Which is the best whole school?

Following recently news from the political front line Becta have unfortunately not been able to trumpet the ICT Excellence Awards 2010. That hasn't changed the fact that judging has been done, inspectors have visited and a short list has been published. Two of our own Redbridge schools are waiting to hear the final decision on who is the best whole school for the London area.

Best whole-school - London

• Churchfields Infants' School, South Woodford, London
• Gearies Infant School, Ilford, Essex
• Scargill Infant School, Rainham, Essex

We are incredibly impressed that Gearies Infants and Churchfields Infants have been shortlisted. There are well over 2200 schools in London and for two Redbridge schools to be in the top 3 is a incredible achievement. It is worth mentioning that the third school in the list is from neighbouring borough Havering so here in the East there is clearly much good practice.

The winners will be announced in October and we look forward to hearing the final result. In the meantime, these 3 schools deserve the praise that is due for being shortlisted. Well done!

Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

Home Access ICT Grant - Thanks a million!

This government grant was designed for families with students studying at KS2 and KS3 who did not have access to ICT at home. Each family could apply for a computer and a year's worth of internet connectivity fully paid for by the Home Access Grant scheme. Many of our schools were very proactive in ensuring their students who were eligible put in strong applications.

Across Redbridge we supported 2080 successful applications across 67 schools. In addition Social Services and the Children Looked After Support Service made a further 30 successful applications on behalf of foster carers.

Given that each grant was worth £528 the success of this project is equivalent to an amazing £1,114,080 additional ICT funding to support students studying in Redbridge.

Well done all those of you who supported this project. The impact of this project is already being seen by the teachers who work with these students, but it will only become truly measurable as these students reach the end of KS4 and start taking public exams. Let us wait with hope to see what a £1m seed into the collective futures of Redbridge children will grow into.

Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

Fronter Training`Hands On`@ RTC

Fronter Training (Primary and Secondary hands on workshop )– Tuesday Oct 12^th, Teachers Centre

• The course will run from 9. 15am -3.45pm at the Redbridge Teachers Centre.
• The training is for teachers with all different levels of experience in using Fronter.
• Please go to www.redbridgepdc.org.uk to book your place.
• The workshops will be ran by Mina Patel (LGfL). Rosemary Hunt( Fronter), Rob Spriddle ( Redbridge Primary) and Alex Rees (Redbridge LA).
• The day course will consist of four different hands on workshops where you may choose which workshop to attend.
• Please bring your own lap tops with you to enable you to access the wireless internet connection at the Teachers Centre.
• Agenda below:

Time	Trainer	Title
9.15 – 10.30 (session 1)	Rosemary Hunt	Using Fronter for Foundation and Early years
	Mina Patel	Using LGfL content and Fronter
10.30 - 10.45 BREAK
10.45 -12.00 (session 2)	Rosemary Hunt	Using Fronter Learning Paths
	Rob Spriddle	Using Fronter for Literacy
12.00 – 12.45 LUNCH
12.45 – 2.00 (session 3)	Rob Spriddle	Using Fronter in Maths
	Alex Rees	Using Fronter for Heads for Department
2.00 – 3.15 (session 4)	Mina Patel / Rosemary Hunt	Primary Lesson Plans( KS2 )
	Alex Rees	Using Fronter for Student council
3.15 – 3.45 ( END)	Rosemary and Mina	Show and tell & Fronter Tips and Tricks

What is a TeachMeet?

Learn something new, be amazed, amused and enthused. This is an informal gathering of those curious about teaching and technology. Anyone can share great ideas they've trialled in their classrooms, ask important questions or simply sign up to take part in learning conversations. Everyone is welcome to join in: teachers from all types of schools, teaching all subjects and age groups. The main part of TeachMeet is hearing stories about learning from teachers. It is a chance for teachers to hear ideas from each other and be inspired by colleagues, along with a whole bucket load of networking to boot!

