Overview of Information Communications Technology
►Main Aims
This area of the curriculum aims to prepare pupils for some aspects of modern working life. In all 5 years at Willowgarth they will gain experience of Information Technology by using 'Windows' and 'Non-Windows' software.
The types of work will involve word-processing, desk-top publishing, databases, spreadsheets, computer control and web-page design.
In addition, graphics programs such as painting, drawing and animation will be encountered. Specific skills programs for English, Mathematics and Science will be available to pupils in the lower school. See below for Key Stage 4 courses.
IT and computer literacy are vital for a student's success in an ever-increasing technological world. We aim to provide our students with a high degree of computer literacy to assist in their chosen careers.
This area of the curriculum aims to prepare pupils for some aspects of modern working life. In all 5 years at Willowgarth they will gain experience of Information Technology by using 'Windows' and 'Non-Windows' software.
The types of work will involve word-processing, desk-top publishing, databases, spreadsheets, computer control and web-page design.
In addition, graphics programs such as painting, drawing and animation will be encountered. Specific skills programs for English, Mathematics and Science will be available to pupils in the lower school. See below for Key Stage 4 courses.
IT and computer literacy are vital for a student's success in an ever-increasing technological world. We aim to provide our students with a high degree of computer literacy to assist in their chosen careers.
►Curriculum Delivery
The delivery of Information Technology to Willowgarth pupils has evolved since the introduction of National Curriculum into a model in which discrete lessons of Information Technology service the IT needs of the rest of the curriculum. The requirements of National curriculum are satisfied within IT lessons, but there has been positive encouragement and appropriate purchasing of computer hardware and software to allow other areas of the curriculum to use IT as and when it is deemed sensible.
Information technology is a tool to be used by pupils to work more efficiently, more accurately and to give better presentation of their efforts. IT is used to motivate and give encouragement to pupils and the emphasis of the delivery of Information Technology is the acquisition of generic skills by the children in order that they can apply the skills irrespective of the context. For this reason pupils are exposed to both PC and Acorn machines, and a wide range of software.
We follow the guidelines as set out in the National Curriculum. Refer to that document for further details. http://www.nc.uk.net/servlets/Subjects?Subject=ICT
The delivery of Information Technology to Willowgarth pupils has evolved since the introduction of National Curriculum into a model in which discrete lessons of Information Technology service the IT needs of the rest of the curriculum. The requirements of National curriculum are satisfied within IT lessons, but there has been positive encouragement and appropriate purchasing of computer hardware and software to allow other areas of the curriculum to use IT as and when it is deemed sensible.
Information technology is a tool to be used by pupils to work more efficiently, more accurately and to give better presentation of their efforts. IT is used to motivate and give encouragement to pupils and the emphasis of the delivery of Information Technology is the acquisition of generic skills by the children in order that they can apply the skills irrespective of the context. For this reason pupils are exposed to both PC and Acorn machines, and a wide range of software.
We follow the guidelines as set out in the National Curriculum. Refer to that document for further details. http://www.nc.uk.net/servlets/Subjects?Subject=ICT
►History of Initiatives
The school has a history of successful incorporation of externally funded initiatives to improve the standards of teaching and learning. All Key Stage 4 pupils at Willowgarth are working towards GCSE ICT (full course) or GNVQ Part 1 ICT. All Key Stage 3 pupils are taught National Curriculum ICT for one hour each week.
The OfStEd inspection of March 1998 and the HMI visit of June 2000 commented upon our pupils' familiarity of ICT and their lack of inhibition when using computers. Willowgarth has piloted a series of successful computer initiatives in recent years.
These include:
Computer generated reporting;
Positive Discipline;
Target setting across the curriculum;
Extension school;
GNVQ ICT;
Successmaker for reading and maths recovery.
The school has a history of successful incorporation of externally funded initiatives to improve the standards of teaching and learning. All Key Stage 4 pupils at Willowgarth are working towards GCSE ICT (full course) or GNVQ Part 1 ICT. All Key Stage 3 pupils are taught National Curriculum ICT for one hour each week.
The OfStEd inspection of March 1998 and the HMI visit of June 2000 commented upon our pupils' familiarity of ICT and their lack of inhibition when using computers. Willowgarth has piloted a series of successful computer initiatives in recent years.
These include:
Computer generated reporting;
Positive Discipline;
Target setting across the curriculum;
Extension school;
GNVQ ICT;
Successmaker for reading and maths recovery.
