Our Computing Curriculum

At Hill View Junior Academy, we aim for children to GROW, allowing children to have the experiences of Gratitude, Resilience, Opportunity and Wonder. When computing is planned for and taught these drivers are of a focus. Through computing, the children will be encouraged to become hands on with their learning and learn new digital skills. We intend to encourage computing skills so that children become computer literate and become prepared to participate in the digital world they live in. Computing encourages children to problem solve and we intend that the children at Hill View Junior Academy will ask questions and explore different and new concepts which will in turn hone their new skills. We expect all the children can discover the answers to their own questions through, exploration of digital programs, apps and equipment so that they develop a greater understanding of the digital world.  

“The most important skill for a computer scientist is problem solving. Even if you don’t know the details of the technology you are using, if you can solve the problem, you can figure out how to do it.” - Bill Gates

The National Curriculum for computing states that all children will receive:

 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.

At Hill View Junior Academy, we use the Teach Computing scheme as a basis of the computing curriculum. There are 4 primary themes within this scheme: computing systems and networks, programming, data and information and creating media. Our objectives are based on a spiral curriculum. This means that each of the themes are revisited regularly (at least once in each year group), and pupils revisit each theme through a new unit that consolidates and builds on prior learning within that theme. This style of curriculum design reduces the amount of knowledge lost through forgetting, as topics are revisited yearly. We focus closely on the computing skills that the children need in order to gain the knowledge to be successful. The lessons have been written to support all pupils. Each lesson is sequenced so that it builds on the learning from the previous lesson, and where appropriate, activities are scaffolded so that all pupils can succeed and thrive. When teaching computing, teachers ensure that learning is engaging through the use of practical resources and meaningful tasks. Considerations are given to those children who require additional support or who are on the SEND register to ensure all learning is accessible inline with the school’s policy of inclusion for all. Cross curricular links are encouraged where possible.