Computer Science | smithills-school

COMPUTER SCIENCE/IT

“Coding is today's language of creativity. All our children deserve a chance to become creators instead of consumers of computer science.”

Maria Klawe

"Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one"

Bill Gates

Subject Intent:

Our curriculum is designed to provide a high-quality computing education that incorporates all three pillars of computing – Computer science, Information technology and Digital literacy. An inclusive spiral journey which builds upon prior learning that will develop both declarative and procedural knowledge. This will create pupils at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

We built the curriculum with the intent that students will:

experience a curriculum rich in Computer Science knowledge, where pupils learn important programming knowledge to enable them to become confident programmers.
develop their computational thinking and problem-solving skills allowing them to apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science.
have the opportunity to use Information Technology to create digital artefacts through new and repeated contexts to build a breadth and depth of knowledge.
develop their cultural, moral, and social development allowing them to understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual and for the wider society. Leading to a better understanding of how changes in technology affect safety in an ever changing digital world and confidence in their own Digital Literacy.
be prepared for life beyond the school by building responsible, competent, confident and creative users of digital technology who can evaluate and apply their understanding to new or unfamiliar technologies in an increasingly unpredictable and technological world.

Subject Implementation:

The curriculum builds through a spiral curriculum from year 7 to 11 focusing on the cumulative development of key declarative and procedural knowledge enabling pupils to be successful in learning complex ideas or processes. The curriculum is delivered through Computing lessons at KS3, with an option to choose GSCE Computer Science or Btec Digital Information Technology at KS4.
Schemes of learning are developed and shared within the department. The schemes of learning follow a consistent format which includes: lesson content, knowledge, skills, success criteria, reading, keywords, careers, Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural and British School Values. For each scheme of learning there are a set of lesson folders for each lesson, containing a PowerPoint and associated resources. These are used as a starting point by teachers to differentiate to meet the needs of their students.
Teaching staff will consider pupils’ expertise and prior knowledge when selecting teaching approaches. A range of pedagogy such as modelling and scaffolding along with more computing specific pedagogy such as “Unplugged” or “PRIMM” will be used to help deliver curriculum content.
A hybrid learning approach is used to promote and develop independent learning through the medium of Microsoft TEAMS, Class Notebook and tradition exercise books. TEAMS is to be used within lessons and at home to deliver curriculum content and is further supported by knowledge organisers, Lesson PowerPoints and any additional resources needed. Teachers will engage with students through feedback which will enable them to continue to develop and make progress.
Pupil assessment and tracking focuses on the knowledge and skills identified in the curriculum. Various formative assessments strategies are used within the classroom to identify misconceptions and inform planning. Summative assessments are done to assess acquired knowledge or skills and are completed through written tests, online software and project challenges. Assessment outcomes are compared to targets to monitor progress. Specific groups such as SEN, DP, MA are closely monitored and intervention, where necessary, is planned in order to reduce gaps.

Subject Enrichment:

In the computing department we believe learning can be delivered through a creative blend of practical and theoretical lessons. Students are given the opportunity to develop practical programming skills, and also develop vital understanding across a range of relevant computer science topics. In this way we value learning that occurs both within the classroom and beyond it.

Enrichment includes:

Cyber Explorers club - An initiative led by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, showcases how the skills being taught in class are linked to real world situations, through an immersive, gamified learning experience. A virtual world where Cyber Explorers uncover how digital, computing and cyber security skills are integral to successful career paths.
Code Club - Aim to raise interest and excitement in computer science, by developing programming skills through challenges, game design and physical computing.
Celebrating Difference Day - students design and make their own controller using Makey Makeys’s and use them to control a computer game.

Subject Impact:

The five year curriculum model ensures that sequences of learning builds on previous knowledge and skills along with laying the foundation for subsequent progression.
Develop socially aware, digital literate citizens equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to actively engage within a global community.
Develop pupils with an ability to critically think about the modern world and give them the attributes needed to safely interact within the digital world around them.
Provide pupils with a range of vocabulary, core knowledge and skills that creates the building blocks of deeper explanation and understanding; providing entry points to further study, training or employment.