Heathside School has a very successful ICT department that teaches students ICT skills across all year groups. ICT pass rates at GCSE and A-Level are considerably higher than national averages, with 89% of GCSE students and 98% of A-Level students achieving the highest grades. Ofsted inspections praised the department for stimulating teaching, excellent learning materials, and helping all students achieve above expected levels. The department ensures students leave well-equipped with vital ICT skills for life and work.

1. ICT @ Heathside School
Success at their fingertips
www.hsict.com

2. ICT - a continuing success story
• ICT taught across all year groups
to all students
• GCSE pass rates considerably
higher than national average
• 89% of GCSE full course students
achieved A*-C grades
• 98% pass rate at A/AS levels
ICT @ Heathside www.hsict.com

3. Ofsted Report – ICT Department
Key Stage 3 January 2005
“ The good stimulating teaching in Years
7 to 9 ensures that all students make
further progress.
By the end of Year 9, nearly every
student is achieving above the level
expected nationally because of the
excellent learning materials that have
been specially adapted and effectively
organised for each lesson.
ICT @ Heathside
”
www.hsict.com

4. Introducing vital skills - Year 7
• All students have one 50 minute
lesson per week
• Emphasis on securing skills
• Word processing
• Spreadsheet
• Desktop publishing
• Internet
ICT @ Heathside www.hsict.com

5. Consolidating skills - Years 8 & 9
• More emphasis on project work
• Research skills developed
• Safe and effective use of the
Internet
• Multimedia
• Data storage and searching
ICT @ Heathside www.hsict.com

6. Ofsted Report – ICT Department
Key Stage 4 January 2005
“ The GCSE students’ achievements and
standards of work are in line with the
higher grades. In lessons, students co-
operate very well and help each other. This
helps to make learning more effective and
further raises achievement. Lower-
attaining students and those with special
educational needs are directed towards the
GNVQ intermediate course. They make
good progress because of the very good
”
planning and sensitive teaching that builds
students’ confidence.
ICT @ Heathside www.hsict.com

7. Skills for all of life - GCSE ICT
• All students follow an ICT course in
years 10 and 11, to GCSE or DiDA
• Coursework teaches thinking,
planning and implementation
• Theory taught by researching and
investigating
• 1:1 student:computer ratio
ICT @ Heathside www.hsict.com

8. Ofsted Report – ICT Department
Sixth Form January 2005
“ Year 12 students have good achievement in
developing their literacy, problem-solving
and presentation skills … Year 13 students
were seen to have outstanding achievement
in these areas when imaginative teaching
methods created competitive lessons that
engaged all students … Teaching and
learning are very good overall; some
teaching seen was outstanding due to the
energy and fun injected into the lesson, and
”
the excellent planning of the learning
activities.
ICT @ Heathside www.hsict.com

9. Moving on - ICT in the Sixth Form
• Emphasis on thinking through
information-based issues
• Management, technology, ethics
• Practical work encourages project
management skills
ICT @ Heathside www.hsict.com

10. Equipping students - the network
• 200+ stations available for students
• 50+ laptops with wireless access
• All computers have broadband
Internet access with 10Mb stream
• Most ICT lessons have 1:1 student
computer ration
• Full-time network manager
ICT @ Heathside www.hsict.com

11. To infinity and beyond - the future
• A full development plan ensuring that
technology remains up to date
• All network stations renewed in last two
years on a 3 year rolling program
• Interactive whiteboards available in
many areas
• Wireless network covers the whole site
• Virtual learning coming on stream now
ICT @ Heathside www.hsict.com