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The Millennium Primary Schools
(MPS) is a pioneering new school in Greenwich built as a practical
demonstration of the Government's vision of the school of the future. This
report has now been published on the case study. Key findings are
given below. The final point is of interest as it is exactly what has
been implemented already in p.c.s.n.
Key findings
- There was widespread acknowledgement that
the ICT skills of both the staff and the pupils had increased.
High-quality training enabled most staff to rapidly develop their
knowledge and skills and respond successfully to the many challenges of
such significant ICT provision.
- ICT, particularly the provision of laptop
computers to each member of the teaching staff, improved teachers'
planning and reduced unnecessary duplication.
- The combination of laptop computers and
interactive whiteboards has made planning high-quality lessons in
advance very much quicker and easier. However, the workload savings have
been offset by increases in the time needed to keep ICT knowledge
current.
- The combination of high-quality software
and readily available hardware meant that the integration of ICT to
enhance teaching across the curriculum, especially numeracy and
literacy, was particularly successful.
- The pupils reported high levels of
computer usage. In particular, the internet was used frequently by over
70 per cent of pupils, compared with only just over 20 per cent from the
comparison school. Also the use of interactive whiteboards, digital
cameras, databases and spreadsheets was extensive.
- Observations and interviews with teachers
identified that ICT was proving to be a dynamic addition to existing
teaching resources. In particular, the visual impact and dynamic aspects
of the interactive whiteboard were extremely effective in engaging
pupils with, and promoting interaction within, lessons.
- It was widely reported that ICT had
improved pupils' motivation, concentration, confidence, self-esteem,
communication skills and enthusiasm. In particular, pupils with special
educational needs (SEN) had benefited.
- Tests introduced by Greenwich LEA to
evaluate pupil ICT competencies revealed that 89 per cent of
Millennium's Year 6 pupils were at National Curriculum Level 5, compared
with only 11 per cent elsewhere in the authority.
- Parents of pupils at MPS were
extremely positive concerning the school's ICT provision and its impact
on teaching and learning. The use of ICT to enhance home-school links,
however, was in its early stages. An interactive website and greater use
of email are planned for the near future.
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