All pupils at Distington Primary School have the right to have rich, deep learning experiences that balance all the aspects of computing. With technology playing such a significant role in society today, we believe ‘Computational Thinking’ is a skill children must be taught if they are able to participate effectively and safely in this digital world. A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep like with mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems.

At Distington Primary School, the core of computing is Computing Science in which pupils are introduced to a wide range of technology, including laptops, iPads, PCs, and interactive whiteboards, allowing them to continually practise and improve the skills they learn. This ensures they become digitally literate so that they are able to express themselves and develop their ideas through information and computer technology- at a level suitable for the future workplace as active participants in a digital world.

As programmers, we aim for our children to leave Distington Community School with:

• An understanding and ability to apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
• The ability to analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.
• A sound base of computing knowledge and vocabulary.
• The ability to evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies.
• A passion for and commitment to the subject and a real sense of curiosity to find out about how technology can enhance and improve the world and the life chances of the people who live there.
• The ability to express, in digital media, well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current and contemporary issues in society and the environment and being able to distinguish fact from opinion and ‘fake news’ from ‘real news’
• Excellent learning behaviours that ensure they are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
• An excellent knowledge and understanding of how to keep themselves safe online, how to deal with cyber bullying and to understand their actions ‘leave a trail’ and they need to operate online as they would in normal day to day activities.

Our curriculum is carefully designed to ensure coverage and progression. We provide a creative cross-curricular approach that provides a purpose for learning whilst raising aspirations and creating a sense of personal pride and achievement.

Keeping Safe Online!

In this increasingly digitised world, it has never been more important to keep children safe online. At Distington Primary School, we do this in several ways. Children are taught from the time they begin at our school, how to keep themselves safe (in an age-appropriate manner) during Computing lessons, whole school events, and during assembly times. 

We are preparing to launch 'Project Evolve' across our school to further embed and promote Online Safety from Years 1-6!