In recent years, computers and technology have become commonplace in all of our lives. The children we teach today, will grow up into a world that we cannot yet conceive due to the incredible speed at which technology is developing. Today, it is nearly impossible to exist without leaving a digital footprint, whether this be through online searching, messaging, video calling or social media use.
At Tower Road Academy, we want our children to be masters of technology prepared with the knowledge to be able to harness its potential for creativity and collaboration. We want to develop children’s computational thinking and be able to use these logical processes to solve a wide range of problems, across all subjects.
In our curriculum, we will embed technology across all subjects, in order to develop the skills within the Information Technology strand ensuring our children can use devices effectively to enhance their learning. We will use a combination of devices and unplugged teaching to build upon existing Computer Science skills, ensuring our children have a firm understanding of how algorithms work and how to use debugging skills when appropriate to solve problems.
By utilising technology across a broad range of subject areas, we will create Digitally Literate students, who know how to use technology effectively and safely and how to protect their digital footprint. Our knowledge rich curriculum has clear progression across the key stages within the three strands of Computer Science, Information Technology, Digital Literacy and each year builds upon the knowledge gained from previous years.
Our children will leave Tower Road, confident, safe and competent users of technology, knowing how and when to use it to enhance their learning.
How will we implement technology at Tower Road?
Computing at Tower Road is designed to be progressive by way of revisiting prior knowledge and skills within the year and throughout the school years. This means the children can achieve greater depth in their knowledge and skills as they progress through school.
Consideration is given to how greater depth will be taught, learnt and demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.
Vocabulary linked to Computing will be clearly displayed within the learning environment and is referred to regularly to ensure children have a secure understanding of the concepts and 'real world' application for their skills.
Technology is embedded across the curriculum, to demonstrate how it can enhance teaching and learning.
Retrieval of previously learned content is frequent and regular, supporting pupils to discriminate between topics and aiding long term memory.
Computational thinking is referred to in other subjects to enable children to solve problems in classrooms.
We use both computers and iPads, along with unplugged lessons, to explore and investigate as well as enabling children to gain ‘real life experiences’ to understand the real word application of the computational skills.
Embedding technology across the curriculum allows for regular discussions regarding e-safety and digital literacy, creating safe and competent users of the devices.
The Computing Curriculum
The primary Computing curriculum is split into three strands: Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy
Computer Science is the study of coding and programming. Within this, we teach how to program physical devices (such as Beebots, Code-a-pillars and Microbits) as well as how to create our own digital games.
KS1 Computing Statements for Computer Science
KS2 Computing Statements for Computer Science
Information Technology is the use of digital devices to create and consume content. This includes (but is not limited to) word processing, website creation, audio and video editing.
KS1 Computing Statements for Information Technology
KS2 Computing Statements for Information Technology
Digital Literacy is the ability to use technology in a safe and competent way. This strand teaches the skills to be able to decide when technology is and is not appropriate to use, and also includes many of the e-safety aspects to ensure pupils know how to keep themselves safe online.
KS1 Computing Statements for Digital Literacy
KS2 Computing Statements for Digital Literacy