Since 2014 primary schools have been required to deliver a new curriculum replacing the traditional ICT curriculum. Previously computer skills in schools have focused on software (spreadsheets, word processing etc.) but the new plan shifts that focus to ‘computational thinking’, online safety, and a deeper understanding of how computers work.
The first aim of the new primary computing curriculum is to ensure that pupils:
can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
But I have yet to meet a primary school teacher who feels confident expressing those concepts in their own words let alone teaching it to their classes or even assessing whether pupils satisfy this requirement.
So what can be done?
Unsurprisingly training is the answer. With more than a decade of experience teaching computing concepts at all ages and stages (pre-primary to graduates from non-stem fields!) alongside a career in software development and data science in industry I am uniquely able to advise and teach on delivering the new curriculum. My focus is not on telling teachers what to teach but on giving them the tools and vocabulary to be confident supporting pupils on their own journey.
What can I offer?
There are many barriers to schools having the resources to effectively train teachers in a new subject so I seek to be as flexible as possible in my approach and work with individual schools to find what is most feasible and effective for them. Some of the things I can offer are:
- Training sessions for groups of teachers
- Support for curriculum leaders in deciphering and planning to deliver goals
- Teacher training to equip ‘computing champions’ to then support and upskill colleagues
- Delivering sample lessons to pupils for teachers to observe and learn from.
- Sessions for parents on internet safety for them and their children
Get in touch
If you would like to discuss what I can do for your school then please contact me here