Success in Computing
Read our Success in Computing document by clicking here.
The UK tech sector has grown by over 40% in the last two years but the number of young people studying computer science has only gone up by 2%.
Every young person is growing up in a world where they need to be able to understand and engage with computing, whatever their ambitions and career destinations. At St Cuthbert's, we are focused on ensuring that all young people get the education and opportunities they need and deserve.
Our teaching of computing is split into three different strands:
1) Computer Science: Learning how to write clear, concise instructions to make computers, robots and even humans do things! This often involves writing instructions in code. To do this, we use the National Centre for Computing Excellence (NCCE) 's "Teach Computing" Curriculum that was created by subject experts using the latest research in the area. You can see this curriculum by clicking here.
2) Information Communication Technology (ICT): Learning how to create digital multimedia using computers and other machines. Every child designs eight digital "products" every year: A piece of word processing, a display of data, an animation, a film, a piece of digital art (drawing and photography), a piece of music or sound recording, a presentation, and a piece of work that uses augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR).
3) Digital Literacy: Learning how to stay safe, how we should treat others, and our rights when we use machines connected to the internet. To do this, we employ the expertly- designed teaching material that reflects current issues affecting young people online. We use the National Online Safety (NOS)'s scheme of work in KS1, Project Evolve in Lower KS2, and Google's Be Internet Awesome in Upper KS2.
A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems.
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.
Our Computing curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils: