Computing
"Alan Turing gave us a mathematical model of digital computing that has completely withstood the test of time. He gave us a very, very clear description that was truly prophetic."
George Dyson
In our school, our Computing curriculum is designed to make sure that every child has the skills and knowledge to use technology creatively, safely and innovatively.
There has been a significant shift over the past decade in terms of technological advances that affect everyday life. Our children can intuitively use programs and apps from a young age, therefore, the key to our curriculum is to give them the skills to be creative.
It is also important that our curriculum teaches the children to stay safe online. Internet safety runs throughout our Computing curriculum but it also runs throughout the wider curriculum, particularly in PSHE and RE. It is our belief that online safety is a life skill, comparable to road safety or water safety.
Implementation
We use the Teach Computing approach at Southwick. Computing is delivered through carefully planned, termly teaching blocks that ensure progression in knowledge, skills, and understanding across all year groups. Within these blocks, pupils engage with a balanced curriculum covering computer science, information technology, and digital literacy. Lessons are sequenced to build on prior learning, enabling pupils to develop confidence in key areas such as programming, data handling, and digital creativity.
In addition to discrete computing lessons, information technology is consistently embedded across the wider curriculum to enhance learning in other subjects. Pupils use a range of digital tools to support research, present their ideas, and collaborate, ensuring that computing skills are applied in meaningful and purposeful contexts.
Online safety is a fundamental aspect of our provision and is approached as a whole-school priority. It is explicitly taught within computing lessons and reinforced through PSHE, dedicated internet safety work, and whole-school initiatives such as safer internet events. This ensures that pupils understand how to use technology safely, respectfully, and responsibly, both in school and beyond.
Together, these approaches ensure that computing is implemented in a cohesive, cross-curricular manner that supports pupils in becoming confident, competent, and responsible digital citizens.
Curriculum Map