Information and Communication Technology

Information and Communication Technology is planned and delivered within the framework of the National Curriculum and the school policies for Teaching and Learning, Assessment, Special Needs and Equal Opportunities.

Throughout the Key Stages the purpose of I.C.T. is to provide pupils with the knowledge and understanding to enable them to use the computers and accompanying programmes with competence and at the same time be aware of the implications and consequences of I.C.T.

We believe that Information and Communication Technology:

• is a creative activity that should be enjoyable
• is a means of communicating and handling information and ideas
• provides the tool to design, explore and evaluate models of real or imaginary situations
• encourages logical thinking
• can provide pupils with the skills which may enable them to have access to a contemporary working environment

We believe that pupils learn Information and Communication Technology best when:

• their skills and abilities are recognised and valued
• they meet the same Information and Communication Technology ideas in a wide variety of situations
• they can use the skills and knowledge in other subjects
• they have the opportunity to become involved in decision making about what they do and how to set about it

We will enable this to happen by:

• providing a broad and balanced curriculum which covers the requirements of the National Curriculum
• providing an interesting and stimulating environment which encourages learning to take place
• providing access to programmes and areas of communication that develop confidence and satisfaction in the use of ICT
• valuing their contributions to the learning process to develop self-confidence
• helping them to know how and when to use different programmes and tools
• providing the opportunities to use ICT in other subjects

Organisation

All KS3 pupils have two lessons of 45 minutes per week. KS4 pupils have one double lesson of 90 minutes per week. All pupils are taught by the ICT specialist in the dedicated ICT suite. Pupils are encouraged to use the ICT facilities at breaktime and lunchtime providing pupils with additional time.

Resources

The school has made major investments in ICT over the past six years and as a consequence is able to boast one computer per 1.5 children in the school.

The resources include:

• Interactive whiteboards in all curriculum areas except Lifeskills.
• A dedicated ICT suite equipped with the most up to date equipment
• A fully equipped suite of computers in the English Department (15)
• A fully equipped suite of computers in the Maths Department (10)
• A fully equipped suite of computers in the Resistant Materials Department (10)
• A small suite of computers in the Textiles room (3)
• A small suite of computers in the PALS room (6)
• A small suite of computers in the Humanities room (7)
• A small suite of computers in the Science room (7)
• A small suite of computers in the ASD room (7)

All the computers have Microsoft Office software and each department has dedicated software for their subject.
All computers have access to the Internet and all pupils have their own school e-mail address.

Classroom environment

The classroom should provide a stimulating environment for learning and should include, wherever possible, displays that reflect current learning, and value pupil’s work.

Cross-curricular opportunities

It is recognised that ICT is relevant to all areas of the curriculum where pupils are actively encouraged to use the computers and the software. All the teachers use ICT extensively in their preparation and teaching and this encourages good practice for the pupils.

Accreditation

All pupils take a recognised accreditation at the end of Year 11. These include:

• OCR Entry Level Certificate
• OCR Graphics
• New Clait

Specialist School 'Cyber Café'

The Cyber Cafe is an exciting venture that has been made possible with the Specialist School status. As a consequence we hope to;

•provide a further specialist area for the teaching of ICT.
•forge links between pupils, parents, teachers, partner schools and the community.
•share good practice between partner schools.
•provide an after school study facility for all parties under expert supervision

The future

It is important that we keep pace with the constant changes that are taking place in the world of ICT and we have a duty to provide the resources to enable our pupils to access these new developments.

The existing resources are constantly under review and are updated or replaced within a three year programme

New initiatives are always welcomed and these are monitored, evaluated and implemented on a regular basis.

New software is constantly being used in all curriculum areas.

During a time of continual technological change we hope to provide our pupils with the best of resources enabling them to be a part of a bright future.