Information Communication Technology
Welcome to the ICT Faculty at Emerson Park School
STAFF:
Mr Trauernicht (Head of ICT Faculty)
Ms Ross-McIntyre
Mr Phillips
Mrs Sumbal
Mr Sumbal
AIMS:
We acknowledge the relevance of ICT in the daily lives of our pupils and the very important role it plays in how they perceive information. We strive to plan and deliver an ICT curriculum that is enriched and relevant to the technologically advanced world we live in today. We aim to equip our pupils with necessary capabilities and skills to become successful participants in this ever changing milieu.
Our ICT curriculum will empower our pupils to apply their ICT capabilities across the curriculum and develop their independent learning skills and confidence. By embedding core capabilities, our subject supports communication and collaboration amongst all our pupils across the school, thus enabling them to use technology to share ideas and reflect on their learning.
Our pupils have access to a wide range of information and tools on the internet and we aim to use these resources to excite and inspire them. Our success lies in preparing our young people to participate in a digital world, responsibly and with confidence.
The ICT Curriculum:
Key Stage 3 (Years 7 - 9)
Pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 follow an interactive course called ICT4Life. Our Key Stage 3 course fully adheres to the National Statutory Programme of Study for ICT. A wide range of topics are covered through all the units, giving pupils the opportunity to use a wide range of ICT tools to solve problems and develop strong ICT capabilities.
Being interactive, our curriculum provides ample opportunity for our youngsters to communicate, collaborate and share ideas. Acceptable use of ICT and staying safe is embedded early on and pupils develop skills and capabilities to recognise issues of risk, safety and responsibility surrounding the use of ICT.
We have embedded the use of a Virtual Learning Environment where our parents and pupils can access the Active Book and other resources to assist in homework and promote distance learning. Through our VLE pupils can submit work digitally and parents can track progress and receive updates in real time. Pupils also collaborate via the VLE through school e-mail and virtual directories.
Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)
The OCR Level 2 Nationals in ICT have been developed to recognise learners' skills, knowledge and understanding of Information and Communication Technology functions, environments and operations. Our Keys Stage 4 pupils carry out a range of tasks that have been designed to recognise their achievements in a modern, practical way that is relevant to the workplace. Although these qualifications do not certificate competence on the job, they are work-related qualifications which will support progression to an NVQ once a candidate is in the workplace.
The OCR Nationals specification aims to:
- develop learner's knowledge and understanding of the Information and Communication Technology sector
- develop learner's skills, knowledge and understanding in contexts that are directly relevant to employment situations, thereby enhancing their employability within the Information and Communication Technology sector
- develop learner's ability to work autonomously and effectively in an Information and Communication Technology context
- enable learners to develop knowledge and understanding in specialist areas of Information and Communication Technology, and demonstrate the skills needed to participate in the operation and development of ICT specific or ICT non-specific business organisations
- encourage progression by assisting in the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that learners will need to access further or higher education programmes or occupational training on a full-time or part-time basis
- encourage progression by assisting in the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that learners will need to enter employment or enhance their current employment status
- promote interaction between employers, centres and learners by relating teaching and assessment to real organisations.
All OCR National units are centre-assessed and externally moderated by OCR. There are no timetabled exams for this qualification; pupils complete the qualification according to our own Schemes of Work.
The full award and units from this qualification are graded as:
- Pass,
- Merit or
- Distinction
These grades are then translated into GCSE’s as follows:
- Pass = Grade C at GCSE
- Merit = Grade B at GCSE, and
- Distinction = Grade A at GCSE
AQA - Entry Level Certficate
This specification we offer links with the National Curriculum Programme of Study at Key Stage 3 in Information and Communication Technology. It provides for the learning and assessment of those pupils for whom GCSE Information and Communication Technology courses are not appropriate. The subject content includes aspects of topics contained within the Programme of Study for Information and Communication Technology.
This course mainly appeals to two main types of user:
- Those who provide solely for the ICT education of candidates whose attainment is likely to be below grade G of GCSE. The externally-set assessment tasks have been specially constructed to ensure accessibility to such candidates.
- Those who provide ICT education for groups containing candidates of GCSE Foundation Tier ability and below
This specification has the added advantage of allowing us to defer entry decisions until February of Year 11. The teaching and learning scheme we follow for this specification provides well designed studies, investigative and practical ICT. This course builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills acquired in programmes of study at Key Stage 3 of the National Curriculum. However, it is not necessary for candidates to have studied Information and Communication Technology before commencing work on this specification and no prior knowledge of the subject is necessary.
This Entry Level Certificate specification complies with the following:
- Levels 1-3 of the National Curriculum requirements for Information and Communication Technology;
- Entry Level Requirements;
- The Arrangements for the Statutory Regulation of External Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Common Criteria.