St Mark's CE Primary School

Computing

Why is computing important?

Computing capability is an essential skill for life and enables learners to participate more readily in a rapidly changing world. Our world is increasingly reliant on being comfortable with the use, and understanding of, computers. Many of the jobs that we have now will not be around in the coming years. Likewise, there will be jobs that don’t exist yet that will need to be filled in the future. With all of that in mind, it is imperative that children leave school with a good grounding of computational thinking and problem solving so they are prepared for the future.

Computing ensures that pupils become digitally literate so that they are able to use and express themselves and their ideas through ICT to a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world

We follow the National Curriculum programme of study which covers all three areas of Computing: Computer Science (programming), Information Technology (general computer skills) and Digital Literacy (e-safety and an awareness of technology). 

Careers that the study of Computing supports include:

  • Software Developer
  • Programmer
  • Systems Analyst
  • Computer Sales Support
  • Database Administrator
  • IT Technical Support
  • Computer Security
  • Games Developer
  • IT Consultant
  • Web Designer
  • Teaching
  • Social Media management
  • Digital Marketing

At The Wings’ CE Trust, we aim to:

  • provide a relevant, challenging and enjoyable curriculum for computing for all pupils
  • meet the requirements of the national curriculum programmes of study for computing
  • use computing as a tool to enhance learning throughout the curriculum
  • prepare pupils for the rapidly changing technological world in which they live
  • equip pupils with the confidence and capability to use computing throughout their later life
  • enhance learning in other areas of the curriculum using computing
  • develop the understanding of how to use computing safely and responsibly
  • to encourage children to be curious, ask questions and to be excited about computing

The national curriculum for computing 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