ICT in Schools

What did Ofsted say about ICT?

In their report on the local education authority published in May 2002, the following comments were made about ICT:

Support for information and communication technology (ICT)

68. The local education authority's support for information and communications technology is good. Good progress has been made since the last inspection. Additional resources made available through the National Grid for Learning scheme have been well utilised. The local education authority has supported schools in establishing interconnected hardware and has been very proactive in encouraging teachers to improve their levels of skills and confidence. In co-operation with primary schools, the local education authority has constructed a framework for the teaching of ICT which aligns with, and considerably supports, national requirements. Good teaching materials for primary and secondary schools have been developed which make effective use of locally and nationally available resources. The local education authority is benefiting from being part of the pilot ICT project at Key Stage 3.

69. The local education authority has a clearly defined strategy to meet its ICT targets which addresses curriculum, infrastructure and training. A curriculum and professional development intranet has been developed containing support materials for all subjects. Its use will be more efficient when the broadband initiative is implemented later this year.

70. At primary level, the local education authority is using an online monitoring and assessment tool which allows schools to recognise the performance level they have reached, set against a minimum expected standard. This enables schools to measure progress and the local education authority to target additional support. The local education authority carefully monitors schools' inspection reports: most schools are showing improvement from their previous inspection. There is still work to be done, as nationally, for teachers to gain confidence and consistency in the determination of pupil standards.

71. The central technical support scheme, to which all schools subscribe, has a single point of contact for all ICT related problems. Schools are kept well informed of progress if problems are not immediately solvable. There is a high level of satisfaction with this service.

72. ICT is well led, with good expertise and high quality support which is highly rated by schools. Training and support for ICT has been well thought through and ICT is well used across the curriculum. All schools have subscribed to the same new opportunities fund training provider, with about a third of teachers in each school completing the programme each year. Teachers are encouraged to gain formal accreditation. School Improvement Service has provided additional support where needs have been identified.

73. The Key Stage 3 ICT pilot is developing teaching programmes which will be used in the national scheme from September 2002. Planning is well advanced to integrate the new City Learning Centre facility with ICT across the curriculum, as well as discrete subject provision. The use of the City Learning Centre as community facility is underway; this is already being used as a training venue.

99. The local education authority provides satisfactory support for administrative ICT. It was one of the first authorities to get all schools online and, 3 years ago, provided computers to each school to set up an administration network that was independent of the curriculum network. Telephone support from a unified corporate and curriculum ICT team is well managed and effective. The local education authority successfully completed the electronic transfer of Plasc data in January 2002. A well-established intranet is used both by schools and the Education Department.

Contact

Guy Underwood

Senior Adviser (ICT)

Westbury Centre

Ripple Road

Barking

IG11 7PT

Tel: 020 8270 4866

Fax: 020 8270 4891

Email: guy.underwood@lbbd.gov.uk|