Information and Communication Technology has the potential to enhance the quality of teaching and learning across the Curriculum. Using ICT in the classroom will help pupils cope with the future demand for a higher level of technological knowledge and awareness. As a result this should help to produce a population that feels comfortable with the new technology and one that can adapt to the rapid progress in this field. We aim to achieve this at Devizes School by providing pupils with the basic skills and techniques needed to use the main curriculum software and by providing opportunities to use information and communication technology within the wider curriculum of the school in order to enhance their communication and learning. Our aim is for all pupils to be Information and Communications Technology capable. Pupils will also develop the ability to choose to use ICT as a means of accessing resources.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Our aim is : 

• to develop, in all pupils, confidence and proficiency in the use of ICT in the classroom. • to develop an appreciation and proficiency in the use of ICT in the context of the wider world.
• to enrich learning and to promote both autonomous study and group work.
• to develop the ability to use ICT appropriately and to choose software suitable for a particular task.
• to provide continuity and progression in the 4 strands of the ICT National Curriculum, communicating and handling information, controlling, monitoring and modelling.
• to develop ICT skills through curriculum contexts.
• to create an environment where staff confidently use ICT in their work and where pupils confidently use their ICT skills to enhance their learning to encourage problem-solving and investigation.

ATTITUDES

A high proportion of work using technology will be using shared resources. We aim to foster group work, sharing and collaboration between peers. Caring and respect for equipment and resources will be an integral part of the curriculum.

MANAGEMENT

There is a designated ICT Co-ordinator to oversee the planning related to ICT within the school. The Co-ordinator will be responsible for informing the rest of the staff about new developments and where appropriate for organising (and providing) appropriate training.

The Co-ordinator will monitor the curriculum and report to the Senior Leadership Team annually on progress with regard to the ICT Strategic Plan.

The Cross-curricular ICT group is composed of a Deputy Head, the ICT Co-ordinator, an ICT Technical Support team and a named representative from each department in the school. This responsibility will be delegated by the Head of Department concerned. ICT representatives will be responsible for liaison between the ICT crosscurricular group and their own department. The group will meet a minimum of three times a year when the focus will be on the following:

• Provision of hardware and software within departments and the main ICT rooms
• Codes of practice regarding the use of computer resources
• Development of ICT across the curriculum
• New developments in ICT and arrangements for staff training

CURRICULUM ORGANISATION

There are taught ICT lessons for all pupils in Keystages 3 and 4. In addition ICT will be delivered within subjects in every year group. Students may opt for an extra four ICT lessons at Key Stage 4 and study towards either a ‘Full’ award in GNVQ Intermediate ICT or a GCSE ICT course.

Sixth form

Students may opt to study for the VCE ICT Single Award in the Sixth form.

ACCESS

For all pupils computer access is ensured through the discrete ICT programme. There are five computer rooms. All rooms are bookable for cross curricular ICT use. There are several small clusters of computers across the school. The Devizes School Curriculum Network is accessible by students when working at home or elsewhere via an internet connection. Students have access to the Devizes School Intranet, shared documents and their own working area (My Work).

Computer rooms are open every lunch time for supervised use. Internet access is available across the school network, including the library, the sixth form area and the staff room.

CROSS-CURRICULAR ICT

All teachers are encouraged to use ICT where appropriate and include this in their planning. The ICT Co-ordinator ensures that teachers have a wide variety of software (suitable for the curricular areas and the pupils). Access to computers will be integrated as part of normal class activity. It will include individual, paired, small group and some class-based activities. It is the responsibility of all teaching staff to ensure that all pupils have access to ICT relevant to their subject area. It is anticipated that the NOF training will continue to support this requirement.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Activities will be planned according to the different levels of children’s skills and previous knowledge. ICT will be delivered through a variety of teaching and learning methods e.g. whole class, group and individual work. Differentiation and progression will be ensured by a variety of approaches such as:

• same activity but different expectations of outcome
• same theme but different levels of input
• allowing for different pace of working
• different groupings of children
• developing different modules of work at different times of the year for different abilities

ASSESSMENT

Key Stage 3

Assessment of ICT will take place during ICT lessons and through other subjects, however clear learning objectives will support the focus of accessed activities. Pupil achievement will be recorded in the ICT record. Individual pupil records, with sample evidence, will be kept in a pupil file by the ICT Co-ordinator. Subject staff will add to these records any specific work agreed with the ICT Co-ordinator. The individual records in the form of skills and techniques will be translated into an overall judgement of ICT capability - using the guidance from QCA. This will form the basis of the report to parents.

