Our Intent

When planning and teaching computing at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Primary School, we believe that it is an essential part of the curriculum; a subject that not only stands alone but is woven and an integral part of all learning. The use of Information and Communication Technology is an integral part of the National Curriculum but, more than that, a key skill for everyday life. Computers, tablets, programmable robots, digital and video cameras and tape and digital recorders can be used to acquire, organise, store, manipulate, interpret, communicate and present information and are crucial tools in the world we live in today.

The school’s aims are to provide a relevant, challenging and enjoyable curriculum for computing for all children that not only meets the requirements of the National Curriculum but which develops their confidence in handling new technologies and their creativity through our teachers’ design of creative lessons and projects. The children are encouraged to use and respond to new developments in technology, not only developing their present and future independence in individual projects but also their ability to work with others through collaborative projects in cooperation with their peers. At OLQH, we believe that Computing should be used as a tool to enhance learning throughout the curriculum stimulating the children’s curiosity by giving them immediate access to a rich source of materials that they are allowed to explore.

A significant proportion of learning for all pupils is through collecting, storing, manipulating, retrieving and presenting information in a variety of ways. We aim to instill the resilience to do so in the children, encouraging them to recognise the variety of applications of Computing and consider the contribution it makes to their learning.

At the same time we, as teachers, believe that Computing is a tool to deliver learning as Computing can present information in new ways that help all children to understand, assimilate and use it more readily. It is a tool for developing children’s learning across the curriculum which can motivate and enthuse pupils and develop their perseverance to lead and innovate. Additionally, it has the flexibility to meet the individual needs and abilities of each student.

Ultimately, Computing is an integral part of our modern society, whether it be at home, in business or leisure that children should be made aware e.g. looking at the function and impact of social media and the internet. This is achieved through teaching all children how to use computers and the internet safely and reflecting not only on what is presented on the internet but also on how we present ourselves on the internet. Thus, we aim to instill and prepare our pupils for this future, giving them the aspiration to grow and follow subjects that, more than ever, heavily rely on the use of new technologies.

We are a Rights Respecting School

Through the teaching of Computing we aim to equip children 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 computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming.

We also aim to ensure all 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.

Key documents:

• 1 Whole School Computing Curriculum
• 2 Progression of Skills and Knowledge - Computing
• 3 Computing Policy 2020