Engaging the Learner
A two day conference and road-show for heads, teachers & others concerned with the potential and impact of ICT in education.

At: The Robinson College Executive Centre, Wyboston Beds
On: 8 & 9 July 2003
Presented by The Department for Education & Skills and E2BN
To find our more and fill out the application form download this file: Word97, 97kb/7 pages, 9/6/03, e2bn_conf_jul03.doc

Making the most of the Grid
Recently you will have received, in the Schools Bulletin, details of a free in-house ICT training session available to all Hertfordshire primary schools. This session will highlight the wide range of online resources that are available to all schools using the Hertfordshire Grid for Learning. Please print the form with Terms, Conditions and Guidelines and return it to your consultant on the day of training, or post, email or fax to the Administrator as stated in the guidelines.
Download file: Word97, 118kb/2 pages, 8/5/03, voucher.doc new

Hertfordshire Schemes of Work
New schemes of work for KS1, KS2 and Mixed age groups are now available to be downloaded. For further information contact Pat Williams, ICT Adviser
Email: pat.williams@thegrid.org.uk

Spring 2003 Newsletter - February 2003
I have been seconded to work with the ICT team this term and have been amazed to see the work undertaken on your behalf here at Wheathampstead. The ICT team is a large and diverse one, carrying out work in many areas with great skill and commitment. One of my functions is to work with the team to review the support offered to schools so if you have any feedback I would be delighted to receive it.

At the end of this newsletter you will find a list of the staff in the ICT Team, showing the team structure and including brief notes of the functions of each team member. This may help you to know who to contact when you need help or advice. Find out more...

John Grubb, ICT Curriculum Manager

Digital video or wireless networking
Interested/confused about digital video or wireless networking? Want to know how it can improve teaching, standards, motivation etc?
Follow this link to BECTa 'Ask an expert' site www.ictadvice.org.uk

During February the topic is Digital Video and wireless technologies.

If you would like hands on experience of using new technologies, don't miss the 'Presentation Technologies Day' course at Wheathampstead on Tuesday 29 April 2003. Summer courses will be on-line soon for you to register...

Changes to 14-16 Curriculum - the Place of ICT

The Government recently published the paper '14-19: Opportunity and Excellence' which builds on the proposals outlined in the February 2002 Green Paper, 14-19: extending opportunities, raising standards, and the extensive responses to the Green Paper consultation. It helps clarify the position of ICT in the curriculum for 14-16 year olds.

What will happen by 2005?
We propose practical changes to the curriculum for 14-16 year-olds to combine breadth of study with more flexibility for schools and colleges to tailor programmes to individual needs and aptitudes. Find out more: www.dfes.gov.uk/14-19/

Onscreen test of ICT at Key Stage 3

Ministers have asked QCA to develop a test to provide an independent measure of pupils' attainment in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at Key Stage 3.

This innovative new test will be onscreen and will need to undergo extensive trialling and development. A limited pilot involving 2% of schools will take place in 2004. There will be further pilots in 2005 and 2006. Any school wishing to take part in these pilots should Email: ks3ict@qca.org.uk

The test is for use during Year 9. The test will be onscreen and will assess pupils' ICT capability across levels 3-8 of the National Curriculum. The test will be automatically marked and verified by human markers. It will provide summative information in the form of a National Curriculum level for each pupil as well as detailed feedback about pupil performance that could be used formatively to inform future teaching and learning.

Teaching Assistant of the Year 2002
This photograph was taken at the Teaching Awards Weekend of Best Practice Gala Dinner to celebrate 145 regional finalists.

Find out more...

ICT Conference 2002 - 1 November 2002
Closing date is 18 October 2002. Many Seminars and workshops will take place with Keynote speakers. Also free activities during the week before.

Statutory Requirements
Statutory requirements for maintained schools must be set for KS3 by December 2002, includes special schools. Find out more...

Newsletter - Autumn 2002
This issue includes information on preparing for your Ofsted Inspection, New Cluster Groups for ICT Co-ordinators, ICT Conference on 1 November, ICT Week, KS3 ICT Strand Training Programme and lots more...

KS3 ICT Strand Training Programme 2002–03
The schedule for training has been revised nationally, new dates are now available for Autumn Term and Spring 2003.

Parents on-line week
Following the success of Parents Online Week 2001 when schools, Internet cafes, libraries and UK online centres opened their doors to parents wanting to learn how to use the Internet, this year's Parents Online Week will run from the 30th September - 4th October 2002.

ICT Co-ordinator Cluster Groups
This term, the ICT Team are launching new cluster groups in 11 local venues throughout the county. They will last just one hour, and will meet once a term, find out more...

Becta leaflet
Using web based resources in the daily mathematics lesson.

Return trip from China
On 24th June, we welcomed a delegation from the Guangzhou Education Bureau, who were visiting us on the last leg of a Study visit to the UK. Find out more and view the slideshow...

Superhighway Patrol
Operation Splash - Thursday, 18 July. Interactive Role Play with the experts. Register before 11 July to take part...

Newsletter - Summer 2002
This issue includes the latest on Laptops for teachers, KS3 ICT, RM Companion Window Box - how to turn those spare PCs into an (almost) RM Window Box, New HGfL Email System and lots

ICT in Practice Awards
Becta's award to promote exemplary ICT practice continues this year. ICT in practice can take the form of doing traditional activities in new and better ways or of expanding the boundaries of what is possible. Becta is looking for practice that is replicable, that will say to teachers, "you too can do this". Above all, Becta is seeking examples of practice that will make the experience of school even more relevant to students. For more information.

Scheme of work for ICT
The scheme is based upon one developed from the QCA scheme, by the Northern Grid (consortium of NorthEast LEAs). The Herts SIAS ICT team have adapted it to include a useful monitoring & recording element.

China trip
A teacher study group will set off for China on Monday 25th March, bound for Hong Kong and then the city of Guangzhou.

Laptops for Teachers
Full details of the newly-launched national initiative can be found at Laptops for Teachers.

Robolab
Control and monitoring made easy - QCA units 5E, 5F and 6C re-written find out more...

Parents on-line week
5-9 November 2001 - Parents Online Week is here! Is your school registered?

ICT Conference 2001
Held on 30 October 2001. A great success, over 170 people attended, find out more...

Computer Use in Schools Rises
Teachers are taking on board the information technology challenge, with the number of computers in state schools increasing by 24% over the past year, research suggests BBC News story