Why do we learn computer science?
Head of Department
Outcomes
Primary
Primary
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Secondary
Year 7
Year 10

Why do we learn computer science?

Our intention is to ensure that all students experience a wide range of Computer science topics, techniques and processes. We aspire to create a curriculum where students engage with the learning, and it has a positive impact on their everyday use and relationship with computers. At the end of each unit, we want students to feel that they have discovered a new practical skill they can use with their computers at home and are more confident in using them independently. We strive to enable all students to succeed. All students should be able to access the curriculum and it be relevant to their lived experience.

Students should learn the skills, knowledge and practice to positively enhance their digital experience. This can range from being able to collect and analyse data more efficiently through the use of spreadsheets, program a solution to a specific problem or even create their own blog about a cause/hobby they are passionate about. Their practical and theoretical accomplishments will give them the confidence to independently explore their computers in the future and tackle problems they may have with technology even if they do not continue this study into Key Stage 4 and 5.

Head of Department

PPA Cover Teacher/Digital and Computing Lead

Ms Morton

Outcomes

Outcomes (what pupils will be able to do) of the KS3 curriculum. By the end of the curriculum, pupils will be able to: 

  1. Safely engage with online content and understand when to use the most appropriate software
  2. Understand the use and proper application of a range of different software programs
  3. Use taught experience and reading to gain an understanding of subject specific vocabulary and use it in a manner that is accurate and relevant to its practical application
  4. Make links between the different units within Computer Science as well as any cross-curricular links

Primary

At Ark Academy we believe that the knowledge of computing and the skills it provides are a fundamental part of the education for all pupils. Technology is transforming the lives of everyone. Through teaching computing, we equip pupils to participate in a rapidly moving world where work and leisure activities are increasingly changed by technology.  
The curriculum is designed to cover the three main strands of computing, which are: 

  • Computer Science 
  • Digital Literacy (which includes E-safety) 
  • Information Technology

Primary

Year 1

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

E-safety

  • What is personal data?
  • Not everyone is trustworthy
  • Word Processing
  • Typing skills
  • Using ‘Paint’ to create images

Algorithms and Programming (Espresso)

  • Understand what algorithms are
  • Write and test a simple program
Spring 1 Spring 2

Data and information

  • To use ICT to sort objects into groups according to a given criteria.
  • Begin to use technology to create graphs and pictograms.

Digital Art

• Use a computer to create different digital images.
Summer 1 Summer 2

Communication and Collaboration

  • Contribute ideas to a class email and together respond to messages- real life or ‘fictitious’ characters.

Using the Internet

  • Select appropriate buttons to navigate web sites or stored information.
  • Understand that computers use icons, menus, hyperlinks to provide information and instructions.

All Year 1 subjects Next Year 1 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 2

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

E-safety

  • SMART rules
  • Keeping personal data safe
  • Assessing trustworthiness
  • Being alert to unsafe situations

Word Processing

  • Touch typing practise
  • Capital letters / starting new lines / changing the colour of the text

Algorithms and Programming (Espresso)

  • Write and test a program
  • Use logical reasoning to predict behaviour of simple programs.
Spring 1 Spring 2

Data and Information

  • Use technology to create graphs and pictograms, adding labels
  • Create their own branching databases using ICT

Digital Media

  • Record a video for a range of purposes.
  • Use a computer to create basic images.
  • Independently record sounds using a range of different tools
  • Continue to take photographs for a range of different purposes, developing independence
Summer 1 Summer 2

Creating Media

  • Explore how music can make them think and feel.  
  • Create different rhythms and tunes, using movement of animals for inspiration.
  • Share their creations and compare creating music digitally and non-digitally.

Using the Internet

  • Use web based resources to find answers to questions
  • Develop questions about a specific topic and use information to answer those questions
  • Enter given text into a search engine to find specific given web sites

All Year 2 subjects Next Year 2 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 3

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

E-safety

  • SMART rules
  • Online dangers from websites / mobile phones

Word processing

  • Building on previous year - plus, inserting pictures, use of different alignment

Algorithms and Programming (Espresso and Scratch)

  • Design and write programs that accomplish specific goals
  • Solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
Spring 1 Spring 2

Data and Information

  • Branching databases
  • Understand the difference between questions and answers
  • Ask questions that comply with the rule - yes or no answers

Digital Art

  • Create their own digital paintings.
  • Recreate famous artist's techniques.
Summer 1 Summer 2

