In England

Institution:                             Morpeth School, London, England

Education level:                      Lower secondary, (11 - 16)

Description:

Morpeth School is larger than average and serves an area of significant socio-economic deprivation. Its students come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds with those of Bangladeshi heritage forming just over half of the school's population. The total number of pupils on roll in this school is 1165. A high proportion of the students speak English as an additional language. The proportion of students who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities is higher than average and the proportion with a statement of special educational need is very high.

In 2007 OFSTED reported that the school offers an outstanding curriculum. It has done much in recent years to extend opportunities for work related learning and the use of information and communication technology.

Pupils in Years 8 and 9 have the opportunity to complete the ECDL (European Computer Driving License) qualification. This scheme is run with the EBP (Education Business Partnership). Pupils in Years 10 and 11 can study ICT at GCSE and NVQ levels as well as take the CiDA (Certificate in Digital Applications). The school also provides basic ICT skills classes and free internet access to adults in the community.

All the ICT classrooms are furnished with 30 workstations and an interactive whiteboard.

For more information visit the school website : http://morpethschool.org.uk/

Institution:                             Stepney Green Maths & Computing College, London, England

Education level:                      Lower secondary, (11 - 16, boys only)

Description:

Stepney Green is a smaller than average boys' school. The total number of pupils on roll is 768. The vast majority of students are from Bangladeshi heritage, although other ethnic groups are represented in small numbers. A very high proportion speak English as an additional language.

The school works in challenging circumstances; the proportion of students eligible for free school meals, at four times the national average, is very high. Many, but not all, of the students come from backgrounds that can be considered economically disadvantageous. A far greater proportion of students join the school at times other than normally expected; often these students are new to the English language. The proportion of students who have a statement of educational need is average, while the proportion of students who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities is above average.

The school gained specialist status in mathematics and computing in 2005. In 2008, an OFSTED inspection rated information communication technology (ICT) standards at the school as above average and also across the curriculum, as most school subjects have incorporated computing strands into their programmes of study.

The school has a library with ICT facilities and a Learning Support Centre, also fully equipped with ICT. All classrooms have an interactive whiteboard.

For more information visit the school website : http://www.stepneygreen.towerhamlets.sch.uk/ and

http://www.enterpriseeye.org.uk/home/?sid=61

Institution:                             Institute of Education, London, England

Education level:                     Teacher education institution (age 19+)

Description:

The Institute of Education is a leading centre for ICT in education in England. It offers an initial teacher training programme, a long established and very successful Masters degree in ICT in Education, and a large body of research students. It is involved in a wide range of research and development projects, and strong links with other bodies in the Institute of Education concerned with the ICT and education, such as the London Knowledge Lab (LKL) and the Learning Technologies Unit (LTU), Members of staff are actively engaged in teaching, research and publishing in all aspects of ICT in education.

It currently has 20 students following the Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) course and has been graded A for the quality of its provision.

See http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/index.html , http://www.lkl.ac.uk/cms/index.php and

http://www.lkl.ac.uk/ltu/index.php  

Institution:                             Prince Albert Infants & Junior School, Birmingham, England

Education level:                      Primary and lower secondary (6 - 16)

Description:                         

Heavy investments in ICT such as whiteboards (for Years 1-3), laptops (for staff and some pupils), a sound system in every classroom, the creation of a combined media learning centre which is able to accommodate large numbers of pupils and classroom application system.  The school had not been well advanced in this area previously and so an enormous amount of ICT training has taken place recently, and the school has managed a very rapid development of the use of ICT to support teaching and learning.

Institution:                             Hampstead School, Cricklewood, London, England

Education level:                      Lower and Upper secondary, (11 - 19)

Description:

The school is designated as a Technology College and has been picked out by OFSTED as an area of excellence. ICT is integrated into the curriculum, with students using new technologies to enhance learning within their subjects. The school has a modern PC-based network connecting all parts of the school site. There are nine inter-connecting network areas with class sets of computers as well as many stand alones. These provide all students and staff with their own personal work areas which include full but controlled Internet access and e-mail addresses.
In addition, the school has upgraded the library into an Independent Learning Centre, combining traditional library facilities with new technologies. Students are encouraged to become independent learners, accessing the facilities in their own time. It includes a wide range of books, periodicals, audio-visual material, ICT tools, multi-media CD ROMs and Internet access.
The school has won an award for their ‘Welcome to Geography’ website: http://www.geography.ndo.co.uk/
The school demonstrates the integration of ICT across the curriculum and the encouragement of pupils to become independent learners. It also shows how significant investment in ICT can transform the learning environment. This is done in a school environment where over 100 pupils at the school are refugees and more than 50 different languages are spoken.

Institution:                             Greensward College, Hockley, Essex

Education level:                      Lower and Upper secondary, (11 - 18)

Description:                

Greensward is a co-educational comprehensive school with DfES designated Technology College status. Gaining this status started the ICT innovation 7 years ago. The school makes extensive use of ICT throughout the school and is involved in a number of projects including acting as a regional Cisco Academy, part of the South East England Virtual Education Action Zone, a consordium og 19 schools in Essex and Bromley and part of the SAM Learning network. The school has been focused on ICT innovation for many years and spent approximately £300,000 last year on this. The school is trying to get funds for ICT by working in partnerships with private companies. The school which is situated in a semi-rural/suburban area has 1523 students (almost all of white British background) who can use 312 computers at school.
Teaching about and through ICT is seen as a reflection of new economic systems, as students need to be equipped with skills and ability to adapt. The school tries to create an atmosphere where the students wants to learn and not just learn when they are told. The school tries to find the appropriate use of ICT - not to overuse eg. PowerPoint presentation all the time. ICT has played a large part in stimulating pupils' skills of debate, challenge and argument - essential skills of life.