Key Stage 4

Details of the GNVQ Intermediate and GCSE assessment policy are available upon request from the ICT Coordinator.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

The school recognises the advantages of the use of ICT by children with special educational needs. Using ICT can:

• address children’s individual needs
• increase access to the curriculum
• enhance language skills

Pupils are taught in mixed ability groups and therefore care is taken to differentiate according to ability by modifying activities to suit the ability levels. ICT staff refer to Individual Education Plans for pupils to ensure that appropriate support is provided.

The ICT Department works in close partnership with the Learning Strategies Department to develop the use of non-text-based information such as Multi-media CD-ROMs, particularly for use with SEN pupils.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The school will promote equal opportunities for computer usage and fairness of distribution of IT resources. The school will monitor the level of access to computers in the home environment to ensure no pupils are unduly disadvantaged.

Positive images of computer use by children of both sexes will be promoted.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Any faults with the ICT equipment on the school site should be reported to an ICT technician or the ICT Coordinator. The ICT technicians will aim to provide staff and pupils with support in a variety of ways by:

• ensuring that the network is working efficiently at all times and all peripheral devices are maintained
• responding effectively to faults reported
• supporting subject staff in the preparation of ICT resources and with technical aspects of cross-curricular ICT activities
• maintaining and promoting the use of the School web-page and intranet by both staff and pupils

HEALTH AND SAFETY

All equipment will be checked annually under the Electricity at Work Regulation 1989. The Health and Safety at Work Act (1 January 1993), European Directive deals with requirements for computer positioning and quality of screen. Whilst this legislation only applies to people at work we seek to provide conditions for all pupils which meet these requirements.

This policy applies to all network users – staff and students. The aim of the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is to provide rules governing access to ICT facilities* which are consistent, and in agreement with the Data Protection Act and other laws and regulations, as well as the acceptable use policy of the School’s Internet Service Provider (ISP). Please read this document carefully, on login you will be asked to accept the terms of the AUP. Only then will access to the School’s ICT facilities be permitted. Listed below are the provisions of this agreement. If any user violates these provisions, access to services may be denied and the user may be subject to disciplinary action.

*ICT facilities include: The school ICT network and computer equipment, software and database systems, Email and Internet access.

1. Personal Responsibility I understand that I will be held responsible for any inappropriate or unlawful actions. Any activities occurring under my account are my responsibility. I will accept personal responsibility for reporting any misuse of the ICT facilities to an appropriate staff member.

The ICT facilities are provided to support education and research in accordance with the educational goals and objectives of the School. If you become aware of a security problem or any misuse of any facilities, notify an appropriate member of staff at once. Never demonstrate the problem to another user.

2. Security I will only access the facilities using the account(s) allocated to me, and I will not reveal my password to anyone. Security on any computer system is a high priority. All use of the system must be under your own account. If you think someone has obtained your password, change it and contact a member of staff immediately.

3. Acceptable Use

I will not use the facilities in any way that would disrupt use of the services by others.

• All reasonable care should be taken to prevent damage to, or loss of school ICT equipment and systems.
• Do not interfere with any cables, connections, printer or monitor settings. Please report any faults or problems to the appropriate member of staff.
• Do not turn off, or attempt to turn off, workstations. These are shut down centrally by ICT support at the end of the day. Staff should ensure that projectors are shut down when not in use.
• Software should not be installed without the agreement of ICT support staff, and never in knowing breach of licence terms.
• Laptops should be connected to the school network at least once a month to ensure anti-virus and other software updates are installed.
• Anybody taking equipment off site agrees to accept full responsibility for that equipment, including any loss or damage. Loan equipment must be signed for and returned on or before the agreed date/time in good working order. I will comply with the rules appropriate to the use of any external networks or computing resources to which I have access.