If you have never been to a TeachMeet, then the good news is that there are two coming up in our local area.

TeachMeet Essex will be held on Tuesday 19th October 2010 at The Pioneer School, Basildon, Essex, starting at 5 pm.

For more information and to sign up-
http://teachmeet.pbworks.com/TeachMeetEssex

TeachMeet East London will be held on Wednesday 3rd November at the CEME centre, Rainham, Essex, starting at 6pm.

For more information and to sign up -
http://teachmeet.pbworks.com/TeachMeet-East-London-2010

Dawn Hallybone

dawn.hallybone@redbridge.gov.uk

National citizenship film competition for 11-16 year olds

This creative filmmaking competition is open to 11-16 year olds in schools and youth groups across the UK. The competition theme asks students: 'If you could make one law what would it be?'. With support from Parliament's Education Service, teachers and youth group leaders can help participants explore their understanding of lawmaking and its impact on their lives by producing a short film clip. Shortlisted filmmakers will be invited to Parliament for a screening, celebration and award ceremony.

On the 22nd October there will be a free one-day course that will help you combine filmmaking and lawmaking. This practical course will focus on creative cross-curricular planning using the Lights, Camera, Parliament! project as a stimulus for the delivery of Citizenship, ICT, English and Media Studies in your school.

For more information click: http://www.parliament.uk/lightscameraparliament

LGfL Primary Schools’ Conference - 1st November 2010

There are a wide range of relevant seminars for teachers to choose from, plus key presentations in the plenary sessions. We are very pleased to welcome Professor Stephen Heppell ‘the UK’s leading online education guru’ as our opening keynote speaker.

Mark Ducker, Headteacher of Gonville Primary School, who featured at the LGfL Consortium Conference in July, will explain how he has used the London MLE to great effect to drive school improvement, as well as saving considerable time and money. This presentation follows the Ofsted framework and reveals how Ofsted inspectors came to upgrade their assessment of Mark’s school from good to outstanding before even entering the school through prior access to the school’s MLE.

While there is a strong focus on the use of learning platforms, and the London MLE in particular (the conference is jointly organised with Fronter), the event provides an invaluable opportunity for schools to increase the benefit they derive from a wide range of LGfL services and on-line content as well as the opportunity to discuss individual issues and gain ‘hands on’ experience with LGfL Curriculum Consultants and LGfL supplier partners.

The date has been carefully chosen, being the first Monday after the half-term break, when some schools may wish to take advantage of an Inset closure day and bring the entire teaching staff for a full day of CPD.

As with the successful Secondary event held in July there is a small delegate charge of £48+vat which includes lunch and refreshments through the day. There will also be an opportunity for delegates to take a conducted tour of the stadium at the end of the Conference for an additional £10 fee.

Places are limited and registration is essential (ASAP), and available via www.events.lgfl.net.

Brian Durrant, LGFL

ICT Transition Project

Woodlands Junior School, South Park Primary school and Loxford School took part in a transition project to help year 6 pupils find out more about their Secondary school. The pupils were all added into a shared room. Year 6 pupils were each asked to post questions to year 7 about life at Loxford.

The Year 7 pupils created ppt presentations to answer their questions. Year 6 then voted for their favourite presentation using a debate forum to describe why it was the best one.

Mina Patel

mina.patel@lgfl.org.uk

Churchfields Infants’ School, MLE Good Practice

Churchfields Infants’ School in Redbridge have been using the London MLE extensively for all their classes. Three video tours include examples of parental engagement, showcasing work and extending learning from Nursery to Year 2. See examples on the Embedding ICT good practice page.

Mina Patel

mina.patel@lgfl.org.uk

Multimodal Literacy at KS3

Year 8 pupils at Wanstead High School and Oaks Park High School both created multimodal books using windows movie maker and MS PowerPoint. The books were uploaded into a shared room in the MLE. Pupils voted for their favourite books and wrote reviews for each other’s presentations. Sarah Dyer, children’s book illustrator, also wrote her review onto the forums and met the pupils via Video conference to discuss their stories.



