Creative ICT

Putting the creative use of technology at the heart of the curriculum

Case Studies

Chorlton Park and Creative ICT

Background/Context

Chorlton Park is a large 3 form entry primary school with a large, mixed, catchment area in South Manchester.

In September 2004, the school appointed a new head teacher who was cholrton Park school

keen to develop ICT across the school. We began to research ways of
improving the whole curriculum in the school by expanding the ICT capability. We visited other schools both in Manchester and in Birmingham and met John Sutton, who was then teaching at Crumpsall Lane Primary School in north Manchester.

Working with John we decided upon a consultancy package to help develop ICT at Chorlton Park.

Consultancy Process.

The school prepared a draft ICT Development Plan which had teaching and learning as it’s focus. This was to be a 3 year plan with a vision of applying for the Naacemark.

John came into the school and worked with the ICT co-ordinator to establish realistic manageable short term, medium term and long term goals based on his experience as an ICT co-ordinator and work in the ICT sector. We planned 8 visits which looked at the ICT budget, policies, the role of the co-ordinator, technical support, resources (whiteboards, hardware and software), assessment procedures, staff training (2 staff meetings on whiteboard use and introducing the new computer network), student projects using animation and web-design.

What were the benefits?

Within a very short space of time we had established a clear overview of where we were going with ICT in the school and how that could be embedded in the curriculum.

ICT had been transformed from a reactive to proactive subject.

The role of the ICT co-ordinator was enhanced and supported with regular non-contact time which meant we could network with local high schools and other primary schools in the area.
We developed web-based resources which could be used for multi-media presentations and animations.
The whole school benefited from regular in- house training sessions using IWB’s and software.
We established a group of interested staff and parents who were keen to get involved in new ICT projects, they were asked to trial software and different ways of working with ICT.
We were able to negotiate new contracts and introduce a new network to the school along with acceptable use policies for both staff and pupils.

Five months into the process, there is a new confidence about the use of ICT in the school and we have a direction and vision that we simply did not have before.

Lizzie Wray,

ICT co-ordinator,

Chorlton Park Primary School,

Manchester.

lwray@chorltonpark.manchester.sch.uk