Computing
Quality of Education
Curriculum
Developing independence is at the forefront of the Computing curriculum. It is vital students recognise the significance of digital technology in their everyday lives. Functional skills are embedded throughout lessons to ensure students have the skills and knowledge they need to become creative, digitally literate, computational thinkers. Communication is rooted within the curriculum, through rich questioning teachers scaffold computing enquiry to enable them to solve problems in anticipation for adulthood. Students are encouraged to gain a greater knowledge of themselves and be curious learners. In turn, this provides them with opportunities to achieve ‘excellence for all.
Discover Pathway: Students study Computing at KS3 through the Creative curriculum delivered over 10 sessions per week. The Creative curriculum is a thematic approach and includes drama, music, art, computing, product design, humanities and science. The curriculum is designed to develop students’ knowledge, understanding, communication and independence skills through a variety of learning experiences and approaches. Focus is on sensory and behavioural regulation using behavioural resources and TEACH tasks to engage students and prepare for learning. Students are assessed within Speaking & Listening and they progress sequentially through progression levels and bridge, onto milestones, allowing them to develop a greater depth and understanding of the key aspects of the theme. At KS4, Students study Computing 1 lesson per week and cover a wide range of skills that they will need in their everyday life. Students access Computing through the use of supported steps and equipment to aid independence and produce a range of finished digital products. Students work towards Entry Level qualifications.
SMSC underpins students’ experiences in Computing, as the subject offers a vast array of opportunities to explore values both in and outside the classroom. Students will use the internet to research and communicate along with considering the consequences, advantages, disadvantages and dangers of privacy, cyber bullying, making ‘virtual friends’ as well as understanding the need for respect for themselves and others when using media sites.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities: Computing is fundamental to everyday life as such Elms Bank equips students with ‘hands on experience’ of computing, this includes using everyday software and learning how to stay safe online.
CEIAG: Computing is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that is essential to everyday life. Learning is related to real life and covers areas such as word processing, emailing, internet searching and safety safe online.
Wellbeing: The Technology department supports the development of positive learners by using the marking and feedback policy students aspire to achieve and respond positively to regular praise, use of stickers and stamps, pathway champions and postcards.
Values: The Technology department supports the development of positive and resilient learners through the use of the marking and feedback policy. Learning is scaffolded, modelled and revisited to allow for students to succeed and opportunities to try again. Students achieve external accreditation in Computing and this is differentiated across 3 pathways. Finally, students deepen their morale code in attending Computing lessons by discussing real life examples such as those touched on above. Helping them to develop into students with integrity and a strong moral sense of right and wrong.