Computing
At The Olive School, Birmingham, our Computing curriculum equips pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to thrive in the digital world of today and the future, through computer science, information technology and digital literacy.
In doing so, our children will be fully prepared for their next stage of education and equipped with these skills and knowledge for the rest of their lives. Computing is an increasingly significant part of both professional and personal daily life and we believe that our children should be at the forefront of new technology, with a thirst for digital learning. We will deliver a knowledge-rich curriculum that:
- Systematically develops an understanding of programming, including algorithms.
- Teaches children how computer systems, devices and the internet works.
- Ensures a sequential and structured focus on all important aspects of online safety.
- Provides broad and deep experiences of a range of software applications and applies them across the curriculum.
In Key Stage 1, children are practically introduced to the fundamentals of algorithms, take a first journey through the world of IT and begin to develop the skills to use MS Word. Themes are broadened and developed throughout Key Stage 2. The four essential programming strands of sequencing, repetition, selection and variables are developed so that children can design and debug their own programs. Children also learn about computer networks, as well as broadening their mastery of common computer applications, to ensure readiness for secondary school.
We ensure that this learning is undertaken in unison with a systematic development of all aspects of online safety because at The Olive School, Birmingham, we want to ensure that our children are fully equipped to negotiate the ever-changing digital world, both safely and responsibly. Here, we focus on themes such as privacy, online bullying and healthy relationships, developing and revisiting important aspects of online safety throughout the years, as per the computing progression map below.
Our knowledge-rich Computing curriculum is taught according to the following whole school long term plan for computing:
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
| Technology around Us | Using the Internet | Desktop Publishing | Photo Editing |
Creating and Presenting
|
Spreadsheets |
| Digital Painting | Digital Music | Connecting computers | Statistics | 3D Modelling | Presenting |
| Grouping Data | Pictograms | Online Polling | Word Processing | Systems and Searching | Publishing/Word Processing |
| Basic algorithms | Basic algorithms | Stop frame animation | The Internet | Programming – Games | Sensing Movement |
| Moving a Robot | Programming Animations | Programming – Sounds | Repetition in Shapes | Selection in Quizzing | Variables in games |
| Creating Digital Writing | Computer systems | Programming – Events and Actions | Programming – Repetition in Games | Introduction to Vector Graphics | Computer Systems and Networks – Communication and Collaboration |
The three main strands in the National Curriculum for Computing are computer science, information technology and digital literacy. These are carefully mapped out in our computing progression map, accessible below.
Our children are given motivating and inspiring cross-curricular opportunities and special experiences to embed essential learning. This enrichment is an essential element of our computing curriculum offer. For example:
- Visits from the local community police to support cyber awareness.
- Visitors who use computing within their careers.
- Computing Club.
Related documentation: