Our approach
At Ark Castledown, computers are used as a powerful tool for learning and to develop logical thinking skills. With Computing at the heart of a rapidly developing employment market and an increasingly technologically enabled society; improving our pupils’ digital literacy becomes paramount. All pupils will leave school as safe, confident and responsible users of ICT, equipped with basic programming and coding knowledge.
The Castledown Computing curriculum balances the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum within a broad, engaging and exciting framework that meets the unique needs and interests of our pupils. In years 1 through to 6, the curriculum is delivered through the rich and methodical ‘Purple Mash’ resource. Computing is split into 4 main areas: Computer Science, Information Technology, Digital Literacy and Online Safety.
Online Safety is being developed over the year, in line with new apps, websites and gaming that children come in contact with. Children receive termly ‘Online Safety Assemblies’ and then reiterated and developed in subsequent class based RSHE lessons. Online Safety covers 3 key strands: Awareness, Research and Communication and Collaboration.
Year 1
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Coding Online Safety: Awareness | Digital Literacy Online Safety: Awareness |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Handling Data Online Safety: Communication and Collaboration | Presenting ideas Online Safety: Communication and Collaboration |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Coding instructions Online Safety: Research | Modelling Online Safety: Research |
All Year 1 subjects Next Year 1 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 2
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Blogging + Coding Online Safety: Awareness | Spreadsheets Online Safety: Awareness |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Questioning Online Safety: Communication and Collaboration | Effective searching Online Safety: Communication and Collaboration |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Creating Pictures Online Safety: Research | Making Music + Presenting ideas Online Safety: Research |
All Year 2 subjects Next Year 2 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 3
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Blogging +Coding Online Safety: Awareness | Spreadsheets Online Safety: Awareness |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Typing Online Safety: Communication and Collaboration | Email Online Safety: Communication and Collaboration |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Branching databases Online Safety: Research | Simulations Online Safety: Research |
All Year 3 subjects Next Year 3 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 4
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Blogging + Coding Online Safety: Awareness | Spreadsheets Online Safety: Awareness |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Writing for different audiences Online Safety: Communication and Collaboration | Using Logo Online Safety: Communication and Collaboration |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Animation Online Safety: Research | Effective Searching + Hardware investigators Online Safety: Research |
All Year 4 subjects Next Year 4 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 5
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Blogging + Coding Online Safety: Awareness | Spreadsheets Online Safety: Awareness |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Databases Online Safety: Communication and Collaboration | Game Creator Online Safety: Communication and Collaboration |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Modelling Online Safety: Research | Concept Maps Online Safety: Research |
All Year 5 subjects Next Year 5 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages
Year 6
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Blogging + Coding Online Safety: Awareness | Spreadsheets Online Safety: Awareness |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Blogging Online Safety: Communication and Collaboration | Text adventures Online Safety: Communication and Collaboration |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Networks + Quizzing Online Safety: Research | Binary Online Safety: Research |
All Year 6 subjects Next Year 6 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages