From a very early age, children at Bolton School are equipped for an ever-changing digital world. Girls and boys as young as 3 years of age take part in a day of internet safety. From as early as Year 1 in Infant School, pupils learn coding. By Year 2, they are working collaboratively on iPads and once they progress to one of the Junior Schools, their computer science skills are so advanced they can spend time on programming robots.
Mr Aaron Winstanley, one of several Apple Distinguished Educators at the School, explains more: ‘In Year 1, pupils enjoy at least one hour a week on PCs, learning the basics of how to control a mouse and word processing and, also, on selecting the right tools for the job. A year later, they develop further as they start using iPads for research and utilising the Apple Classroom, using age-appropriate apps such as Be-Bot and Sketches School.
‘Girls and boys engage in a skills-based computing curriculum from an early age; the aim being that they are “future ready” when they leave the Foundation at the end of Year 13.
‘A varied curriculum sits alongside the 1:1 iPad provision from Year 3 onwards, ensuring that skills taught as part of the IT and Computing curriculum are applied, on a daily basis, to subject content across all areas of school life.
‘This synchronous approach to learning can be seen when students are animating mountain formations during Year 5 geography lessons and creating green screen videos that transport pupils back in time during Year 3 and Year 6 history topics, whilst also developing their understanding of HTML coding during IT lessons. A powerful combination of iPad provision, computer suites and third-party accessories allows pupils to apply their computational thinking skills across varied devices, operating systems and IT platforms. It means pupils are comfortable and capable with the latest and most appropriate technologies of any industry.
‘Across the Primary Division we have three ICT suites, one in each school setting, and each houses 20-28 computers. In Beech House, infants are exposed to iPad technology with class sets and shared devices, encouraging students to work collaboratively when developing skills outside of the ICT suite.
‘When pupils move up to Park Road and Hesketh House, junior boys and girls are provided with their own personal iPad, a tool which supports traditional learning techniques as well as widening the variety of learning opportunities. During a pupil’s time in the Primary Division, they will develop problem solving and logic skills and computer science knowledge as they code and programme a range of accessories to complete different tasks. This is evident when pupils are coding Sphero Indi in Beech House, Sphero Bolt, Sphero RVR and Robotical’s Marty the Robot in Hesketh House and Park Road. These same skills are then implemented in subjects such as DT, as pupils use TinkerCAD to code the creation of designs to be 3D printed on one of our four 3D printers, or even laser cut or engraved on our laser cutter.
‘A recent donation from a former pupil, Rob Dobson, has allowed us to use Robotical’s Marty the Robot. Marty is a programmable robot, similar to our already extensive collection of Sphero products. It is equipped with distance sensors and light sensors which allow students to experiment with Marty and the environment around him. Similar to our Sphero products, pupils will also look inside Marty to develop their knowledge of electronic components and their place in everyday objects: a truly immersive and hands-on experience.
‘Computing is not only taught within school: pupils also experience trips and visits to companies at the forefront of technological advancements, demonstrating potential career pathways, links to the skills pupils are currently learning and, also, what is possible if they become creative with their ever-expanding skill set.
‘I am confident that girls and boys could not be more prepared as they progress to Senior School.’
Junior pupils make extensive use of programmable Sphero coding robots.
Each Primary Division setting sees pupils enjoying the use of state-of-the-art ICT suites.
From Year 2 onwards, children start using iPads as another tool in their learning resources.
Junior Boys working with Marty, the programmable robot.
Children also enjoy visits to companies at the forefront of technological advancement.
