Computing

At Queensgate, our mission statement is, ‘Inspiring a Love of Life and Learning’ and we recognise that Computing is an integral part of preparing children to live in a world where technology is continuously and rapidly evolving. Our children are offered learning opportunities using technology to express their knowledge and understanding of the world in a creative manner. Our goal is for our children to be creators of technology, fully grasping the relevance of and possibilities of emerging technologies thus preparing them for the world of work. We aim for our children to discuss, reflect and appreciate the impact computing has on their learning, development and well being. We also understand the accessibility opportunities technology can provide for all our children.

Our Computing curriculum (based on the iLearn2 programme) has been designed in line with the National Curriculum to enable our children to become masters of technology as they live in a digital world that plays an increasingly significant role in their lives. We see computing as a subject that should be embedded across the curriculum. We challenge our children to be creators not solely consumers of technology and our curriculum encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy aims to reflect this. These learning opportunities offer our children a broader and balanced curriculum – providing them the chance to apply their knowledge creatively and in turn help them become skilful computer scientists.

As a school we aim to model and educate our pupils on how to use technology purposefully, positively, responsibly, and safely. We recognise the incredible opportunities available to children if technology is used in the right way so as a school we promote positive use through how we embrace social media and our website.  We support our children to stay safe, make the right choices when they are using the internet and make a positive contribution online. We reinforce the message to our children that they have a choice when they use the internet: to help them get a job in the future or use it in a way that will reduce future job prospect possibilities. We feel the best way to educate our pupils is to embrace and model positive use of the internet.

The aim is for our children to leave Queensgate being able to showcase their knowledge by fluently using a range of technology. Our children should be able to demonstrate their understanding and creative use of technology by independently and confidently choosing which tool or device to use to complete challenges set by the end of Year 6.

The 2014 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 communication technology.

“Everyone should know how to program a computer, because it teaches you how to think!” Steve Jobs

“Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine.” Alan Turing