Poole Ict Strategy for Education - Appendix

POOLE ICT STRATEGY

FOR EDUCATION

2004-2007

January 2005

POOLE ICT STRATEGY FOR EDUCATION 2004 – 2007

CONTENTS

Page

1. Executive Summary ...... 3

2. ICT in Education: the Vision ...... 4

3. Objectives ...... 5

3.1 Objective 1 – High Quality of Education ...... 6

3.2 Objective 2 – Effective strategic use of ICT...... 7

3.3 Objective 3 – High Quality ICT Infrastructure...... 8

3.4 Objective 4 – Effective electronic communications and collaboration.9

3.5 Objective 5 – Highly skilled workforce...... 10

3.6 Objective 6 – Effective use of Management Information Systems...11

4. Monitoring & Evaluation ...... 12

1. Executive Summary

Since Poole became a unitary council in 1997, significant progress has been made in developing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in schools.

This ICT Strategy for Education sets out an overall blueprint for the development of ICT in schools over a three year period from 2004 to 2007. The strategy strengthens links with Poole’s Education Development Plan, Corporate ICT Strategies and e-Government Strategy.

The starting point of the strategy is the government’s vision for ICT in schools and the National Grid for Learning (NGfL) as set out in the consultation paper “Connecting the Learning Society” (1997) and developed in subsequent publications such as ‘Transforming the Way We Learn’. Substantial government funding has stimulated investment in ICT infrastructure in education to meet ICT targets such as the number of computers in school and broadband connectivity. Details of the relationship between the national picture and the local context in Poole are described in Appendix 1.

The ICT Strategy for Education is based on an assessment of the current use of ICT in our schools, and links across the borough. It maps out a vision for the next three years and identifies six clear objectives and a range of associated targets. A mechanism for regularly monitoring and evaluating the strategy by stakeholders is included.

The six objectives of the strategy are:

Objective

/

Summary

1. / High quality of education / Improving attainment through the effective use of ICT to enhance teaching and learning.
2. / Effectivestrategic use of ICT / Developing schools so they are confident in the use of ICT and in which school leaders have the competence and confidence to make effective strategic use of ICT.
3. / High quality ICT infrastructure / Developing a high quality, effective communications infrastructure.
4. / Effectiveelectroniccommunications and collaboration / Developing effective communication and collaboration between schools and the LEA.
5. / Highly skilled workforce / Providing a training, support and development programme for staff.
6. / Effective use of management information systems / Promoting the efficient use of data to raise standards.

This document has been produced following consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including Head Teachers, Governors, ICT Co-ordinators, LEA Advisers, Consultants and Officers (SASS and PPS), and representatives from IT Services. Representation has been drawn from across the school phases.

2. ICT in Education: the Vision

Information and communication technologies have an ever-increasing role in education. Poole has made a significant investment in ICT in schools over recent years, especially through the NGfL/ICTiS programme, and has the potential to develop into an education community in which ICT is genuinely used to enhance the quality of teaching and learning and to transform education by providing a rich blend of learning experiences.

ICT developments in education are part of a wider range of ICT-related initiatives which involve the whole community, including, for example, local e-government programmes, adult education and programmes run by libraries and museums. The use of ICT is integral to creating a culture of lifelong learning.

We fully support the government’s vision for ICT, which “… is one where schools are confidently, successfully and routinely exploiting ICT alongside other transformational measures. By doing so they will be delivering an education that equips learners for life in the Information Age of the 21st century.” Charles Clarke, Fulfilling the Potential

This strategy document should be seen as a blueprint, providing a means of enabling all the partners concerned to coordinate their use of ICT resources effectively, for the benefit of the community as a whole.

The vision for ICT in Poole is that:

• ICT enables pupils to have access to a rich blend of learning experiences both within and beyond the boundaries of their school. This includes collaborative learning through virtual communities, distance learning (using techniques such as video-conferencing), access to curriculum materials via an educational portal and the imaginative use of digital video and electronic whiteboards. Appropriate and intelligent use of ICT significantly assists and informs assessment and target-setting.

• All Poole schools make effective use of ICT to support leadership and management.

• A high quality, effective ICT communications infrastructure both within schools and between schools and the Council enables teachers, learners and other individuals to exploit the use of digital material and technologies. The infrastructure enables ICT to be used effectively for both school administration and the curriculum.

• Effective use of electronic communications enables schools to receive important information in a timely and appropriate manner. The use of the Poole Portal provides new opportunities for communication and collaboration, and the Poole web sites continue to provide information and learning opportunities to the public and to teachers and pupils.

• All members of staff are given the opportunity to develop a high level of ICT competency. This is essential to the successful use of ICT in education. Staff are able to use ICT to work more efficiently and effectively. Teaching staff are able to identify and deliver quality ICT supported learning activities across the curriculum. Teachers are able to use ICT effectively to perform analyses of pupil achievement data.

• Data is intelligently and effectively used and managed as a key tool in raising standards in schools.

