Preparing for ICT Mark
The ICT Mark is a quality assurance award for schools who have successfully demonstrated their ability to put ICT in the heart of learning and teaching. You may be considering an application for the award for your school.
In order to qualify for the mark, schools must assess themselves by registering and completing the online Self Review Framework. The SRF covers the following elements
- Leadership and Management
- Curriculum
- Learning and Teaching
- Assessment
- Professional Development
- Extending Opportunities for Learning
- Resources
- Impact on Pupil Outcomes
Each of these elements has an ICT Mark threshold. If your school meets those thresholds and you can indicate the appropriate evidence in support of your findings then you are eligible to apply.
Some advice though
When compiling evidence , many schools often rely on provisional evidence but tend to forget about the outcomes. Too often in response to the aspects of each element, comments such as ‘attended SLICT’, ‘provided surveys’, ‘created student web accounts’ etc while important, fail to address the impact on student learning. While an assessor will pick up on this and ask the necessary questions, it would be more helpful if some though is given to balancing the use of provisional evidence by matching it with some actual or anticipated outcomes. Let me illustrate this with an example
Element 6 Extending opportunities for Learning
Strand Awareness and Understanding
Aspect 6a-3 The Community
Level 3 The school undertsands the benefits of working with the local community on ICT issues and where appropriate, is taking steps to establish partnerships. Assessment of the local community’s need has been made and consideration given to how the school will respond
Evidence : The students at our school work with Forest Hills Girls Secondary School in creating podcasts
Where are the actual or anticipated outcomes?
A better statement of evidence
Evidence : The students at our school work with Forest Hills Girls Secondary School in creating podcasts which have led to greater engagement with MFL within our school community and a positive benefit for transition next year.
Here we have a provisional statement and an outcome.
Further publications that will assist you in planning for your assessment can be found on the NAACE website. Particularly recommended are
10 Steps to the ICT Mark - a two page step by step guide (192k bytes)
The Cost of the ICT Mark - not just how much, but why you need to do it! A4 double sided. (543k bytes)
The Naace Guide to the ICT Mark for Schools - an eight page A5 booklet (1.99M bytes)
The Cost of the ICT Mark - a four page A5 leaflet (1.45M bytes)
Are you preparing for the ICT Mark? Or has your school successfully achieved the mark. Share your thoughts with us..
