The aims of the Digital Technology Curriculum at Hearsall Academy:

• To ensure safe use of ICT including how to keep safe when online
• To develop responsible, confident and creative users of ICT
• To use and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science
• To present problems in computational terms and develop practical experience of writing computer programs
• To develop digital literacy skills for use in the digital world today and in the future
• To evaluate and apply ICT use, including new or unfamiliar technologies.

Delivering the Digital Technology Curriculum at Hearsall Academy:

Our Digital Technology Curriculum provides children with learning opportunities designed to develop their knowledge and skills across essential areas of Computer Science and Information and Communication Technology.  The Digital Technology Curriculum ensures that children become digitally literate, with the ability to use, express themselves and develop their ideas through use of technology, supporting their development for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

Our curriculum is organised into three units of work per year that cover the three key aspects of Digital Technology:

• Information and Communication Technology – learning about how digital technology can be used to create and publish a range of content using Office-based software.  This includes posters, presentations and using spreadsheets to handle data.

• Computing – learning about the way in which digital technology can be used to program software and apps.  This includes learning how to enter code to control computer programs and how to debug and correct coding errors.

• Digital Content – learning about how digital technology can be used in wider contexts to create more elaborate digital content.  This includes learning a wide range of skills linked to animation, photography, videography and website design.

In addition, our Digital Technology Curriculum ensures that our children have the knowledge and skills to be able to keep themselves safe whenever they access technology and the internet. From Nursery to Year 6, children are provided with varied learning opportunities as well as bespoke lessons to discuss and understand the importance of keeping themselves safe online.