Intent, implementation, and impact Statement:  Computing at Bitterley CofE Primary School

At Bitterley, we encourage pupils ‘to be courageous, strong and do everything in love.’

The importance of understanding that each of us is rooted in love is not under-estimated at Bitterley.

‘Love always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.’  Corinthians 13:7 Trusting in love gives us the courage to be ourselves. Courage is from the Latin ‘coeur’ which means ‘To tell the story of who you are with your whole heart’. Our intention is for our pupils to leave Bitterley prepared for ‘Life in all its fullness’ and ready to tell their own stories.

Our Christian vision has driven us to create a bespoke curriculum for our pupils that pursues the acquisition of wisdom, knowledge and skills alongside educating for aspiration, dignity, and respect. It is also our intention to nurture a sense of community, so that all members of our school develop a deep sense of belonging, both locally and within the wider world. We believe that these attributes will support our pupils to live well together and flourish, as they move on to High School and beyond.

Our curriculum offer is therefore divided into three focus areas: ‘Courage, strength and love’:

Courageous – Living wholeheartedly. Using the knowledge and skills in our curriculum to choose our own path free from stereotyping; being curious, aspirational. Speaking out for those who do not have a voice. 

Strength – Having a growth mindset, developing resilience, being able to persevere to achieve our goals to create a confident well-rounded citizen in our diverse world.

Love – Embracing our neighbours, developing a greater awareness of the challenge’s others face in life and how we can make a difference in our school community, local community and further afield.  Through the curriculum we develop pupils understanding of challenges locally and globally. We teach pupils to listen with respect.

At Bitterley CofE Primary School, we believe that a carefully sequenced curriculum can empower our pupils and reduce social inequality, whilst providing the knowledge they need for the next stage of their education and beyond. We view our curriculum as a spiral: the mapped-out journey of concept building leading to a change in long term memory and an increase in knowledge. Through progressive concepts throughout the curriculum, the children will develop a deep and rich understanding, meaning that the knowledge and skills that are acquired are more likely to be remembered. Our curriculum sets out WHAT will be learned and WHEN it will be learned. We understand that cultural capital is the essential knowledge that children need to prepare them for their future success. Through our curriculum we provide different experiences and opportunities to support the accumulation of knowledge, behaviours, and skills that a child gains over time

Intent

It is our intention that computing at Bitterley Primary prepares our children to become active participants in a digital and technological world. It is our aim to provide children with the skills of how digital systems work and how to create a range of systems in preparation for secondary school and future life.

At Bitterley, we plan to equip children with rich vocabulary that they can use articulately to describe a range of computing situations. We aim to embed the understanding of computing and use to technology across all subjects.

Additionally, it is our intent to demonstrate to children how to safely use the internet and the importance of reporting internet concerns. We aim to highlight how brilliant technology can be when it is used correctly.

Implementation

Computing is taught in Key Stage 1 and 2 for 45 minutes each week using carefully sequenced lessons that build upon the foundations taught in the previous lesson. Lessons are taught using rich, key vocabulary to expand the children’s knowledge of computing. In Reception and Early Years settings, children require access to a range of digital and non-digital technologies. This is taught with pegs and push buttons, headphones with walkie talkies to communicate with each other, listening stations, green tablet cameras and laptops. In Key Stage 1 and 2, children use Beebots, laptops and iPads.

At Bitterley, we teach children about the importance of internet safety. Internet safety features as part of our computing curriculum which is explicitly taught each half term. Additionally, we celebrate ‘Safer Internet Day’ across the school each February.

Teaching staff are encouraged to use technology as part of everyday life to model this for children. We use online learning programmes for homework such as Spelling Shed, Times table Rockstars and for parental communication via Tapestry in Early Years.

Impact

Our approach to teaching computing provides children with the lifelong skills that they need for an ever-evolving digital world. Children have the skills and knowledge which will help them to succeed with technology in their future school lives and beyond. Children understand what is acceptable online and how to report issues that arise to trusted adults. Children at Bitterley have an awareness and the ability to safely use a range of technology to support their love of learning.