Orchard Park Community Primary School

Computing at Orchard Park Community Primary School

Intent – Why we teach Computing

At Orchard Park, our Computing curriculum helps children develop important thinking and problem-solving skills. We want all pupils to understand the key role technology plays in their lives and to feel confident using it.

Through Computing, children learn how to:

• Think logically and creatively to solve problems

• Use technology safely and responsibly

• Understand how computers work, and how to write and fix code (programming)

• Analyse data and use technology to explore and understand information

In today’s world, it’s important for children to know how to stay safe online and understand the impact of their digital choices. We teach pupils about digital footprints and how their online actions can have real-life consequences.

We also aim for children to:

• Use technology to model, solve and understand real-world problems

• Build algorithmic thinking (understanding how to follow and create clear step-by-step instructions to reach a goal)

• Gain confidence using a range of computing tools and systems

Our school is lucky to be close to the Cambridge Science Park, a centre of innovation and technology. This gives us opportunities to connect with real computer scientists and tech experts in our local community. These role models help children see how computing is used in the world around them and open their eyes to possible future careers.

We are also passionate about equal opportunities in computing. We want every child – regardless of gender or background – to feel that computing is for them. We work hard to break down barriers and show pupils a diverse range of role models, especially women and people of colour working in tech.

We want all children at Orchard Park to dream big, believe in their potential, and see how computing can help them reach their goals.