Computing
Our Computing Vision: Digital Citizens of the Future
At Holland Park, we are committed to delivering the comprehensive Teach Computing Curriculum provided by the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE). Our goal is to ensure every child develops a deep, progressive understanding of computing, becoming an autonomous, confident, and safe digital citizen ready to thrive in our technological world.
Core Learning Strands (The NCCE Taxonomy)
Our curriculum is structured around the three core pillars of the National Curriculum, ensuring skills are built consistently across all key stages:
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Computer Science: Understanding foundational concepts, including algorithms, programming, and computer systems.
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Information Technology: Using a wide range of application software to create, store, retrieve, and communicate information effectively.
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Digital Literacy: Developing the skills to use technology safely, responsibly, and ethically, and understanding its impact on society.
Core Skills and Knowledge Progression
We explicitly follow the NCCE's spiral curriculum model to build depth, ensuring pupils revisit and deepen their understanding of all ten core NCCE strands year-on-year:
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NCCE Strand |
Core Focus at Holland Park |
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Algorithms & Programming |
Design, write, and debug programs using block and text-based languages, including Scratch and physical computing, applying decomposition and abstraction. |
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Computer Systems & Networks |
Understand the components of computer systems and how data is transmitted across networks, including the Internet. |
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Data & Information |
Organise, store, and manipulate data effectively, including concepts of information representation. |
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Creating Media & Effective Use of Tools |
Use hardware and software purposefully to create and edit a variety of digital content. This includes creating graphics using tools like Canva and developing websites using platforms like Google Sites. |
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Design & Development |
Apply design principles and iterative refinement processes to digital projects, focusing on audience and purpose. |
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Impact of Technology |
Evaluate the ethical, legal, cultural, and environmental impacts of technology on society. |
Engaging Pedagogy (Hands-on Learning)
Our teaching methods are designed to bring the NCCE curriculum to life through practical engagement and critical thinking:
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Practical Access: Every child has direct, hands-on access to devices in computing lessons to facilitate experimentation and application of knowledge.
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Real-World Contexts: Lessons are framed around authentic problems and tasks, often drawing links with other subjects to make learning meaningful and contextual.
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Application Practice: Pupils gain practical experience using a range of industry-relevant apps and websites to accomplish tasks, fostering digital fluency.
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Problem-Solving Focus: Pupils are challenged with critical-thinking problems that require them to apply logic, evaluate solutions, and predict, trace, and debug their code systematically.
Safety and Security: The Priority Strand (Explicit PSHE Link)
As technology is integral to daily life, Safety and Security is taught as a continuous and paramount strand with strong links to our PSHE curriculum:
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Dedicated Teaching & Cross-Curricular Reinforcement: E-safety and online behaviour are explicitly taught at the start of every computing block. This content is purposefully integrated with our PSHE curriculum to reinforce themes of online relationships, health and wellbeing, and managing information safely and respectfully.
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Ethical Use: We teach pupils how to use technology ethically, respectfully, and safely, covering issues like personal data protection and cyberbullying, in line with the NCCE's "Safety and Security" objectives and the broader aims of statutory Relationships and Health Education.