Our aspiration for every learner:

At Guru Nanak Sikh Academy, our Computing Curriculum aims to instil a sense of enjoyment around using technology and to develop pupil’s appreciation of its capabilities and the opportunities technology offers to, create, manage, organise, and collaborate.  Using various software and programmes forms a part of the ethos of the scheme as we want to develop pupils’ confidence when encountering new technology, which is a  vital skill in the ever evolving and changing landscape of technology. Through our curriculum, we intend for pupils not only to be digitally competent and have a range of transferable skills at a suitable level for the future workplace, but also to be responsible online citizens. 

Our Computing Curriculum enables pupils to meet the end of Key Stage Attainment targets outlined in the National curriculum and the aims align with those in the National curriculum. When used in conjunction with our PSHE scheme, our  Computing scheme of work also satisfies all the objectives of the DfE’s Education for a Connected World framework. This guidance was created to help equip children for  life in the digital world, including developing their understanding of appropriate online  behaviour, copyright issues, being discerning consumers of online information and  healthy use of technology.

How we support our pupils to acquire this learning:

The National Curriculum programme of study states:

‘The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create  programs, systems, and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world’.

Therefore, our Computing Curriculum is designed with three strands which  run throughout:

• Computer science
• Information technology
• Digital literacy

Our Curriculum Overview shows which of our units cover each of the National Curriculum attainment targets as well as each of these three strands.

Our Progression of skills shows the skills that are taught within each year group and how these skills develop year on year to ensure attainment targets are securely met by the end of each key stage.

The curriculum is organised into five key areas, creating a cyclical route  through which pupils can develop their computing knowledge and skills by revisiting  and building on previous learning: 

• Computer systems and networks
• Programming
• Creating media
• Data handling
• Online safety

The implementation of the Computing Curriculum ensures a broad and balanced coverage of the National curriculum requirements. 

How we measure our achievements:

After the implementation of our Computing Curriculum, pupils should leave school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and be active participants in the ever-increasing digital world.

The expected impact is  that children will:

✔ Be critical thinkers and able to understand how to make informed and appropriate digital choices in the future.

✔ Understand the importance that computing will have going forward in both their educational and working life and in their social and personal futures.

✔ Understand how to balance time spent on technology and time spent away from it in a healthy and appropriate manner.

✔ Understand that technology helps to showcase their ideas and creativity. They will know that different types of software and hardware can help them achieve a broad variety of artistic and practical aims.

✔ Show a clear progression of technical skills across all areas of the National curriculum - computer science, information technology and digital literacy.

✔ Be able to use technology both individually and as part of a collaborative team.

✔ Be aware of online safety issues and protocols and be able to deal with any problems in a responsible and appropriate manner.

✔ Have an awareness of developments in technology and have an idea of how current technologies work and relate to one another.

✔ Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National Curriculum for Computing.

The Computing Department of GNSA aims to ensure that all young people are responsible users of technology, understanding both the benefits and drawbacks of Computers in our lives from both a personal and professional perspective. Our priorities are to encourage all students to be able to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically and to analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including designing, writing and debugging programs. The world in which we live is becoming increasingly more reliant on technology and it is important that our students not only have the skills to use technology effectively but also to be able to recognise the benefits and drawbacks.