ICT

We are very proud of our Maths and Computing specialist status, and how we can use this to develop the ICT teaching and learning of: our students; students in our extended ‘family of schools’; and of local residents.

The focus of the ICT department is to ensure that every student can develop his or her capability and awareness of Information and Communication Technology. We consider it is important that every student is ICT literate and able to use a computer as a medium for:

• Communication and presentation of information through multimedia;
• Data handling;
• Modelling and control ; and to access information through the Internet.

In addition, it is important for students to learn about the many applications of computer technology and its impact upon people's lives.

Students in Year 7 follow the progressive ‘L2L’ (Learn to Learn) course. This initiative gives students a thorough grounding in the use of ICT, as well as learning skills that can be used throughout their time at Greenshaw. The main focus of this course is the development and use of Mind Mapping tools, they are used to support the work that students carry out in many other departments.

In Year 8 we build on, and extend, the L2L skills learnt in Year 7. They are introduced to the use of more Mind Maps tools through a variety of projects. Their ICT skills are also developed and extended to enable them to be prepared for their GCSE in Year 9.

In Year 9 students start the AIDA (Award in Digital Applications) course, which is part of the DIDA (Diploma in Digital Applications) which gives students the skills required to tackle the SPB (Summative Project Brief) which is assessed in Year 9. The AIDA is worth one full GCSE.

This accelerated curriculum continues in Year 10 for all students, with the multi-media based CIDA (Certificate in Digital Applications) which is also worth one full GCSE. DIDA is the new suite of qualifications run at the school. This allows students to gain one, two or four (if taken as an option) GCSE equivalents in various areas of ICT related specialism such as Multimedia, Graphics (Design Technology) and Enterprise (Business Studies). The assessment of the course is based completely on an SPB for each unit. Students complete an e-portfolio in response to the SPB which is published by the examination board.

In the Sixth Form, we offer a wide range of ICT courses that cater for all levels of ability and specialism. Along with the AS and A level in ICT, we also have vocational ICT courses, such as the new OCR National and the Applied AS and A level.

Facilities and Resources

Information and Communications Technology is used throughout the curriculum. Specialist teachers provide support to other departments where required and also provide training for other members of staff. Our ICT resources now include over 450 networked computer suites, an increasing number of electronic white boards, plus a large number of networked computers in many departments across the school. Every classroom has a networked computer as part of the electronic registration system.

Mr Dunham is Director of ICT. Other teachers include Mr Faraz Chandler, Mr Ambaye and Mr Taylor.