Bromley ICT Forum Blog

Southborough Primary School becomes the latest addition to the growing list of Bromley Schools  recognised under the national Becta/NAACE ICT Mark Awards for excellence.

The  school’s ICT Mark award was presented by the Bromley Assistant Director for  School Improvement, Mrs Merril Hauesler to the Head Teacher Mrs Doreen Fellingham  today.

The ICT Mark award paid particular tribute to the innovative work and leadership in ICT with particular reference to the use of video conferencing within the curriculum by the school’s ICT Curriculum leader Mr Ben Beale and the ICT Technical Manager  Mrs Mandy Fathers. The school has also been successful in developing curriculum links with schools in China as well as enhancing curriculum activities through virtual ‘educational excursions’.

The ICT Mark also recognises the school’s strengths in pupil assessment using the Systems Integrated Resources (SIR) Learning Activity bank which has provided meaningful data on pupil progress.

“Southborough’s ICT Mark award nationally recognises the excellence of the school’s ICT program delivery for which all the teachers and pupils should be proud” commented Mrs Haeusler.

 [Extracts from Becta press release.]

 The revised strategy sets out a commitment to ensuring every school, college, university or training provider is ‘technology confident’, placing particular emphasis on achieving this through engagement with learners and parents and the professional development of teachers and trainers. Becta is now tasked with leading and working with education and skills providers, Government and national partners to ensure this ambitious strategy is delivered by 2014.

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Congratulations to all the staff and pupils at Charles Darwin Secondary College for achieving the ICT Mark.

Charles Darwin now joins Darrick Wood Secondary College as a recognised Bromley school for ICT excellence. Primary Schools who have achieved the ICT Mark include Valley Primary School, Clare House Primary School, Darrick Wood Junior School, Warren Road Primary School, Highfield Infant School and Alexandra Infant School.

For any other school contemplating applying for an ICT Mark assessment, the Local Authority can assist either by providing an assessor or providing support to schools in putting together a portfolio of evidence for an external assessor to consider.

For further information please contact Andrew Ferrier (Phn 0208 4616224) or email andrew.ferrier@bromley.gov.uk

As part of Becta and the LGFL’s strategy to support school improvement, a school conference was held at the Bromley EDC . The purpose of the conference was to demonstrate how  Becta Self Review Framework  tool can play an important role in helping schools to understand and manage their ICT strategic program and policies.

The session was presented by Simon Shaw (Accreditation Manager, Becta) and John Duffield  (London Learning through ICT). 

A wide range of Bromley schools were represented. They  included Bishop Justus, Langley Park School for Girls, Chislehurst (St Nicholas) CE  Aided, Edgebury Primary School, Grays Farm,Highfield Infant School, Malcolm School Perry Hall School, Pickhurst Infant School, Pickhurst  Junior School, Poverest Primary School, Raglan Primary School, ST Philomenas, St Vincents  Catholic Primary School, and The Highway School.

A copy of the days program can be downloaded here.

Other downloads include

Action Plan

Guidance Notes for Element 7

Repurpose, Create and Share 

Becta and the National Education Network are inviting your school to submit a proposal to create engaging and innovative projects that exploit online digital resources for effective learning. Any materials created by participating schools will be then made available nationally for sharing with other schools.

This is a great opportunity for your school to

• Exploit online digital resources
• Create new materials to support learning and teaching for secondary aged students using these resources
• Work with the LGFL and the LA in the production and dissemination of these materials across the NEN

Becta and the NEN will provide up to £25,000 to support the development of these school projects .

The deadlines for these bids is 12 noon on Friday 22 February 2008Enclosed is a copy of the Call for bids paper with further information.

If you are interested and would like assistance in preparing a bid please let me know

Whole School Improvement supported by ICT ‘London Learning through ICT’ (an improvement initiative supported by DCSF, London Challenge and LGfL) has arranged four additional conferences, each providing comprehensive guidance, on the promotion of Whole School Improvement supported by effective deployment of ICT.

Whole School Improvement is about identifying what you do well, where you want to go and what can help you on this journey.

Whole school improvement is also about identifying your priorities and ensuring you stay focused on what is really important. Reviewing whole school ICT and maximising its impact on all areas of Whole School Improvement is a key skill for school leadership teams.

