Why do we learn computing?
Computing Intent
At Ark Victoria Academy, our high-quality computing education enables pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. 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 has links with mathematics, science and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. Computing also aids pupils to become digitally literate, by being able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology.
Aims of Our Computing Curriculum:
The Ark Victoria Academy computing curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:
-
can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
-
can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
-
can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
-
are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
Our cohesive and thoughtfully sequenced curriculum supports pupils to progress and develop their knowledge in the three main content areas. These are:
-
computer science
-
information technology
-
digital literacy
These ‘pillars’ of progression are visible in the aims of the national curriculum for computing. Pupils make progress in computing by knowing and remembering more about and, importantly, across each of these categories, and being able to apply this knowledge. However, these pillars do not sit separately from each other. Knowledge from each pillar complements the others and some subject content only exists at the interplay between these 3 pillars.
(adapted from National Curriculum, 2014)
Year 1
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Computing systems and networks – Technology around us | Creating media – Digital painting |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Creating media – Digital writing | Data and information – Grouping data |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Programming A – Moving a robot | Programming B – Introduction to animation |
All Year 1 subjects Next Year 1 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 2
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Computing systems and networks – IT around us | Creating media – digital photography |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Creating media – making music | Data and information – Grouping data. |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Programming A – Moving a robot | Programming B – an introduction to animation. |
All Year 2 subjects Next Year 2 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 3
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Computing Systems and networks – Connecting Computers | Creating Media – Animation |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Creating Media – Desktop publishing | Data and information - Branching databases |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Programming A – Sequence in Music | Programming B – Events and actions |
All Year 3 subjects Next Year 3 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 4
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Computer systems and networks – internet | Creating Media – Audio |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Creating Media – Photo editing | Data and information – Data logging |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Programming – repetition in shapes | Programming – repetition in games |
All Year 4 subjects Next Year 4 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 5
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Computing systems and networks – Sharing information | Data Representation intro to Binary 4 - 6 bit |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Data Representation - Binary addition | Computer hardware and software |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Programming A – Selection in physical computing | Programming B – Selection in quizzes |
All Year 5 subjects Next Year 5 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 6
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Computer systems and networks- Communication | Data Representation Binary 6-8 bit |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Data Representation: Images and text | Data and information – Spreadsheets |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Programming A – Variables in games | Programming B- Sensing |
All Year 6 subjects Next Year 6 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 7
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
E-safety |
Computers in the Workplace |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Data Representation: Numbers and Text | Data Representation: Image and Sound |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Scratch Programming: Part I |
Scratch Programming: Part II |
All Year 7 subjects Next Year 7 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 8
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Introduction to Python Programming |
Hardware |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Web Development (HTML & CSS) | Software |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Python Part 2 | Mobile App Development (JavaScript) |
All Year 8 subjects Next Year 8 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 9
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Data Representation | Web Development (HTML & CSS) |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Intro to Networks | Cyber Security |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Python Part 3 | Vector graphics |
All Year 9 subjects Next Year 9 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 10
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
2.2.1 Programming Fundamentals 2.2.2 Data Types |
1.1.1 Architecture of the CPU 1.1.3 CPU Performance Factors 1.2.1 Primary Storage 1.2.2 Secondary Storage |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
1.1.3 Embedded Systems 1.2.3 Units 1.2.4 Data Storage 2.2.1 Programming Fundamentals (While Loops) 2.2.3 Additional Programming Techniques (Random) |
1.2.5 Compression 2.4 Boolean Logic 2.2.3 Additional Programming Techniques (Arrays, Subprograms) |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
1.3.1 – Networks and Topologies 1.3.2 – Wired and Wireless Networks, Protocols and Layers |
2.1.1 Computational Thinking 2.1.2 Designing, Creating and Refining Algorithms. 2.2.3 Additional Programming Techniques (Strings & File Handling) 2.3.2 Types of Testing |
All Year 10 subjects Next Year 10 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 11
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
1.5.1 – Operating Systems 2.2.1 Programming Fundamentals 1.1.1 Architecture of the CPU (revision) 1.2 Memory & Storage (revision) |
2.2.3 – Additional Programming Techniques 2DArrays, File handling, Records and SQL. 2.5 Programming Languages & IDEs |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
Revision: 1.3 Computer Networks 1.4 Network Security 1.6 Ethics, Legal, Cultural & Environmental |
Revision: 2.3.1 Defensive Design 2.3.2 Testing 1.6 Ethics, Legal, Cultural & Environmental |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Revision: 2.1.1 Computational Thinking 2.1.3 Searching and Sorting Algorithms 2.2.3 Additional Programming Techniques |
All Year 11 subjects Next Year 11 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
