About Bow School › Departments
Information & Communication Technology (Ict)
The Department continues to undergo massive development. ICT is one of the two lead subjects in the specialist college and we are piloting the new 14-19 Diploma in IT. ICT is taught in dedicated specialist rooms in the Heritage Building. The equipment is regularly updated and upgraded to meet our ever increasing demand for resources. Students have facilities to work creatively with a range of hardware and programs including those to produce video, sound, animations, still images, games and to control events. Our philosophy is based on developing confident and independent ICT users who will continue to use the capability gained at Bow throughout their lives and in many circumstances.
We are reviewing the Key Stage Three curriculum in line with the new National Strategy for ICT and enhancing whole school ICT capability. This is being supported through a computer at home scheme for all year 7 students and the development of a virtual learning environment (VLE) to enable connection to the school curriculum and data through password entry from any computer at home or anywhere with Internet access.
At Key Stage Four, both courses offered are work related and are designed to meet the needs and aspirations of Bow students.
Curriculum Summaries for the Academic Year 2008 - 2009
Year 7
At Key Stage 3, we use modified National Strategy materials to teach the National Curriculum Programme of Study. The course is taught practically through projects that include:
- Personal multimedia presentation with text, images and sound
- Constructing and using a database to analyse information and draw conclusions
- Building a mathematical spreadsheet to process and model data for making predictions
- Researching the worldwide web, editing and reporting findings
- Using computers to control events
- Manipulating images to make an original CD case cover
- Game authoring
Year 8
This is a continuation of the Key Stage 3 Scheme of Work. Units cover:
- Building a web site
- Printing a school newspaper
- Constructing and using a financial spreadsheet model
- E-debating
- Writing formal and informal documents
- Developing a Global warming campaign
Year 9
This is a bridging year when students review and are thoroughly tested on their ICT capabilities and skills. They can then make informed decisions on which pathway offered at KS4 will be the most appropriate for them.
Year 10
All students have discrete ICT lessons. Students with enthusiasm for the subject can choose to do a level 1 14-19 Diploma or increase the number of OCR Nationals units to achieve the equivalent of 4 GCSE's in ICT. From the 23 units offered by OCR, we have constructed different pathways to meet the varying needs of students - business, creative, technical and ICT specialist. The award for this course is made entirely on the basis of portfolio work; there is no exam. There is the opportunity for ICT based work experience for students specialising in ICT. Year 11 Year 11 students follow the same OCR Nationals based course as the year 10 students. The final deadline for portfolio presentation is at Easter. Homework At KS3 regular homework is built into the project assignments and these are not normally computer based. At KS4, portfolio building is essential to achieving the qualification and computer access, either at home or after school is essential. All students are provided with a USB memory stick which they are expected to bring to school everyday.