Mina Patel

mina.patel@lgfl.org.uk

Primary TA ICT Course BOOKING NOW!

Starting next week will be the Primary ICT TA Course.

Over six sessions TAs will be taught a wide range of ICT skills that they will be able to use in the classroom.

We will be covering:

• How to use Interactive Whiteboards
• How to use digital cameras in the classroom.
• How to use a range of Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Foundation software.
• How to effectively use Web resources.
• How to support SEN and LA children using ICT.

Each school can send a maximum of 2 TAs. No more than 15 schools will be able to attend so places are limited.

They will need to come with a digital camera which is charged and the correct cables and a USB Key to save any work.

If you are interested can you please book all sessions via PDC. (Seach for ICT TA) TA's are expected to attend all sessions and complete some short gap tasks within school. Sessions run from 9AM till 3PM.

Primary ICT TA 1 (six day) 16 September 2010

Primary ICT TA 2 (six day) 24 November 2010

Primary ICT TA 3 (six day) 20 January 2011

Primary ICT TA 4 (six day) 23 March 2011

Primary ICT TA 5 (six day) 18 May 2011

Primary ICT TA 6 (six day) 22 June 2011

Thanks

Nic Hughes

ICT AST and Advisory Teacher

Maths Transition Project - Manic Measuring

Beal High School working with its two feeder schools, Redbridge Primary and Parkhill Juniors, all took part in a manic measuring project. The year 7 and 6 pupils had to collect data about their schools and add it to a forum in a shared room. Then the pupils were given the task to present their data, and interpret it. They then uploaded their findings into a folder for each other to see.



Mina Patel
mina.patel@lgfl.org.uk

ICT Consultancy 2010-11 - what's on the menu?

Within Redbridge there is a range of additional ICT consultancy available to schools - the 'menu' is listed below. All support packages can be tailored to suit your own school context. If you would like access to one of these packages please email tina.pennells@redbridge.gov.uk in the first instance who will be able to send out a detailed description of what each heading might entail. She will also collate the requests for termly prioritisation.

The list of consultancy packages is as follows:

1: STRATEGIC ICT COORDINATION AND LEADERSHIP
1.1 Whole School ICT Leadership & Management
1.2 Planning Your School’s ICT Curriculum
1.3 Ensuring Quality ICT Learning
1.4 Robust Assessment Of ICT Capability
1.5 Sustainable ICT Professional Development
1.6 Resourcing ICT In Your School

2. MAXIMISING LEARNING PLATFORM EFFECTIVENESS
2.1 MLE Initial Implementation Meeting
2.2 Learning Platform Progress Review
2.3 Teaching With Fronter: Basic Training 1 & 2
2.4 Teaching With Fronter: Advanced Features

3: HANDS-ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
3.1 Interactive Whiteboard Usage
3.2 New/Inexperienced Subject Leader Support
3.3 ICT Teaching Support

4: OTHER
4.1 Innovative Technology In Learning Projects
4.2 Games Based Learning Projects
4.3 eSafety Strategy Review
4.4 eSafety Parents’ Presentation
4.5 Enhancing Learning Using LGFL Services4.6 Cluster Projects

All Redbridge schools continue to access ‘Universal Support’ for ICT in the shape of:

• Email and telephone
• Our blog: http://redbridgeictsubjectleaders.blogspot.com/
• No-cost events held at Redbridge Teacher Centre: http://www.redbridgepdc.org.uk/
  Technician Forums / Hands-on Fronter training / Primary Subject Leader Meetings, …
• Chargeable courses held at Redbridge Teacher Centre: http://www.redbridgepdc.org.uk/
  Fronter administrator training / FITS accreditation / Webfronter training…

(ICT Technical Support can be obtained from the IT Unit by contacting gary.jelks@redbridge.gov.uk.)

Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk