of computing, children are able to develop a wide range of fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding that they will need for the rest of their lives.

It is our intention to enable children to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information. We also focus on developing the skills necessary for children to be able to use information in an effect way. Embedded within our daily life in school is our Alexandra Promise to our pupils and our school context-based drivers, the 5Es (Excel- be awesome, Embrace yourself, Explore the world, Engage with others, Express yourself). There has never been a better time in computing to use the internet to explore the world, engage with others and express ourselves. Our curriculum is designed so that children learn to use digital devices and the internet safely and responsibly so that they become good digital citizens.

As technology evolves, we constantly update and adapt our E-Safety policy and teaching to meet the safety needs of the children in our care. In addition to agreeing to a set of e-Safety rules for acceptable ICT use, learners are taught how to become safe and responsible ICT users.

At Alexandra and Junior School, it is our belief that all children have an equal right to a broad and balanced curriculum, which enables them to meet their full potential. Through our teaching, we provide learning opportunities that enable all pupils to make good progress. We strive hard to meet the needs of those pupils with special educational needs, those with disabilities, those who are deemed more-able and talented and those learning English as an additional language, and we make all reasonable adjustments to achieve this.

By providing these opportunities, we ensure that our children are motivated, confident, life-long learners who will continue to express themselves through digital mediums into later life.

We welcome you to review the Curriculum and Pedagogy documents to see how the Computing curriculum is put into practice.

Subject Lead Statement

I would like to introduce myself as Mrs Barnett, computing subject leader here at Alexandra Junior School. At Alexandra Junior School, we are lucky to have a wide variety of computing equipment. Compared to other schools we have many more iPads, kindles, laptops and Chrome books available to us. Each classroom has an interactive Promethean whiteboard which is used by both teachers and children in order to model learning. Our computing equipment is widely used by all teachers in order to deliver the computing curriculum effectively.

I am a firm believer that children should be taught using a variety of technology platforms so that they are able to use technology no matter what their operating systems. The children are able to use iOS on the iPads and android on the kindles. The laptops run on the windows platform and give the children the opportunity to use a variety of software to practise their computing skills. The Chrome books use Google software, which gives the children further opportunities to broaden their understanding and skills in computing.

Our children are digital natives so it is important that they understand that computers and the internet have not always been available to us therefore it is important for the children to understand the way in which the world of computing has advanced over the years in order for them to understand where technology can take us in the future.

Technology is changing the lives of everyone. Through teaching computing, we equip children to participate in a rapidly-changing world where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology. It is our intention to enable children to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information. We also focus on developing the skills necessary for children to be able to use information in a discriminating and effective way. We want children to know more, remember more and understand more in computing so that they leave our school computer literate.

Computing skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, creative and independent learners and it is our intention that children have every opportunity available to allow them to achieve this.