Computing at School

The Computing At Schools groups has been set up to promote the teaching of
Computing at schools. Members come from schools, universities, industry
and examiners. Members get access to a growing range of resources and
there are groups that members can get involved with to develop the
teaching of Computing. It would be of interest to anyone teaching A Level
Computing or the new GCSE in Computing. Teachers delivering ICT at KS3
may also be interested as there are useful resources on Scratch, Alice
etc... Their website says "Our goal is to put the fun back into computing at school".

Please see http://www.computingatschool.org.uk/ for more details.

If you are teaching computing within your secondary school (usually at Key Stage 5) this open working group has been recommended by Trinity Catholic School.

Home Access - Latest Information 05

32% of the eligible students in Redbridge have received free computers and interent connections on this scheme. This equates to 1331 families who now have access to ICT who didn't before. I actually have these stats broken down by school so please, as per the last update, if you would like your school's exact figure (which you can then compare against your FSM KS2 and KS3 numbers) please get in touch.

When this grant was launched it was said that funds were set aside to support 270,000 grants. Nationwide 153,651 grants have been successfull. If both these figures are true then 57% of the funds have been allocated. This suggests that Redbridge students are at real risk of not getting their applications through on time. Of course, the figures upon which this calculation is based may well change (especially in the current political climate) but it is still relevant to remind your students again of how to take advantage of this scheme.


To see back copies of Home Access updates please click on the HomeAccess label on the right hand side.

Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

Free local Becta events: Engaging parents through the use of ICT

Find out what leading secondary and primary schools are doing now to engage parents through online reporting. Parents have a bigger impact on their children's learning than schools or technology, which is why all schools have been expected to exploit ICT to improve parental engagement since June 2008. There are clear expectations for online reporting in secondary schools for September 2010 and primary schools for 2012.

Primary focus:

• Friday 2nd July, 9:30am - 12:00pm Redbridge Teachers' Centre - book at http://www.redbridgepdc.org.uk/

Secondary focus:

• Friday 2nd July, 1:30pm-3:30pm Redbridge Teachers' Centre - book at http://www.redbridgepdc.org.uk/
• Tuesday 13th July, whole day, Central London - book directly with Becta

These events, led by Becta directly, are for primary and secondary schools interested in learning more about how ICT currently available in schools can be exploited to work in partnership with parents and improve parental engagement in their children's learning.

As well as hearing from advocate schools, you will talk with them, share experiences and see practice in action. These are practical, pragmatic and engaging events to equip you to do even more in your school and to encourage and support peers in your own area.

Please note that these events are free of charge to school leaders and staff.

Alex Rees

alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

Games Based Learning

Redbridge was represented at the recent Games Based Learning Confernece. Watch the contribution from the Redbridge Games Network, led by Nic Hughes and Dawn Hallybone.

I was lucky enough to attend click here to check out my thoughts - My thoughts are here.

Nick Hughes

How many ICT marked schools in Redbridge?

The Self-Review Framework is getting upgraded! This framework is the standard in the UK for schools to meet to demonstrate that ICT is well managed with clear vision and the appropriate systems and processes in place to ensure it continues to be so.

Since the launch of the Next Generation Learning Charter there have been 4 levels schools can achieve using the SRF tool. The framework is designed not just to be an accreditation scheme, but a school improvement tool allowing staff to assess the school's current performance against national standards and then using guidance to move up through the levels.

Most schools will use the ICT Mark Accredited level as a long term goal - looking to achieve that within 2-3 years of using the tool. Many schools like the opportunity to be "Recognised" for their progress and this is a realistic aim after 1 academic year.



In Redbridge we have many schools that are committed to ICT. From a borough perspective we are able to offer specific support and consultancy to help schools work through this process and move to the next level. The map on the left is available publicly on the Next Generation Learning website.

The changes that Becta are implementing on the SRF come after a period of review and the impact that schools should see will include principally:

· a reduction in the number of elements, strands and aspects
· a more streamlined look and feel based on feedback from colleagues in schools
· an automatic migration of previous data you have entered to the revised framework.

As a borough we believe that this framework is an excellent way to ensure that your school is using and applying ICT in the most sustainable, most cost-effective and most cohesive way. We are happy to work with any Redbridge schools to support this journey up through the Next Generation Learning charter levels.

If you are not currently featured on the map and would like to be, or if you would like further support, please get in touch.

Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

Fronter: what works well?

LGFL are pleased to announce that a range of examples on how schools are using the London MLE, collated by the LGfL Curriculum Consultant team, is now available online at: http://www.goodpractice.lgfl.net/


These examples will be supplemented by a growing range of presentations, media clips and virtual tours. Along with a section for sharing room templates, these examples are intended to complement those already available from Fronter at http://www.londonmle.net/


Mina Patel works in Redbridge as an LGFL Curriculum Consultant and she will be collating further examples of good practice in discussion with schools, and selected rooms will be hosted online in Fronter’s own demonstration site. If you have a good idea that you would like recognised as such please get in touch.


Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

"Inspirational Mathematics Live" Videoconference

LGfL in partnership with Waltham Forest LA, Maths Motivate and the ATM (Association for Teachers of Mathematics) would like to invite all schools to:

“Inspirational Mathematics Live”

For pupils:Thursday 17^th June 2010

(10am – 3pm)

www.mathsvc.lgfl.net

A series of  inspirational maths sessions scheduled across the school day via video conference, aimed at and involving a variety of pupils across key stages 1 to 4. Creative, fun, problem solving and games based in nature, these sessions aim to entertain as well as to leave teachers with thought provoking ideas that can be used in the classroom.

To see primary programme click here:

To see secondary programme click here:

 

Schools wishing to take part must complete the registration here by the end of May.

 

Schools without VC equipment can still participate using their LGfL internet connection, via the live stream.

 

 

Mina Patel

mina.patel@lgfl.org.uk