ICT

Head of Department: Mrs Sarah Beats

ICT is considered to be an important subject, where we aim to teach the children the technical skills to use computers, and also how to use them as a tool to help their learning in other areas.

The children receive one ICT skills lesson per week in our computer suite,when they are exposed to a wide variety of software and peripheral resources, such as digital cameras, microphones, data loggers and Lego Mindstorms Robots. They are also taught about the safe use of e-mail and the internet through our monitored and filtered network. During these lessons, the children develop their skills by using the award winning Black Cat Suite to grasp an understanding of using word processing packages, spreadsheets and databases. These skills are then transferred to Microsoft Office programs, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher and developed further in order to prepare them for senior school and the outside world. They also use a range of specific software to help them understand the use of control and monitoring, graphical design and image creation.

As well as the dedicated ICT session, we also use the computer suite regularly for English and Maths lessons, where the children can use their ICT skills to reinforce their subject development. The suite is also available during other sessions for the children to apply their skills to their current topic work. As well as lesson based time, the computer suite is also available after school and during lunchtime with supervised access.

To aid teaching and learning throughout the school, all classrooms are equipped with one or two PC's, with one connected to a projector and interactive whiteboard. This allows greater stimulation and whole class interaction, and provides access to a wide range of resources online.