Computing
A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world.
National Curriculum.
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.
We have a fully equipped Computing Suite here at St Giles', where children have the option of using desktops, laptops or iPads. We feel that this holistic approach to different hardware allows children to develop their computer literacy over a wide variety of devices. It also ensures that they can apply their online safety knowledge from one device to another and ensure that they are consistently using devices safely.
We are so lucky to have our Specialist Teacher, Mr Johnson, join us each week from Painsley Catholic College. He works with the Year 4, 5 & 6 children in their Computing lessons and this supports the transition into Painsley as children move into Year 7. Mr Johnson teaches Computing at Painsley, as well as here with us at St Giles', so is able to ensure that children are fully equipped to make the move to their secondary computing education.
Our Curriculum
We use Purple Mash to support our curriculum across our school. Purple Mash is a cloud-based platform for primary-aged children. It contains a wide range of age-appropriate, creative software tools for writing, drawing, coding, animating and blogging. Through it, teachers provide excellent opportunities for children to express themselves within their Computing lessons. It is also used for homework and has been used very effectively to support home learning too!
Click the image on the left and you will fly over to the St Giles' Purple Mash home page.
We also use the Teach Computing scheme to support some of our units of work, especially as we move into Key Stage 2. Teach Computing is a scheme of learning from the National Centre for Computing Education and is based around interconnected networks that allow children to progress through the National Curriculum. Teach Computing allows children to access software that will be used as they move to KS3, as well as in the wider world of work!