Creation, storage or transmission of any material in violation of any United Kingdom or other national laws is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material or material protected by trade laws. Use for personal or commercial activities is generally not acceptable, unless agreed in advance by a member of SLT. I will not cause, or attempt to cause, any harm or damage to the ICT facilities either by deliberate action or by any attempt to bypass or over-ride the safeguards in place.

Vandalism includes but is not limited to:

• the creation, introduction or use of computer viruses or other malicious software
• any attempt to physically damage computer hardware or systems
• the unauthorised deletion or alteration of data from its place of storage
• the exploitation of any faults or failures in the system safeguards

I will use any communications systems which I have access to in a responsible manner. I understand that users under 18 are not permitted to access any chat services or social network services available on the Internet.

Social networking refers to a category of Internet applications to connect friends, business partners, or other individuals together using a variety of tools.

Electronic mail (Email) may be made available via the Internet or through the School’s own e-mail system. Users should be aware that email is not a secure or private method of communication, nor is it possible to guarantee delivery in a specified time. The sending or receiving of any email which contains inappropriate material is strictly forbidden. This material includes, but is not limited to, pornography, unethical or illegal requests, racism, sexism, inappropriate language, any use which may be likely to cause offence. It is also forbidden to send large volume Emails (Spamming) or chain emails (‘forward this email to 20 of your friends…’).

Under no circumstances may a student’s address, phone number, e-mail address or other personal details be given to anybody on the Internet.

I will abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette (‘netiqette’).

These rules include, but are not limited to the following:

• Be polite. Never send or encourage others to send abusive messages. Remember that humour and satire are very often misinterpreted.
• Use appropriate language. Remember that you are a representative of the school on a global public system. You may be alone with your computer, but what you say and do can be viewed by others. Never swear, use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language.
• Be brief. Few people will bother to read a long message.
• Proof read your message to ensure that it is error free and easy to understand.
• Cite references for any facts that you present.
• Respect the rights and beliefs of others.

I understand that online purchase of goods or services is only permitted for users over 18. I will not use School printers for personal or non-school.

All documents should be carefully checked and previewed before printing. If multiple copies are required these should be photocopied from the original printout. If I am using a computer for recreational purposes I will be expected to give up that computer for anyone requiring it for study or other school-related work. During lesson time the school has a strict policy of not allowing access to computer games. However, pupils may access computer games in the lunch time computer club in A3 on Thursday lunchtime under the supervision of the ICT support staff.

4. Privacy

I understand that ICT Support staff may monitor my use of the system and its services. This includes:

• checking the data stored in users’ personal folders and any removable media used on the network (e.g. floppy disks, USB drives, CDs) 
• monitoring and logging of any network activity, internet access, printing
• remote monitoring of workstations

Students’ full names and other details will never be stored together with their pictures in any publicly accessible areas without prior permission. This includes the School’s Internet site and is for the safety of the students.

5. Sanctions

I understand that abuse of the ICT facilities or violation of the above policy may result in disciplinary action in line with general school policy. Anybody determined to have abused or vandalised the system may have their access rights reviewed and may have to pay for any damage caused. When applicable, police or local authorities may be involved In cases of students abusing internet access, the procedure outlined below will be followed:

• The student will not be able to carry out searches outside a set list of sites for one month.
• During this time, the students’ working area will be closely monitored.
• After one month, the students’ area will continue to be monitored and any repeat of inappropriate action may result in the permanent removal of internet access.

6. Disclaimer

Devizes School makes no guarantee of any kind whether expressed or implied, for the network service it is providing. Devizes School will not be responsible for any damages suffered whilst on this system. These damages include loss of data as a result of delays, non-deliveries, mis-deliveries or service interruptions caused by the system or elements of the system, or your errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the network or other information systems is at your own risk. Devizes School specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy of information obtained via its Internet services.