3. Objectives

Poole LEA plans to work with its partners over the next three years through six clearly identified objectives:

• Objective 1 High quality of Education
• Objective 2 Effectivestrategic use of ICT
• Objective 3 High quality ICT infrastructure
• Objective 4 Effectiveelectroniccommunications and collaboration
• Objective 5 Highly skilled workforce
• Objective 6 Effective use of management information systems

Key actions for each objective are outlined and appropriate success criteria set. The actions for each objective are listed, and the success criteria are included in the action plan.

3.1 Objective 1 – High Quality of Education

ICT can enable pupils to have access to a rich blend of learning experiences in school and outside school. This includes collaborative learning through virtual communities, distance learning (using techniques such as video-conferencing), access to curriculum materials via an educational portal and the imaginative use of digital video and interactive whiteboards. Appropriate and intelligent use of ICT significantly assists and informs assessment and target setting.

Key actions:

1.1The raising of standards of achievement in discrete ICT through improvements in the quality of teaching, learning and assessment at all key stages.

1.2Improve the effective assessment of discrete ICT at all key stages. Implement a common assessment framework for ICT across all schools, and improve the tracking of individual pupil progress.

1.3Develop the ICT elements in education strategies implemented in Poole schools, especially the Primary Strategy, the Key Stage 3 Strategy and the Secondary Phase Strategy

1.4Target ICT support and ensure that intervention in schools is consistently matched to need.

1.5Support schools in their choice of ICT course provision at Key Stage 4.

1.6Promote the sharing of good practice in ICT through all appropriate means including web sites, the Poole Portal and digital video

1.7Improve the effective use of ICT to improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment of all subjects across the curriculum.

1.8Improve the use of e-learning to empower learners, to support creative and innovative teaching and to offer the flexibility to adapt to the needs of all learners, wherever and however they need to learn.

1.9Improve the monitoring and evaluation of the impact of ICT in raising standards.

1.10Improve the use of ICT to promote inclusion, promoting the use ICT to provide access to the curriculum for all pupils.

1.11Implement an ICT plan to provide excluded pupils with access to a wider curriculum

1.12Establish a local network of support for ICT using leading teachers and Advanced Skills Teachers.
3.2 Objective 2 – Effective strategic use of ICT

All Poole schools effectively use ICT to support leadership and management.

Key actions:

2.1Support initiatives which give school leaders the competence and confidence to make effective strategic use of ICT (eg. NCSL/SLICT).

2.2Continue to collect and interpret data for individual groups of children, including Looked After Children (LAC) and minority ethnic groups.

2.3Secure the use of ‘Alerts’ data package in all schools who choose to use it, and develop the use of the package specifically in schools causing concern. Promote the use of pupil performance data analysis, including Fischer Family Trust and Pupil Achievement Tracker (PAT).

2.4Support developments in e-administration which can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of administration in schools.

2.5Promote the use of the Naacemark school accreditation framework to support developments in ICT.

2.6Promote the construction and implementation of effective ICT development plans in each school

3.3 Objective 3 – High Quality ICT Infrastructure

An effective ICT communications infrastructure, both within schools and between schools and the Council, enables leaders, teachers and learners to exploit the use of digital resources and technologies. It enables ICT to be used effectively for school administration and for curriculum applications.

Key actions:

3.1Ensure that every school has an appropriate broadband connection through SWGfL by 2006, using reliable, appropriate and cost-effective solutions to suit different circumstances.

3.2Develop the use of caching systems (with reference to the specifications provided by Becta and SWGfL) to enhance access to the Internet.

3.3Provide information which promotes the development of joining existing and future networks for administration and curriculum use in schools.

3.4Improve access to computer resources and the Internet for pupils and teachers (for example, whole-class ICT suites, clusters or linked wireless access; the extension of networking throughout schools; the provision of innovative teaching aids such as wireless networks, digital photography, digital video, laptop computers, tablet PCs, multimedia projectors, interactive whiteboards, and video conferencing).

3.5Improve access to computer software, including online content, to support teaching and learning across the curriculum.

3.6Promote innovation by continuing to work with our Regional Broadband Consortium (SWGfL) to introduce and support high-quality education resources for all teachers in all schools.

3.7Support the provision of access to a personal laptop for at least two-thirds of all teachers by 2006. Offer a centrally organised package with the aim of maximising quality and value.

3.8Develop the provision of effective levels of technical support for ICT.

3.9Negotiate bulk-purchase arrangements where possible, encouraging schools to collaborate to make better use of funding.

3.10Support schools to identify and understand the total cost of ownership (TCO) for sustaining and developing their infrastructure and exploring strategies for achieving it.

3.11Provide support to ensure technological needs in the design, security and refurbishment of new or existing buildings.

3.12Provide schools with information about network security, including anti-virus protection.

3.13Provide schools with information for the disposal or recycling of redundant technology.

