ICT

ICT (Information and Communication Technology) is taught across the whole school as one discrete lesson per week, and also as and whenever possible in other curriculum subjects.
We use the Microsoft suite of applications for the majority of our work, with extra, specialist software for specific applications. We are very lucky to have two well equipped and comprehensively resourced ICT suites, with excellent staff both in delivery and technical support.

We broadly follow the QCA Scheme of work, and there are two main strands to our teaching:

a) the ‘technical’ ability to write, use, create, manipulate, edit, search, program, etc. in the various applications, ( the “how” to…) and
b) the ‘practical’ aspects of appropriateness, suitability, fitness for purpose, etc. of whatever is covered in part (a) above, ( the “when” and “why” to…)

As the students’ practical capability increases, the focus in the upper years moves even more to the application of those skills. We develop various information systems – researching, collecting, interpreting and presenting information – for presentation to a specific target audience and with a particular purpose or viewpoint.

Our consistent priority is this concept of suitability and fitness for purpose – ICT is equally a subject in its own right, and a tool to enhance delivery and understanding of all other subjects.