Computing
Technology is not just a tool. It can give learners a voice that they may not have had before
- George Couros
Vision
Our vision is for children at Penwortham to be creative, digitally literate and responsible digital citizens who know how to keep themselves safe online in a technologically advancing world.
Please click on the image for information:
What do the children learn and when?
Please click the link to see our computing overview:
Click the image below to see the children’s learning journey through the scheme of Teach Computing.
How do we teach computing?
At Penwortham, all teachers will teach computing on a weekly basis to years 1 - 6. The computing lessons at Penwortham are supported by the Teach Computing scheme, provided by the National Centre of Computing Education. Teachers then provide children with the opportunity to use the skills and confidence they have built within their computing lessons across the wider curriculum. Computing lessons are practical and use a variety of resources such as iPads, Chromebooks, Beebots, VR headsets and smart robots.
In Computing lessons, the children learn to use a range of software on a deep level, building on skills taught in the previous year group. During their time at Penwortham, they will have the chance to use software including Scratch, Garageband, Book Creator, Daisy the Dinosaur, Puppet Pals, Draw and Tell and iMovie.
Online Safety
Our Computing curriculum places online Safety at its core. This is embedded into all Computing lessons and also taught explicitly by class teachers during Online Safety Afternoons, National Online Safety Day and our Wellbeing lessons. We use Project Evolve (https://projectevolve.co.uk/) resources from the Education for a Connected World framework to ensure children become competent in staying safe in the followings areas:
- Self image and identity
- Online relationships
- Online bullying
- Online reputation
- Managing online information
- Copyright and ownership
- Health, wellbeing and lifestyle
- Privacy and Security
All stakeholders in our school (pupils, staff, parents, volunteers and governors) read and sign an Acceptable Use Policy linked to our Online Safety Policy.
At Penwortham, eight Year 5 students take part in the Digital Leaders programme each year. They take part in a course which allows them to be a qualified Digital Leader. Once qualified they are able to deliver assemblies, workshops, podcasts and many more activities about Online Safety.
Other Computing clubs include VR club, Programming club (including microbits and scratch) and MineCraft education.
Our learning
At Penwortham, we deliver Computing in weekly lessons a swell as throughout the curriculum to enrich our learning across all subjects.
Year 6 - Jamboard
Year 5 - Google Slides
Year 3 - Stop Motion
View one of our videos here.
//player.vimeo.com/video/480837963?title=0&byline=0&loop=1
More videos can be found here.
WE ARE Curriculum Showcases
Throughout the year, parents will have the opportunity to take part in Computing workshops and Online Safety workshops. Our Computing WE ARE curriculum family workshops provide an opportunity for us to share our WE ARE curriculum with you and give you opportunities to give you first-hand experience of the activities, skills and expectations within a computing lesson at Penwortham.
Click here to find out more about our WE ARE curriculum showcases.
What children say about Computing at Penwortham
Pupil leaders work closely with the Computing team and teaching staff to ensure that learning is aspirational, engaging and advancing. The students meet regularly to assist the teachers and to develop and review the curriculum.
Useful Websites
