Information Communications Technology

Introduction

`The modern world requires new skills. Understanding ICT and, more importantly, being able to apply it to the problems we face are two of the most important. Increasingly ICT will be vital for our individual prospects and for our economy’s future’.

`ICT Expands horizons by shrinking worlds’.

Edexcel Examination Board

In the 21st century ICT is pervasive and our students need to have a good understanding of it. This will include developing their own ICT capability and having a critical awareness and understanding of its impact on our lives. This is why we have both ICT in the curriculum, taught as a discrete subject, and ICT across the curriculum, used in and by all subject departments.

Facilities

To do this effectively pupils will need access to excellent ICT resources and facilities and these are to be found at Queen Elizabeth’s. There is the new Business and ICT suite, which has forty-eight computers. There is the ICT Room next to the Library with 29 workstations; there are two smaller networked rooms, one of 16 machines and one of 13. There are also networked computers in the Library, in the Careers Library and workstations around the school in a number of subject rooms. The Science Department, for example, has a number of laptop machines which are connected to the network via a wireless link, as are other stations around the school. The Design Technology Department also has its own suite of 20 workstations. The school network operating system is Microsoft Windows XP and the main software suite is Microsoft Office 2000.

There is also a large number of inter-active whiteboards around the school and we are developing our digital multi-media facilities and capabilities, such as the video conferencing facility in the new Business/Mathematics room.

Curriculum

At present, pupils in years 7 to 9 receive an hour a week of tuition in ICT as a discrete subject. The course covers a wide range of ICT applications including Powerpoint Presentation, Information Handling and Finding, Spreadsheet Modelling, Control, and Animation.

The emphasis of the course is on developing pupils’ ICT capability rather than just their ICT skills. It is about encouraging pupils to become critical and effective users of ICT and evaluating what they have done.

Additionally, students throughout KS3 will be making appropriate use of ICT in the work of all of their subjects, building on and developing what they learn in their ICT lessons.

From 2008 all year 9 students will be required to take on-line national tests in ICT; we are currently involved in the national pilot for these tests.

All students in year 10 embark upon a two year course leading to the GCSE in Applied ICT (Double Award). In year 12 students are able to embark on a two year course entitled GCE Applied ICT. Full details of these courses can be found on the Edexcel website.

Students are encouraged, as part of their ICT education, to look at how ICT is used in society for example by the media, by business organisations and by the government. Much of the ICT education is, therefore, focused on the application of ICT and the consequences of that application. To this end, real life situations are explored and links with organisations, such as Finnveden, are seen as being of great value and importance.

General

ICT clearly has a dual role in the school. It is a subject in its own right, but also supports teaching and learning across the curriculum. Students engage very positively with ICT and are able to take full advantage of the extensive facilities, which the school provides.

Students have very open access to these facilities, before school starts, during the day and after school. The school has a broadband link to the Internet. All pupils have the privilege of their own free email address at the school and free access to the Internet. There is very powerful filtering of the Internet.

This open access brings with it significant responsibilities, of course, and these are enshrined in the school’s Acceptable Use Policy which all students sign. Responsible use of ICT is a very important part of ICT education.

Staff