ICT

Key Aims

To ensure that all students have a broad and balanced Information Communication Technology curriculum.
To encourage students to gather, store, process and present information through activities in a variety of ways.
To encourage students to become independent and autonomous users of ICT.
To provide a stimulating environment for the raising of standards and progression.
To encourage students to develop an understanding of the wider applications and effects of Information Communications Technology.
To ensure that Information Communication Technology is both enjoyable and interesting.

Objectives

Develop an awareness of computer and hardware and software.
Provide an ICT curriculum that delivers the National Curriculum in each key stage together with vocational education when appropriate.
Provide an ICT curriculum that relates ICT in lessons to the wider applications and effects of ICT in everyday life.
Choose learning experiences that build upon previous work and students’ present knowledge and understanding.
Provide specific opportunities for students to take on responsibility to their own learning by encouraging the development of research, practical and investigative skills.
Provide opportunities for students to use ICT independently and show awareness of how ICT improves efficiency and supports new ways of working.
Provide opportunities for students to consider the social, legal, ethical and moral issues, and security needs for data that surround the increasing use of this continually expanding technology.

ICT IN THE CURRICULUM

Years 7, 8 & 9 (KS3)

Pupils are taught mainly in their form groups for two or three 1 hour lessons per fortnight throughout the school year. The groups are mixed ability and number from 20 – 28 students. Students are taught in networked ICT rooms with interactive whiteboards and air conditioning, each student has their own computer.

Years 10 and 11 (KS4)

Students continue to develop ICT skills taught at KS3 level by studying OCR Nationals in Information & Communication Technology or Edexcel BTEC Certificate for 4 lessons per fortnight throughout the two year of GCSE study.

For the ICT students who have opted to take the Edexcel BTEC route, their lesson time is allocated to 9 lessons per fortnight. This curriculum time is needed to achieve 4 GCSEs.

There are no formal examinations for all the above courses are they are portfolio based. These portfolios are internally standardised and externally moderated by the exam board.

SEN (ICT)

All ICT groups (Years 7, 8 & 9) are of mixed ability. Therefore within the schemes of work tasks have been written to incorporate differentiation to cater for the mixed ability of students at Bishop Barrington. As the majority of the work in Key Stage 3 is practical orientated it is therefore important that all lessons are pitched at the appropriate level.

In Key stage 4 there are a number of students following the GCSE course who require in-class support. Unfortunately the demands of GCSE especially in this subject can be too high. Therefore as an alternative a more vocational course will be offered to cater for those student needs. All students will also have the opportunity to take Key Skills exams.

Meet the staff

Mrs Speke	Subject Leader
Miss Carlton
Mr Hudson
Mrs Winstanley	2nd in ICT/Key Stage 3