Computing
How do we give children the confidence and ability they need to succeed in a world that revolves around technology?
At the Synergy Schools Federation, we’ve created a rich, detailed and sequential curriculum for computing that’s all about challenging children and encouraging them to work independently and collaboratively to achieve exciting outcomes. The curriculum develops our pupils' skills and knowledge of the subject in a wide variety of content, from basic skills and computer science through to the use of multimedia and handling data. Of course, e-safety features prominently in the teaching of this subject - it is essential that our pupils' leave school armed with the knowledge and skills that they need to keep themselves safe online.
Pupils also use their ICT capabilities to support their learning across the curriculum, particularly in English, Maths and Science. Children use IT as they would any tools such as a pencil or pen – it is not in addition to what we do, rather an extension.
Keeping our pupils safe online
As always, the safeguarding of our pupils when they are working online is really important to us. There are many ways in which we keep them safe whilst they are online. For instance:
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We use an Internet Service Provider whose filtering software is dynamic, updated daily and specifically designed for educational establishments.
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We use Smoothwall Cloud, software which keeps our pupils safe, irrespective of which Internet connection their device is using.
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We ensure that aspects of e-safety are regularly taught to pupils throughout the curriculum. Please see our curriculum documentation for further details.
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We ensure that pupils know what to do if they come across something online that they don't like.
Please visit our E-Safety page for links to resources to support our curriculum and help parents keep their children safe online.
Curriculum & Subject Progression
Laptop Lease Scheme
As the use of information technology features so much in our curriculum, we aim to provide a 1:1 pupil to device ratios wherever possible. A laptop leasing scheme is in place. This provides parents with the opportunity to lease a device from school for the cost of approximately £15 per month. For those pupils eligible for the Pupil Premium, this cost has been reduced to £5 per month. Leasing a laptop provides pupils with their own device that can be used daily in school as well as at home, utilising a range of high-quality e-safety tools to keep pupils safe whilst they are online.
