Computers and intelligent technology are part of our children’s daily lives. They have already grown up exposed to a broad range of devices and many of their key life experiences are shaped by and/or captured with technology. The pace at which such technology continues to evolve means that it will massively influence our children’s future learning, working and living environments.

At St. Margaret Clitherow School, we aim to provide a high-quality computing education. One that strives to ensure our children do not just learn to how to use computers and technology, but rather they learn how to create, explore, design, experiment, challenge and learn how to problem solve using abroad range of computers and intelligent technology. We want our children to appreciate the positive power of computing and have the knowledge, skills and understanding to use them safely and effectively.  

How is our curriculum delivered?

We follow the National Curriculum at St. Margaret Clitherow School and this is personalised into yearly schemes of work that build skills, experiences and opportunities as our children move through the school.

The curriculum is split into the strands of: 

Computer Science

Children explore the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. They also learn to analyse problems in computational terms, and gain practical experience of writing computer programs, coding, in order to solve such problems.

Information Technology

Children learn to evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems.

Data Literacy

Children learn about being safe, responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology. This allows provides a richer learning approach that encompasses traditional e-safety.

Our children gain skills and confidence with a range of devices, programmes and apps. Typically, learning is in the context of other subject areas to provide rich and varied ‘real life applications’. This may involve individual, small group or whole class learning and maybe applied to supporting aspects of learning within a subject or as part of a larger scale project.

Computing Learning

Please scroll through the gallery below for a flavour of Computing learning at our school

How can you help from home?

• Model using computers, smart technology and phones in safe and appropriate ways.

• Talk to your child about what being safe on-line means and ask them what they would do if they felt uncomfortable.

• Limit screen time to an agreed amount and encourage other activities.

• What does this mean in practice if your child has devices in their room and/or a mobile phone? Do you use parental controls?

• Encourage your child to ask wider questions and not believe everything they read on line.

• Support them to make well considered google searches and, if carrying out research, cross reference what they find with other sources.

• Share new technology skills and experiences with your child as a family. Ask them to share skills with you they may have learnt at school.

• Some skills are still best being computer and technology free.

• Explore appropriate online games to play and share as a family.
  ‍

Recommended Educational Games:

• Barefoot (KS1 and 2)
  Downloadable activities and games for children, links to live lessons and a guide for parents - includes cross-curricular lesson plans and resources that unpack computational thinking in a range of subjects.
  

• Code Club (KS 2)
  Projects and activities for home learning and a parent guide.
  

• Teach Computing resource repository (KS 1-4)
  See description at top of page.
  

• UK Safer Internet Centre (KS1 and 2)
  Online safety resources aimed at 3 -11 year olds.
  

• STEM Learning e-Library (KS1 and 2)
  An online resource bank, which links to resources on external websites. The site features a live chat function offering support from subject experts. New home learning resources are being developed.
  

• Raspberry Pi Foundation - Digital Making at Home (KS2)
  Join the weekly code-along using open projects based on a weekly theme, with different levels available for all abilities, allowing you to be open-ended with opportunities for making and creativity.
  

• Raspberry Pi Foundation - Projects (KS2)
  Projects and activities for home learning. Programme computers and make things with technology and electronics.
  

• Computing at School - Home Learning (KS1 and 2)
  Information and links to a range of at home computing activities
  ‍
  

  Recommended resources for helping keeping your child and family safe on-line:
  

• www.safeguarding.thekeysupport.com
  ESafety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe on the internet.
  

• www.saferinternet.org.uk
  ESafety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe on the internet.
  

• www.saferinternet.org.uk
  ESafety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe on the internet.
  

• www.childnet.com
  An organisation working directly with children, parents and teachers to ensure the issues of online child protection and safe use of the internet are addressed.
  

• www.thinkuknow.co.uk
  The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre has set up its own website which has been designed and written specifically for children, young people, teachers, parents and carers.
  

• www.kidsmart.org.uk
  Kidsmart has been developed by the children’s internet charity Childnet International and has excellent information on many of the technologies used by children, with guidance on how to ‘stay safe’ online.
  

• www.bullying.co.uk
  One in five young people have experienced bullying by text message or via email. This web site gives advice for children and parents on cyberbullying.
  

• www.chatdanger.com
  This website is about the potential dangers with interactive services online like chat, IM, online games, email and on mobiles. It provides information, advice, true stories and games.
  

• www.parents.vodafone.com
  Being very accessible, this provides information and guidance to parents to help under the digital world. There is also an online test to see how much you know.
  

• www.internetmatters.org
  Lots of guidance and articles for parents about keeping their children safe online.
  ‍
  

  Recommended resources for helping keeping your child and family safe on-line:
  

  - Online Safety Newsletter Autumn 2024
  - Promoting a healthy and safe digital life
  - Online Safety Newsletter Summer 2024
  - Online Safety Newsletter Spring 2024
  - Online Safety Newsletter Autumn 2023
  - Online Safety Newsletter Summer 2023
  - Online Safety Newsletter Spring 2023
  - Online Safety Newsletter Autumn 2022
  - Online Advice from the Hertfordshire Constabulary- E-Safety Policy- Fortnite Information for Parents
  - Snapchat Information for Parents
  - TikTok Information for Parents
  - Safety Advice for Parents from Herts for Learning
  - Ask.fm guidance - eSafety advice
  - Instagram eSafety guidance
  - Mind the Gap
  - Facing up to Facebook - the magic 13!
  - Child Safety on YouTube: Parent Factsheet
  - Youtube Safety Factsheet
  ‍
  

  Useful Websites:
  

  - www.pshe-association.org.uk
  - www.educateagainsthate.com
  - www.gov.uk/Radicalisation