We believe that all young people should be learning, with, through and about the use of digital and online technologies. Pupils in Ballyclare High School should be able to use digital and online technologies appropriately, effectively and creatively to acquire knowledge, to practise skills and to develop competencies:

• as individuals
• to be creative, self-aware and able to communicate with and work well with others
• as contributors to society
• to act in informed and responsible ways as citizens
• as contributors to the economy
• to be economically aware and active, and to be excellent employees and employers in the 21st century global knowledge economy
• as lifelong learners
• to identify, address and meet their learning needs in formal and informal education settings, working both individually and with others, locally, and at a distance from school

The context

ICT is used in three main ways in the school:

1. As a cross curricular theme at KS3
2. As a learning and teaching medium
3. As a discrete GCSE and A level subject

All pupils and staff are required to subscribe to the Acceptable Use Policy.

• As a cross curricular theme at KS3
• All pupils at KS3 are involved with the CCEA IT @ KS3 scheme which results in a Competence Certificate. This is based around IT skills and capabilities which are demonstrated in four strands on an 8 point scale. In June 2005 92% of the Year 10 group achieved level 7.
• At the moment, pupils have IT classes in years 8 and 10 and these are supplemented by a number of ICT ‘off-timetable’ days in the Learning Centre.
• Portfolios for the scheme contain a mixture of work generated in the ICT classes and from a number of subject areas.
• Subject areas are required to identify, in their schemes of work, where they use ICT to enhance the practice of the learner.

• As a learning and teaching medium
• The school has computers for pupil and staff use in a number of different locations. Some of these areas are in subject specific classrooms, others are in departments and the vast majority of systems are in the network rooms, the Library and the Learning Centre.
• The learning Centre has a Presentation Area which has an Interactive whiteboard and Video Conferencing facilities
• Computers in the IT suites and the Learning Centre can be booked electronically using Staff only area on the school Intranet site.
• All departments have at least one Interactive Whiteboard.
• Staff either have a C2k compatible laptop or an old desktop machine on permanent loan for use at home. All staff have a Memory stick supplied to them by the school.
• Departments are required to include, in their schemes of work, where they intend to use ICT in the teaching and/or assessment of their subject.

• As a discrete GCSE and A level subject

GCSE ICT and Applied GCE ICT are offered, as exam subjects, to all pupils.

The department subscribes to all relevant school policies for:

• Literacy and Numeracy
• Health and Safety
• Child Protection
• Homework, as far the extensively practical aspect of the subject allows
• Assessment and Reporting where additional conditions are applied to all coursework deadlines

A flexible approach to learning and teaching is adopted with extensive use being made of on-line resources. Assessment for learning is central to all reporting.

Whole school strategy

The school has an ET Strategy Team which oversees all ICT use. This group has responsibility for:

• Direct communication with C2k
• Advising departments on Hardware and Software purchases
• Maintaining the School Intranet
• Creating and delivering staff training

To ensure that ICT is an integral part of the ‘big picture’ approach, various members of the Strategy Group also serve on the:

• Skills and Capabilities’ group
• Learning and Teaching group
• Assessment and Reporting Group

and, as such, subscribe to their policies and contribute to their development work.

The school internet site is maintained by a teacher in school with lots of input from both staff and pupils. It is intended to be a window into the life of the school for those who attended in the past and those who may attend in the future.