Computing

I think it's fair to say that personal computers have become the most empowering tool we've ever created. They're tools of communication, they're tools of creativity, and they can be shaped by their user.

Bill Gates

Intent

At Runnymede we aim to offer the children a broad and balanced experience of using and accessing different types of technology. This will range from technology that is used day to day in school as well as beyond the classroom in our homes and workplaces. We will do this in a way which actively supports and promotes learning, helping all to make links to the wider world, whilst preparing everyone for the challenge of a rapidly developing and changing technological environment. Our vision at Runnymede is to embrace existing technology while continuously evolving with advances made in new technology in the future so that our pupils can become digitally literate and be able to express themselves and develop their ideas through Computing. We aim to deliver computing lessons that inspire and equip children, with a range of skills and concepts in the modern computing curriculum. Our children will be taught computing in a way that will enable them to become confident, competent and responsible participants, while also staying safe in an increasingly digital world.

Implement

Computing at Runnymede delivers a clear and effective, cross-curricular scheme of work that provides coverage in line with the National Curriculum. The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
• Can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
• Can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
• Are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and computing technology

At Runnymede we believe that the appropriate use of good quality resources is important to support good quality teaching. The school follows the Teach Computing scheme of work and this is supported by resources from the Teach Computing website. Along the journey from foundation to KS2 the children begin to understand how technology is used in school and in society to assist day-to-day life. Our curriculum allows our learners to access devices such as wireless tablets, programmable devices, and other examples of technology progressively. Students will learn how these devices can be used and how they work, through learning what makes a computer a computer.

Pupils will have access to a Computing suite with 16 desktop computers and there is also a class set of 30 iPad’s that can be used in the classroom. All classes have a teacher’s computer and interactive T.V. so pupils can participate in lessons in both the classroom and the Computing suite. These resources are supported with loans from the local hub which will allow us to also give pupils a hands-on experience using a variety of equipment.  

Computing can also be used to enhance other areas of the curriculum through cross-curricular topics. This could be the use of research as Historians in History, Digimaps in Geography or presenting data in graphs and charts in Maths and Science or exploring images in Art and Design & Technology through digital media. Computing can also be used for assessment in PE where pupils’ activities and achievements are recorded then uploaded to their files on our interactive PE planning and assessment tool.

Online Safety is an important part of computing, there are specific days and weeks dedicated to it such as Internet Safety Day or Be Internet Legends Day plus extra sessions are taught to ensure that the importance of E-Safety resonates with the children when they use the internet both in and out of school time. We have also set up our own tailored school app through Safer Schools where staff, parents and pupils are constantly kept updated and informed of any emerging concerns.  In a fast moving and constantly changing digital world they are also able to share any concerns that they have with the relevant parties all of which are easily accessible on the school app.

Impact

Children at Runnymede will be digitally literate and be able to join the rest of the world on its digital platform. Our learners will understand how and why technology is important to our school and home life. In accessing and using different computers in their learning journey, the students at Runnymede will be confident and safe users of technology, understanding the impact that using technology can have on ourselves and others around us, both now and in the future.

When our pupils leave Runnymede, they will have developed computing capability in finding, selecting and using information; they will be able to use computing for effective and appropriate communication, understanding the risks involved with communicating online. Computing and computational thinking is now a way of life and we aim to ensure that our young Edwardians are equipped for the future, with the necessary skills to learn and progress in the ever-changing digital world.