ICT Facility Award

sponsored by FrogTrade
Awarded to the educational establishment in the UK that has made outstanding progress in the provision of a first class environment for the teaching of ICT and related subjects.

2009 Winner: South Rise Primary School, London

South Rise Primary School is combining literacy lessons with ICT to make students more excited and more involved with their learning in hands-on, practical projects throughout the school. This is inspiring them to make best use of the technologies and resources available to them.

The school's new ICT suite is equipped with 30 state-of-the-art computers, all with 19-inch flat screen monitors. Children have been given access to podcasting websites to enable them to upload their work to the web as well as within school. Year 6 classes use audacity software to produce multi-layered tracks including adverts, jingles and longer pieces of DJ work.

Digital storytelling groups let the children use digital photography and 'Comic Life' software to create comic books, storyboards, posters and information leaflets. These are extremely popular, and examples of the students work are displayed on the school linked website gettingintoliteracy.com, a project which documents whats has been achieved.

Children and parents worked together on the school's first film project - to make a video all about the school's Enrichment Programme on Friday afternoons. Digital video equipment is used to take pictures and record videos of the activities taking place around the school on a Friday afternoon. Children in Year 5 have started to learn about film making and are planning projects  to record and edit a professional video, starting by practising with video cameras on a trip to the Royal Albert Hall. By practising speaking and listening skills, pupils learn to gain confidence rapidly.

The school is committed to sourcing up-to-the-minute technologies to introduce to the students. With its wealth of activities,  South Rise Primary School is giving its pupils a first class introduction into the creative use of ICT.

Commended:

Eaton Valley Primary School, West Midlands
Belgrave CE Primary School, Staffordshire