Creating A Vision For Computing In A Primary School: A How To Guide.

Mon 03 November, 2014

There a few key things that a Primary Computing Subject Leader must do. One of these essentials is creating and holding a vision for Computing. This is essential, because without vision purchasing decisions are random, learning gets lost in busyness and technical support becomes firefighting.

As well as being essential, creating a vision is challenging, so to help, here is our guide to creating a vision for your school.

Consider where your school is now.

The first key part of setting a vision is knowing where you are starting from. This means you should stop, take time out and think about all aspects of computing in your school.

  • First you should start by pulling out all the technology from around your school, evaluating it, getting rid of the things that don’t work anymore and making a useful database of what you have in school.

  • Then get a picture of how your teachers feel about computing. You should do this anonymously, so that teachers can really tell you what they think.

  • Next, find out what the children feel about computing in their school.

  • Lastly, get a picture of the curriculum in your school, by taking in planning and work from a key class in each key stage across the school.

Creatively plan where you want your school to be.

The second key part of setting a vision is thinking about where you want to go. This means having a picture of what you want learning to look like in your school, what a child will leave your school being able to do and how you will deliver these outcomes.

  • Start this process by looking at the programmes of study for Computing and mapping out the key learning outcomes for a pupil graduating from your school

  • Next think about the curriculum that you need to have in place to ensure that these outcomes occur.

  • Then plan staff CPD to ensure that all staff know what they need to teach, how they should teach it and where to go for support.

  • Lastly, agree a budget with the key members of staff in your school and purchase any equipment that you need to empower the learning you envision happening in your school.

Carefully map out the process.

The final key part of the process is making sure that you have a sensible, carefully thought timeline for ensuring that your vision happens. You must at this point make sure that you don’t do all the work yourself and that you properly delegate.

  • Make a list of the jobs that need doing, with each job on a separate post it or scrap of paper.

  • Next order the jobs into priority.

  • Then think about who the right person to do each job is and allocate the jobs to a key person.

  • Lastly, create an action plan with dates to evaluate each step and document responsibility.

This process should enable you to establish a vision for your school. It will need to happen at least once a year and maybe as often as three times an academic year. You must be reflective and must aim to be realistic in the goals that you set yourself.

 Need some help?  Then why not book a free computing consultation from us and we will guide you through!

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