This conference will address how effective use of ICT can result in real learning gains throughout the school and how whole school ICT review and action planning can positively contribute to school improvement planning. The vital issue of Change Management will also be addressed. A process of self review for ICT, using the ICT Self Review Framework, will prove invaluable both as preparation for and successful implementation of the London MLE.

The dates for these events are:

• For East Sector schools 4th February
• For South Sector schools 14th February
• For North Sector schools 27th February
•  For West Sector schools 28th February

All conferences will be held in the Conference Hall at Mary Sumner House, Tufton Street, Westminster. Bromley LA is in the South Sector, therefore please book for the South Sector Conference which is on 14th February, or an alternative date if that date is not possible for you.

Please note that your school must complete the initial SRF registration process in advance of the conference.

This can be reached via http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=srf&rid=11966

There is no charge for these conferences.

Places are limited, so please register at the earliest opportunity and in any case not later than 31st January 2008.

 Places can be booked online via the link at www.events.lgfl.net It is anticipated that these conferences will be over-subscribed, and, in order that the maximum number of schools can benefit, places are limited to one senior leader per school. Details of additional one-to-one support in applying the Self Review Framework in your school will be supplied at the conference.

A meeting of the Bromley Primary ICT Subject Leaders will take place at the Bromley Education Development Centre on Thursday November the 1st, commencing at 1:30pm

Agenda
1. Sustaining your ICT investment-Developing a School Procurement Strategy
Presented by Richard Allen from BECTA

2. Using Google Sketch up in the classroom (Prac Session)

Google Sketch up  is a great powerful 3D modelling tool that is easy to learn and has great potential for maths and language activities. In this prac session you will see examples of how some teachers have used this freely available tool along with the chance of trying it for yourself

3. ICT Project Adventure Update

School reports

4. ICT Mark News/LGFL News

Assistance with preparing for the ICT Mark. Whats on the LGFL site

Looking forward to seeing you there.

To confirm your place please ring the EDC  quoting ICT201

Special congratulations to Clare House Primary School for gaining the prestigious ICT Mark Award. The school now joins Warren Road, Darrick Wood Junior, Highfield Infants, Darrick Wood Secondary College and Valley Primary School among successful Bromley schools enjoying the professional recognition that the ICT Mark bestows as best class schools in the use of ICT.

Current Becta research shows  that ICT Mark accredited schools are

• four times more likely to be rated as outstanding in the overall effectiveness of the school category. (ICT Mark Schools: 40%, national primary: 9%, national secondary :10%
• three times more likely to be rated as outstanding in Achievement and Standards category
• three times more likely to be rated as outstanding in the Leadership and Management category
• four times more likely to be rated a outstanding in the Teaching and Learning category.

The first step towards achieving the ICT Mark for your school begins with registration on the BECTA Self Review Matrix.

For further information please contact Andrew Ferrier  (0208 461 6224) or email him at andrew.ferrier@bromley.gov.uk

Don’t forget to pencil these dates in your diary

ICT 201 Bromley Primary ICT Subject Leaders Forum

Dates

• Thursday November 1st 2007  1.30-4.30pm
• Thursday 13th March 2008,  1.30-4.30pm
• Thursday 12th June 2008, 1.30-4.30pm

Venue: Bromley EDC

ICT202 Bromley ICT Network Managers Forum

Dates

• Wednesday 31st October 2007, 1.30-4.00pm
• Wednesday 23rd January, 1.30-4.00pm
• Wednesday 7th May 2008 1.30-4.00pm

Venue TBA

ICT203/204 Preparing for the ICT Mark

• Tuesday 30th October 2007 4:30-6:30pm
• Wednesday 6th February 4:30-6:30pm

Venue: Bromley EDC

Interactive Whiteboard Training Home Delivery

Free for Bromley Schools. We will come out and deliver training for your staff. Contact Andrew Ferrier for more details.

ICT Project Adventures

Schools are offered the opportunity to participate in a six to eight week project adventure  using Podcasting, film making, animation, online game creation and video conferencing. Contact Andrew Ferrier for more details.

Building a School Virtual Learning Environment with Digitalbrain

Bromley LA is offering a one to four day consultation service to assist schools in moving forward in creating and using their Digitalbrain portal as a VLE. We will visit you and work at your school.

Contact Andrew Ferrier for more details.

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

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