Computing

Intent

At Great Missenden School, we encourage the use of technology as a means of supplementing and enhancing the learning and teaching experience. The children are presented with a wide range of opportunities and experiences to ensure they can successfully utilise their technological skills and knowledge in a variety of contexts. At Great Missenden School, the safety of the children is our priority. Online safety forms an ever increasing part of this.

Implementation

Our students will experience well-designed practical activities in the technologies. We offer our students opportunities to develop:

• curiosity and problem-solving skills, a capacity to work with others and take initiative
• planning and organisational skills in a range of contexts
• creativity and innovation, for example though computing and computer aided design and manufacturing approaches
• skills in using tools, equipment, software and materials
• skills in collaborating, leading and interacting with others
• critical thinking through exploration and discovery within a range of learning contexts
• discussion and debate
• searching and retrieving information to inform thinking within diverse learning contexts
• making connections between specialist skills developed within learning and skills for work
• evaluating products, systems and services
• presentation skills

Impact

To truly understand the impact of our Computing curriculum, you have to come and see us!

The implementation of this curriculum ensures that when children leave our school, they are competent and safe users of Computing with an understanding of how technology works. They will have developed skills to express themselves and be creative in using digital media and be equipped to apply their skills in Computing to different challenges going forward.

The Teach Computing Curriculum empowers students with essential digital literacy, problem-solving, and computational thinking skills, preparing them for a technology-driven world. By following a carefully sequenced and inclusive program, learners of all abilities can engage in meaningful, hands-on activities such as coding, debugging, and tinkering with technology. This curriculum promotes creativity, critical thinking, and resilience, while aligning with the National Curriculum standards. As a result, students become confident users of technology, capable of applying their skills in real-world contexts, fostering innovation and equipping them for future careers in a wide range of fields.

Our children are passionate Coders, and thrive on using coding software to program for different purposes. Much of the subject-specific knowledge developed in our computing lessons equip pupils with experiences which will benefit them in secondary school, further education and future workplaces. From research methods, use of presentation and creative tools and critical thinking, computing at Great Missenden School gives children the building blocks that enable them to pursue a wide range of interests and vocations in the next stage of their lives.

Pupil Voice Impact Analysis

Year 1: "I love using the computers- it's so much fun."

Year 2: "We are getting better at using the computers to produce our Art"

Year 3: "We enjoyed learning about how to be safe online"

Year 4: "We loved photo editing and manipulating images"

Year 5: "We've worked hard on using the internet to research and present. I did a five minute powerpoint presentation to my class and it went really well."

Year 6: "We learned how to code using different programs- it looks really complicated, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes."

Our children leave Great Missenden more knowledgeable about the technology around them. They leave ready to develop technology to enhance and improve the world around us.

In Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), computing is no longer part of the statutory guidance, but its principles remain essential for building foundational skills. Through interactive experiences with computers, tablets, and physical computing tools like robots, children are exposed to key concepts such as problem-solving, tinkering, and creative exploration. By using these tools, they learn to experiment, test ideas, and develop early computational thinking. These playful, hands-on experiences foster curiosity and resilience, preparing young learners for the digital world and aligning with later stages of the National Curriculum.

Our Curriculum - Teach Computing

The Teach Computing Curriculum is a comprehensive, high-quality program designed to develop digital literacy, computational thinking, and problem-solving skills across all year groups. Great Missenden School uses this curriculum because it provides a clear, structured progression that supports learners at every stage. The lessons are engaging, inclusive, and built around key concepts like tinkering, coding, and understanding technology in real-world contexts. By following this curriculum, we ensure that our students are well-prepared for future challenges in an increasingly digital world.

For more information, visit the Teach Computing Curriculum website: Teach Computing.

Parent Information

For more information for parents regarding keeping your children safe online please see the following page, alternatively go to parents > online safety for parents. This page gives you up to date tips, information and links to useful websites.