Computing

Technology is part of everyday life and for most of us, is essential to our lives at home and at work. 

At Haltwhistle Academy, our aim is to provide children with a high-quality computing education, which will engage and challenge them to use computational thinking and creativity to prepare them for the challenge of a rapidly developing and changing technological world. 

We currently use the NCCE Teach Computing curriculum across school, based around 4 fundamental units (Computer Systems and Networks, Creating Media, Data and Information and Programming) that are revisited and built upon within each Key Stage, ensuring a deep knowledge of the National Computing Curriculum. Children learn vital technological skills and concepts needed to become digitally literate and prepare them for life in the workplace. They are further exposed to a range of technology and apps including Chromebooks, Beebots and Scratch to ensure that they are able to express themselves and develop their ideas through information and computer technology.

Children have the right to access safe online spaces and to benefit from all the opportunities that a connected world can bring to them, appropriate to their age and stage. As they grow older, it is crucial that they learn to balance the benefits offered by technology with a critical awareness of their own and other’s online behaviour and develop effective strategies for staying safe and making a positive contribution online. At Haltwhistle Academy, we ensure every child is equipped with the skills and knowledge to keep themselves safe online. Using a range of resources such as our NCCE scheme of work, the UK Council for Internet Safety’s ‘Education for a Connected World’ document (which is closely linked to our PSHE scheme of work also) and the National Online Safety website we ensure a critical awareness and effective strategies for staying safe online are developed right from the start of our pupils’ education.