3.4 Objective 4 – Effective electronic communications and collaboration

Effective use of electronic communications enables schools to receive important information in a timely and appropriate manner. The use of the Poole Portal provides new opportunities for communication and collaboration, and the Poole web sites continue to provide information and learning opportunities to teachers and pupils.

Key actions:

4.1Provide, through the Borough of Poole’s website, a wide range of information to the public and interactive access to services. Make available up to date key public documents, such as statutory education plans, the education budget statement, and other major strategic documents. Provide links to useful information on schools, the LEA and its procedures.

4.2Provide a well-designed, easily accessible intranet/portal to schools, containing a full range of up-to-date administrative, curriculum and policy documents and links to other sites.

4.3Prioritise and manage e-mail communications between the LEA and schools so that schools receive prompt responses from the LEA and these are monitored.

4.4Provide guidance to schools on the appropriate and safe use of e-mails and the Internet.

4.5Extend the use of school-based email accounts for all teachers and all classes beyond KS1.

4.6Promote developments in learning beyond the classroom and outside the school day. Support the use of ICT to facilitate home-school links to improve attainment across the curriculum.

4.7Co-ordinate and support the implementation and use of the Poole Portal by staff in all schools and in the LEA, and support the implementation of the Poole Portal by pupils in schools with broadband connectivity.

4.8Provide individual portal accounts for all LEA Officers, Advisers and Consultants working with schools as a means of providing resources, advice, information and support. Promote and support the use of the portal by members of the LEA.

4.9Provide individual portal accounts for every member of staff in every school (including Head Teachers, teachers, teaching assistants and governors), so that they are able to use the portal to collaborate and to share resources and ideas.

4.10Continue to support and further develop SASS curriculum and CPD websites, and increase their use. Develop a consistent identity for curriculum websites.

3.5 Objective 5 – Highly skilled workforce

Developing the ICT competency of every member of staff is essential to the successful use of ICT in education. ICT can allow staff to work more efficiently and effectively. Teaching staff are able to identify and deliver high-quality ICT-based learning activities across the curriculum. Teachers are able to perform analyses of pupil achievement data.

Key actions:

5.1Conduct an audit of school and LEA staff training needs in ICT, to be used to inform the planning of training.

5.2Provide a programme of training events addressing pedagogical skills in the delivery of ICT as a subject and supporting progression through appropriate use of ICT across the curriculum.

5.3Provide a programme of training events addressing the assessment of ICT (including the use of assessment for learning).

5.4Provide a programme of training events and support addressing the particular needs of ICT subject leaders and co-ordinators.

5.5Provide a centrally co-ordinated programme of Hands-on Support for schools, with the aim of embedding ICT in the Primary and Secondary strategies.

5.6Provide a programme of training events for school leaders and Governors to support school management processes.

5.7Provide a programme of training events to enable teachers and LEA staff to perform analyses of pupil achievement data.

5.8Provide a programme of training events for IT technicians and classroom assistants to support the use of ICT in schools.

5.9Provide a programme of training events for LEA staff to develop their confidence in the use of ICT and in promoting its use in schools.

5.10Provide a programme of training, induction and support for Leading ICT Teachers.

3.6 Objective 6 – Effective use of Management Information Systems

Data is intelligently and effectively used and managed as a key tool in raising standards.

Key actions:

6.1Promote access to school Management Information Systems for all relevant teaching and support staff with the aim of improving use of pupil attainment data and reducing multiple data entry.

6.2Co-ordinate pupil attainment data collection with management information systems and information provided by external bodies.

6.3Promote the development of suitable school and LEA policies to address issues of security and risk management, and the implications of the Data Protection Act and Freedom of Information Act.

6.4Support the efficient and secure sharing of data between schools and the LEA according to clear protocols.

6.5Implement the “Protocol on Data Sharing and Rationalisation in the schools sector”

6.6Provide clear advice for schools regarding the effective use of management information systems.

6.7Develop the knowledge, understanding and skills of school staff in accordance with Workforce Remodelling initiatives to enable them to use MIS efficiently.

6.8Promote the efficient collating, sharing and analysis of data within and across units in the LEA.

4. Monitoring & Evaluation

It is recognised that with the continuing rapid development of ICT and changes in funding, it is essential to regularly monitor, review and evaluate this strategy to ensure that it remains relevant and appropriate.

This strategy will therefore be reviewed annually by the ICT Strategy Group for Education. The first annual review will begin in the second half of Autumn Term 2005, with amendments or a revised version of the strategy issued in the first half of Summer Term 2006. The ICT Strategy Group will be asked to consider whether to request support from Becta for a peer self-review during the 2005-2006 financial year.

Where appropriate, Senior Advisers will be requested to work with school leaders to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the ICT Strategy. Activity relating to the Education Development Plan will be monitored through established EDP monitoring.

Feedback will be obtained from users of the service in order to ensure that it meets the needs of all learners.

ICT Strategy for Education, Poole, 2004-2007. Page 1 of 13

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