Information & Communication Technology

 

Windows Network: Server 2003

ICT at KS3 and KS4 is taught in four dedicated networked rooms of 28 - 30 desktop flat panel monitored PCs.  All the ICT teaching rooms have interactive whiteboards and another 32 interactive whiteboards are used extensively in sited and used within most curriculum areas of the school. We have a plethora of Microsoft Office and Specialised Curriculum Software.  There are clusters of PC’s in our Library area, Sixth Form College, Music department and our Technology Block.  

Whole School Network

The network infrastructure runs on a Gigabit Backbone. Every teaching room and office in the school is connected to the school network. This allows access to network and internet resources in every teaching room. Internet access is provided through Nviron.

ICT Taught Courses

 

Key Stage 3


Students in Key Stage 3, Yrs 7-9 have one hour of discrete ICT lessons a year. We are introducing the new National Curriculum, APP and Functional Skills for Yr 7 this September 2008 with Yr 8 & 9 following on for September 2009.

 

Key Stage 4


KS4 students’ ICT study a CiDA 2 year course which is an equivalent of 2 GCSE’s.  They can study at Level 1 C- G grade or Level 2 A*-C, which most students do.  Whole school entitlement is delivered through embedded ICT across the curriculum.

 

Key Stage 5

September 2007 we introduced OCR AS ICT, a standalone AS ICT qualification.  This path follows 4 structured tasks and an examinable written paper, there is no prerequisite to have completed KS4 discrete ICT but it is an advantage.   The AS leads onto A2 a real life project of design and implementation of a new or enhanced ICT system.  This is supported with an examinable written paper also.

September 2008 sees the introduction of the new AS exam syllabus.  2009 will see the introduction of the A2 element.  This year 2008 will be the last year of the current A2 syllabus.

 

A Vision for the Future

The network has been extended to include all networked curriculum PCs. The laptop-trolley resources, staff laptops, digital projectors, video conferencing, interactive whiteboards, and control and monitoring systems have been successfully  introduced and are about to be integrated into a flexible leading-edge resource VLE system so that students and staff can access resources from their home networks, i.e. working towards a virtual learning environment for the school and community.

 

ICT Department Staff

Network Support Staff

Department Admin