Improving ICT

The strategic leadership and management of ICT at Woodberry Down school is outstanding. Through discussion with all groups (teachers, parents, pupils, support staff, ICT Governor), it was evident that the school’s vision for ICT, (that of being a tool used transparently to enhance and enable learning and teaching) is shared by everyone. The work of the head teacher has been pivotal to the way in which ICT has developed in this school. The different groups described him as an inspirational leader of ICT and learning and teaching. The role of ICT co-ordinator is supported by the HT (an ex ICT Co-ordinator) who stated that, ‘the test of how good you are at your job is how successfully you can hand it over to someone else.’

ICT is embedded throughout the curriculum and there are very high expectations of teachers in their use of it. The teachers interviewed were clearly leading ICT in their subject areas and involved in a wide range of innovative projects within and beyond the school e.g. Global Partners project

The use of classroom assistants as ‘mentors’ for any pupils who need extra help with something is highly effective. The classroom assistants interviewed were enthusiastic about ICT and how it enables pupils to achieve more. They were all involved in further professional studies, one had already taken a degree course. There is an expectation that many of them will eventually become teachers. This system supports and enriches the school as well as the local community; it is a commendable investment in staff.

There were clear guidelines on e-Safety, which parents have been informed about and which staff follow and promote with their classes. The pupils were able to explain very confidently and clearly how they used the internet safely.

Staff, parents, and governors showed clearly that they fully understand of the opportunities that ICT can provide for extended learning and it’s a focus in the SIP. All groups were enthusiastic about the school’s VLE and how it can be used to share resources and pupils were clearly very excited by the ability to get help from teachers or support staff at any time using the VLE.

The school gathers reliable assessment data about pupils’ ICT capability by the use of GOAL on-line tests. Pupils are also involved in the own continuous ICT assessment via an ICT weblog on the school website. Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils interviewed, spoke enthusiastically about how they are expected regularly to send further information about what they’ve been doing in ICT lessons via emails to the HT and class teachers. They are also involved in regular peer assessment.

Teachers routinely plan, teach and reflect on the use of ICT in the curriculum to enhance their pupils’ learning. It was clearly evident from the tour of the school how ICT is integral to the learning in class, with a range of ICT being used in all classrooms. In every activity ICT was being used to support the subject learning. The children were using the equipment with confidence, skills, enjoyment and an understanding of its purpose.

ICT applications are explored by all staff and evaluated closely for the benefits to learning e.g. the use of Accelerated Reader. The parents interviewed described enthusiastically what excellent communication systems there were at Woodberry down. The school has a ‘texting service’ for parents which allows them to receive information about the school via their mobile phones.

ICT is used to support inclusion through various means – as differentiation, with specific software and is identified in pupil IEPs. Technical support is rigorous and effective. The school site houses the company Onsite solutions, this means that they have ICT technical support to hand at all times.

ICT is clearly firmly embedded into the curriculum at this school, staff and student have high expectations of what they need to access and therefore they don’t ‘see’ ICT as separate from their learning and teaching. It was clear from discussion with teachers that their feedback on the impact of ICT on L & T is monitored and evaluated and used to inform future planning.

The pupils and parents interviewed were very excited and proud of the way the use of podcasts including the innovative WDCPS school radio and weblogs give both information and also celebrate success enabling all pupils to participate and flourish. The integration of ‘audience’ that these technologies facilitate is seen by SLT as pivotal to the progress made by pupils at Woodberry Down.

In discussions with all the different groups it was clear that impact of the VLE on Learning and teaching and communication is enormous. This was raised by teachers, parents, pupils and classroom assistants as being the one thing that has had the greatest impact since its launch. The VLE is managed by the ICT Co-ordinator. The VLE has been embraced by the whole school community

Quotations from pupils:

‘I like this because if you want to ask something when you’re working at home, you can!’

‘The school message board is very useful when you are off sick or can’t get to school.’

From speaking to all stakeholders it was clear that there was a ‘shared thrill’ about the use of the VLE in this school and that it was infectious!

The school website was also considered by all stakeholders to be hugely successful in showcasing the achievements of the whole school community. The parents, pupils, governor and classroom assistants were clearly extremely proud to be a part of this highly successful school.

The school embodies a culture of teamwork, sharing and reflective practice. Review and evaluation is integral to all aspects of school life including ICT. All children benefit from the varied and purposeful use of ICT across the curriculum, as shown by the assessment evidence. The phrase, ‘There’s nothing we cannot do here’, was echoed by all stakeholders.