Communication and Collaboration

  • Messaging
  • Publishing

Using the Internet

  • Develop key questions to search for specific information with purpose to answer a problem
  • Understanding how a search engine works and begin to create and enter appropriate search strings
  • Save and retrieve accessed information – Favourites, History

All Year 3 subjects Next Year 3 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 4

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

E-safety

  • Cyberbullying
  • Knowing what to do in different E-safety scenarios

Word Processing

  • Typing skills
  • Agony Aunt-E- safety scenarios

Algorithms and Programming (Espresso and Scratch)

  • Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs
Spring 1 Spring 2

Data and Information

  • Plan and create their own database, creating fields and applying simple data validation
  • Use database to answer questions by constructing basic queries

Digital Media 

  • Create simple stop motion animations
  • Music and sound- use a range of devices to create extended pieces of music using a wide range of pre-recorded samples
Summer 1 Summer 2

Communication and Collaboration

  • Work as a small group/ class to create a website based on a topic, area of interest or event. Include hyperlinks, images and embedded media/documents

How Computers Work / Using the Internet

  • Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)

All Year 4 subjects Next Year 4 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 5

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

E-safety

  • Being a good digital citizen
  • Dangers of downloads/ viruses. Email attachments

Word Processing

  • Using online sources to create digital documents

Algorithms and Programming (Python)

  • Work with variables and various forms of input and output
  • Generate appropriate inputs and predicted outputs to test programs
Spring 1 Spring 2

Data and Information

  • Creating Spreadsheets for a variety of scenarios
  • Use of formulae

Digital Media 

  • Create simple stop motion animations
  • Music and sound- use a range of devices to create extended pieces of music using a wide range of pre-recorded samples
  • Edit video using a range of basic video editing applications
Summer 1 Summer 2

Communication and Collaboration

  • Create their own basic websites
  • Use an alternative presentation tool Eg. Prezi to create a presentation linking into a topic, area of interest or event

How Computers Work

  • What is the World Wide Web (WWW)?
  • Networks
  • DT: ‘Design and create a toy’ unit, Espresso Coding

All Year 5 subjects Next Year 5 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 6

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

E-safety

  • Understand about their Digital foot print
  • Digital safety
  • Reliability of Online material

Word Processing

  • Creating documents, using online sources for information.
  • Using a range of word processing skills.

Algorithms and Programming (Python)

  • Use logical reasoning to explain how a simple algorithm works and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
Spring 1 Spring 2

Data and Information

  • Creating Spreadsheets for a variety of scenarios
  • Use of formulae to perform basic calculations

Digital Media 

  • Digital imagery
  • Photo Editing using the different editing features.
Summer 1 Summer 2

Communication and Collaboration

  • Create a web page based on their own interest

DT: ‘Design and make a bird box’ unit. Using digital media to design

How Computers Work

  • Inputs/ outputs
  • Computer specifications
  • Computer networks
  • Operating systems
  • HTML

All Year 6 subjects Next Year 6 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Secondary

Outcomes (what pupils will be able to do) of the KS3 curriculum. By the end of the curriculum, pupils will be able to: 

  1. Safely engage with online content and understand when to use the most appropriate software
  2. Understand the use and proper application of a range of different software programs
  3. Use taught experience and reading to gain an understanding of subject specific vocabulary and use it in a manner that is accurate and relevant to its practical application
  4. Make links between the different units within Computer Science as well as any cross-curricular links

Year 7

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Can I speak to my computer?

Micro:bit Coding

Can I speak to my computer?

Modelling data using spreadsheets
Spring 1 Spring 2

How do computers speak to each other?

Networks: From Semaphores to the Internet

How do computers speak to each other?

Using media: Gaining support for a cause
Summer 1 Summer 2

Can I make my computer do whatever I want?

Programming essentials in Scratch (1)

Can I make my computer do whatever I want?

Programming essentials in Scratch (2)

All Year 7 subjects Next Year 7 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 10

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

What does a computer understand?

Boolean Logic & Data Storage

What does a computer understand?

Refining Algorithms & Data Storage
Spring 1 Spring 2

What is the architecture of a computer?

CPU & Data Types

What is the architecture of a computer?

Embedded Systems & Programming Techniques/Fundamentals
Summer 1 Summer 2

How can a computer send me a message?

Secondary Storage, Networks & Topologies

How can a computer send me a message?

Wired & Wireless Networks, Protocols & Layers, Networks & Topologies

All Year 10 subjects Next Year 10 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages