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Secondary Strategy Newsletter

Happy New Year to everyone and welcome back after a well deserved Christmas break.  

2007 is already turning out to be an interesting year with the announcement that the Key Stage 3 ICT Onscreen test should not be made a statutory requirement but that it should be developed as a tool to support teacher assessment. 

Advice from National Association Authority (NAA) is not to take any hurried action until we know more details and to continue with preparations for the 2007 pilot:

• www.naa.org.uk: KS3 ICT Onscreen test   

We will all have a number of initial thoughts about this announcement and will need time to consider the next steps.  If you would like to talk through any of the implications for your school please contact us.

There is already a lively debate going on in the forums.  We had planned our next Onscreen Test session for February and this will now be dedicated to open discussion and updates that we may have. 

We look forward to continuing our work with you during this term and would like to send you all our best wishes for 2007.

Regards
Ann, Jonathan and Maria
Secondary ICT Team

ICT Onscreen Tests

Date:   5 February 2007
Venue:  HDC room tbc
Time :   4-5pm
Focus:   Latest test information and discussion related the way forward
Please contact: ICT admin if you wish to attend this session.

6 December 2006 Onscreen Test Session

There was a good turnout for the first of these sessions with May test window looming.  The Secondary Strategy has developed some additional test preparation resources that were made available to attendees. The materials consisted of 6 lessons worth of materials for Y9 that each build up the skills needed to work with the test interface as well as giving students tasks to do that mimic the way in which the test works. There are additional 5 lessons that can be used in the same way with Y8 pupils. I think that the idea is to use these with Y8 pupils later in the year to prepare them early for the 2008 test. The tasks are less demanding, but equally well designed. 

If anyone has developed their own test preparation task that would be happy to share them with the group then please contact me: maria.izamis@hertscc.gov.uk

As many of you are aware before Christmas the 2007 Familiarisation software was released, and in January the 2007 Practise Test will become available – so watch out!  RM have promised that the changes between the 2006 and 2007 test interface is minor.  The obvious difference is the inclusion of Flowol-type software in the Familiarisation materials.

For all the latest information and resource check the NAA website for new posters:

• www.naa.org.uk/naaks3/302.asp

Future Dates

During February to April the final consultations on the new KS3 Programme of Study take place. 

The new programme of study will be published in September 2007 for first teaching in September 2008.

In April QCA will accredit the Functional Skills Qualification for use in the national pilot.  

If you wish to be involved in the pilot contact: functionalskills@qca.org.uk

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Herts Grid for Learning

We are currently developing our website and over the coming weeks will be adding a number of new resources for KS3 and 14 - 19.  If you would like to share any of your resources and have them included on our website please forward copies.  We would acknowledge both you and your school.

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E2BN

There are already a number of resources available to schools but have you recently looked at the E2BN website:

• www.e2bn.org

They have a wide range of resources that can be used by pupils and teachers. 

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Subject Leader Day

The next Subject Leader day will be on the 4 July 2007. 

Part of the day will be spent looking at innovative use of ICT to support leaning.  We know that some Hertfordshire schools are already using blogs, mobile technologies and much more. 

If you would like to be involved in this part of the day please contact Ann: ann.layzell@hertscc.gov.uk

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Courses

We have listed below some of this terms ICT courses. 

For further details of any of the above courses:

• Search and Book Secondary ICT courses on-line

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